Bad fuel end of last season, what to do next?
 

Was it bad gas from the marina or phase separation in the slip…I don’t know.
My 1992 Cobalt 243 died on the lake at the end of last season with either water in the fuel tank or phase separation. I tuned it up and changed the oil in the slip, pulled the boat home where I pumped/siphoned out the approximately 35 gallons of bad fuel and finally refueled with 88 gallons of 91 non-ethanol fuel. The fill in late July was the only time in 10 years when I’ve used ethanol laced fuel from our marina gas dock. What should I be focused on prior to launch next week?

I’m picking up the boat today from storage so I can get started on this additional work. I’m thinking at minimum change out the fuel line to the new A1-15 rated hose (should the fill and vent hoses need changing ?). I may change the oil and plugs again as well as having a couple more fuel filter swaps. I did use StarTron tank cleaner in a 5 gallon slosh drive on the trailer last fall prior to the final drain and final fill up. This boat will never see ethanol again. The is a stock 502 BBC with an Edelbrock 1410 750 cfm carb and RPM Air Gap intake manifold. Here’s some pics:

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Some additional blob of crap came up with the fuel…I now know this is not the way to remove fuel. I siphoned the rest.

That appears to be a lot of water. I would confirm that it was in fact related to the gas you got and not water entering into your tank from somewhere like the fuel vent.

That’s a good point. I remember being anchored for a few hours watching the Chicago Air and Water Show in a 26 foot cat. After the show the boat started, died and wouldn’t restart. It was a wavy Lake Michigan afternoon and I later figured out that water was dumping in the air vents on both sides of the hull for hours. The waves would wash over the vents. Needless to say I pumped all the fuel out of the tanks at home and I couldn’t believe how much water got in the tanks.

I never had a problem using ethanol fuel.

Talked to the marina manager in October regarding the fuel purchase on July 30, they didn’t fess up to any bad gas…needless to say I will pull the boat out and fill with non-ethanol fuel at a cheaper price. I’ll be extra diligent about treating the fuel, etc.

Fuel hose(s), plugs, oil, filter, after doing it all last October, is a lot to go through…that is if it’s not really needed. This is the 1st time I’ve ever had to do this and this is my 4th boat. Last year was the 1st time we were in a wet slip with this boat in 9 years though. Should I just send it and replace the fuel filter (inspect the contents in the jar?).

92Cobalt243,

I agree with UnderPSI. I've used pretty much nothing but normie pump gas. I don't believe I've ever run Rec gas. I also almost never buy marina gas (desperate times, do happen). Too expensive and too much chance of water. When I do, I always take on the minimum and run easy until I get it on the trailer, then fill it all the way up and run it all but dry before putting more in it.

I would also follow the advise to make sure you don't have a way in for water into the tank. Check your vent. If this happened after an overnight at a marina, make sure your vent isn't allowing water in somehow.

I also have adopted a policy to pump my tank out every fall after the end of our season and not fill it back up til spring. That and a new filter/separator and you should be good.

Thanks. Brad.

About the hoses?
 

Regarding the 1992 dated hoses…3/8” A1 rated tank to fuel pump maybe 26” long with the pressed crimp fitting at the fuel filter and barb clamped at the tank…is this one critical to replace? And if replaced I’m assuming the crimp connection at the pump is critical for flow? And the 1992 5/8” vent hose should that also be replaced due to age? The 1-1/2” fill hose?

The oil and plugs only have maybe an hour run time while I was swapping out water separating fuel filters in the slip…re-do all that advisable?

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You`re lucky you didn`t blow an engine or 2. I did fter getting some terrible gas.. I prefer ethanol, keep the AIT down , as long as you go thru it in a few weeks it`s not an issue.
You got bad gas or water in your gas from an external source, that`s not phase seperation. That takes a long time.I did some testing on that .

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i have had boats since 1988
did a have a ten year hiatus
but i never used marina gas, just from seeing what i pumped as a kid working the fuel dock at a lake..
that is some ugly stuff you have there
i stored mine end of season FULL of 91 non ethanol
i also do not leave my boat/s in the water unless i am in it,
my 1st one the fuel vent was just a few inches above the fill port and it was not that far from water.

i use one of them Canisters to
gives your arms a work out pumping, but so less mess

Dan,

I think I see your problem.... You're mixing your alcohols.... Margaritas and gasoline. :angry-smiley-038:

Dang, dude.... That was worse than mine. Ouch!

Thanks. Brad.