The only thing I did different last week is fill up my gas tank. After I filled up, I ran for about half hour and then rafted up with some friends. We sat for about three hours and then had to bring some people into shore. We fired the engine up fine with no problems and then started going out of the no wake zone. As soon as I hit the throttle, the engine sputtered and then died. It will turn over fine like it wants to start, but it seems as though no fuel is going to the engine. I thought maybe vapor lock at first even though it was unlikely, but it still would not fire after I got towed back into shore. Maybe it could be the fuel pump? My mechanic has been swamped all week and could not look at it. As all of you know, there is not much to look forward to all week if your boat is broken. Has anybody else had this happen with a 496 HO? Any ideas or thoughts as to what could be wrong would be helpful.

Water in the gas ??

I made a complaint. They sold 24,000 gallons that day and nobody else complained. So I ruled it out.

Check your fuel pressure. Sounds like a boost pump is going out.

With all these boost pump problems I keep reading about I guess a spare is in order.

When you turn the key listen for the fuel pump to run. If you dont hear anything then your pump is probably bad.

good place to start.

Been Battling with the same thing all spring!! What everyone else is saying is a good place to start. But I bet you a dollar that it is either water in the gas or ethenol seperating after it gets hot.

I filled my tank last fall 140+ gal and put Marine Stablizer in it cause it had to be stored outdoors this past yr. And so far everytime it sits after being run one or both engines won't start. Same exact symptoms as you, starts, shifts into gear, dies, won't start only turns & sometimes sputters.

I changed my fuel filters and I've bought some stuff called "Lotsa Water" and added it to my tank everytime one of my engines won't start, takes about 20min and the other engine fires right up and runs just fine.

Before I found the "Lotsa Water" stuff at a marina I took the flame arresters off and sprayed ether into the ports to get it started since I was stranded at a restaraunt. Played with the throttle and once it ran long enough to get through the bad gas in the engine/filter I was good.

Finally got mine down to less than a 1/4 tank so I'm gonna add a bunch of premium gas from a trusted gas station this next weekend and hopefully I'll be done screwing with this.

Hope this helps, very Annoying I know!!

Thanks for the help everybody. I will keep you posted when I find a solution.