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-   -   Class action lawsuit ( mercruiser) vapor-lock issues. (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-q/307573-class-action-lawsuit-mercruiser-vapor-lock-issues.html)

US1 Fountain 01-21-2014 11:02 AM


Originally Posted by ezstriper (Post 4060732)
one way to do the return is to replace your tank sending unit with one for a diesel, already has a return fitting installed...

I've looked at those, but my sender looks like is a threaded unit. Not the standard looking sender with a flat mounting flange

Nailit, so teeing both return lines together to a single hose didn't cause any issues. I was afraid there would be some type of fighting between motors doing so. That would make it so much easier

AllDodge 01-21-2014 03:07 PM

My 502 mpi w/VST vapor locked several times a few years back and it was mainly ethanol and winter fuel mix. Filled the boat up at the local gas station before putting it away for the winter. Managed to get most of the gas burned and filled back up with pure gas. I only use non-ethanol fuel now and so far no issues. I do make sure after running on hot days to do a bit of idling to cool the engine down, but so far so good.

Hook'em 01-21-2014 04:13 PM

I think that's a key point, idle down after a run. I've always done that, idled around 1100 for a minute or two before shutting her down. It's enough to move the gauge south and has to help getting cooler water ingested before the heat soak.

I've never run anything but E10 or whatever they're pumping at the quick stop. No ethanol free stations around here.

buck35 01-21-2014 09:46 PM

I was told that when I bought the boat, but twice last summer after doing so no start. Once I was idling into a no wake bay, long and narrow it crapped out. 15 minutes later starts right up and golden. There is no rhyme or reason to when it occures. The only difference I could see was it was at a lake 6 or 7 hundred feet higher in elevation than I normally boat at.

Hook'em 01-21-2014 10:57 PM

That sounds like the ICM crapping out. Or at least the way mine did.

buck35 01-22-2014 12:15 AM

I'll check that too, but after returning home it only happened once the rest of the summer, is there someone on oso that can line me up with a merc manual?

AllDodge 01-22-2014 08:00 AM


Originally Posted by buck35 (Post 4061147)
I was told that when I bought the boat, but twice last summer after doing so no start. Once I was idling into a no wake bay, long and narrow it crapped out. 15 minutes later starts right up and golden. There is no rhyme or reason to when it occures. The only difference I could see was it was at a lake 6 or 7 hundred feet higher in elevation than I normally boat at.

Agree with Hook'em, this would be another issue. Vapor lock happens after running and the engine has stopped and heat soaks into the fuel system components. If after sitting it starts up and as you idle back out of the cove it then dies

abmotorman 01-22-2014 08:22 AM

Twice since I've owned this boat I had to depress the fuel pressure check valve (looks like a tire valve) on the front of the fuel rail to release the vapor. Actually, I'm amazed how much vapor comes out before fuel. Afterwords, starts right up and keeps running. Kind of embarrassing though. Learned to idle with hatch open slightly like others have mentioned since.

Unfortunately, no ethanol free gas around here.

AllDodge 01-22-2014 08:58 AM

In stead of raising the hatch, just run the blower.

So far as non-ethanol gas, here in KY I'm starting to see it at the corner station in Premium. The inland lakes I boat in many, but not all have non-ethanol gas at the marinas for mid and premium grades. Locals know which marinas have it. I only need 87 octane but will run the mid grade do to ethanol.

US1 Fountain 01-22-2014 06:28 PM


Originally Posted by abmotorman (Post 4061252)
Twice since I've owned this boat I had to depress the fuel pressure check valve (looks like a tire valve) on the front of the fuel rail to release the vapor. Actually, I'm amazed how much vapor comes out before fuel. Afterwords, starts right up and keeps running. Kind of embarrassing though. Learned to idle with hatch open slightly like others have mentioned since.

Unfortunately, no ethanol free gas around here.

I've had the problem even with long idles thru marinas and back into the coves and engine hatch cracked. Made no difference. I also run the blower all the time. Have thought about bleeding the the fuel rail by the valve also, but had this ugly thought run thru my mind....if it's so hot in there to vaporize the fuel in the lines, no so sure I wanted to bleed it onto the top of said hot motors. :) Was going to do this the last time we had the boat out, but there were always other boats tied up next to me, so I decided against using that time to try it.


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