boat runs the stops
 

ok -- here is the deal

was out all day sunday -- boat ran great no problems


today -- i'm down to a 1/4 tank of fuel -- take off -- get on plane running about 3000rpm -- then it just dies.

have some basic tools onboard and determine no fuel to carb.

i get towed in -- don't have a filter wrench to pull of the fuel filter -- but mess around - fill carb bowl back up (with cup of gas) -- crank her up on the hose -- boat runs fine -- let it run for about 15 minutes

put boat back in water -- dies right after getting on plane.

I'm assuming a bad/clogged fuel filter


any other things i should be looking for?


thanks

Mark

Crud in the tank? What type of fuel pump?

its a holley mechanical

Is it possible that there just isn't enough fuel in the tank ? Maybe it is sucking some air.

i'm planning on pulling the float out as well -- so i will check (gauge was reading wrong before -- i have a 60 gallon tank and have only ever put in 35 gallons -- so jo at pantera told me to remove the sender and check it


heck i guess i could be out of gas -- but i doubt it -- if my is wrong -- i should have had over a half tank of gas

i just checked the fuel filter part number at www.napaonline.com

does it make sense that it would be an oil filter ? it was # 18-7844

Happened to me and it was water in my gas.

Ran fine until the water/fuel separator filled with water, then it would only run at idle.

If I tried to get on plane it would die, but it was the angle of the boat, not the rpm.

You can easily check for water in your separator without much fuss.

water fuel separator ??? where is that ?

or is that part of the filter?

Well, on my Merc and my OMCs the water/fuel separator is on the left hand side while facing the enigines from the cockpit.

It's about the size and shape of an oil filter. It's in line between the fuel tank and the pump.

Maybe you have a different setup from me....

But you describe how my boat acted when I had water in my gas.

The actual fuel filter is really small, and goes where the fuel line meets the carb.

The big one that looks like an oil filter is probably the separator.

would an oil filter work as a separator ??

like i said -- i checked the number on the filter -- it comes back as an oil filter


or better yet -- what should i use as a separator ??

i don't have an inline fuel filter -- it goes straight from this "separator" to the fuel pump -- through a pressure regulator -- right into the carb

perhaps i should install an inline fuel filter ??

There is a different part number for the separator, but I don't know how the construction differs from the oil filter.

I have always bought one model number for oil, and one for the water fuel separator.

You might have a really small inline fuel filter after the pump and before the carb. Mine hides in a fitting that doesn't look much bigger than it would be if it was just to connect the line.

But, I don't know what kind/size power you run, so maybe my info doesn't apply.

i'll go take some pic's

i wanna make sure i get this right the first time


back shortly!!!

well -- it is a separator -- but i don't have a fuel filter


would the separator cause this problem ???

more

#3

#4

Happened to me and I was just out of gas,would idle for a while but would die when on plane.The problem was that the pickup is a little off of the bottom.Actually I have a twin engine setup with two pickups for fuel.One would die before the other,It turned out to be because it was a little higher off the bottom of the tank than the other.

so is it worth it -- to replace the separator ??

common for the sender to be bad and you're actually out of gas. Seen it happen. Was out of gas while reading 1/4 tank

I couldn't download your pictures because I'm not a paying member, But... The water seperator canister is usually a filter/seperator, looks like an oil filter, and is disposable. If that's what you have, don't fool around just replace it they're cheap enough. If you're running a Rochester carb, they will usually have a small fuel filter in the carb body at the fuel line entry point. You get at it by removing the fuel line from the carb. The correct way to do this is with two wrenches, a big one to hold the large nut, and a smaller one (preferrably a flare nut wrench), to loosen the flare nut at the fuel line. Put a rag under the line to catch any fuel spillage. Remove the fuel line from the fitting, then loosen the fitting with the big wrench. The small filter is behind that fitting. Be careful when removing it, there's usually a spring in there. Take note of how the filter and spring are installed for reassembly. I would also check the fuel tank pickup, check the tank for water, and fill up with some fresh gas.

Paul

ok -- i'll get a new filter and try all of the suggestions!


thanks guy's!

Yep, Paul described the fuel filter better than me but I can see where it is in your pic. It's in the body of the carb, just where the line meets the carb.
These little filters are cheap and common.

You have nothing to lose by unscrewing the separator and pouring out the contents to see if there is a water bubble at the bottom.

A new separator is about 10 bucks.

In my case, it was the water in the separator that caused my problems. I had some water in my gas, and it took one or two separators to get it out.

Alcohol does not remove water from gas.
The separator does though! Water's heavier and pools at the bottom. The gas floats on top, and the water slowly takes the space until there is only a small amount of gas that can make it over the water.

Then, when you put the bow up trying to get on plane....cough, die.

oh -- mine is a Quadrajet carb

Yep.
Quadra Jet
(Rochester)

hmmm..

i didn't know they were the same!

how do i get a new filter -- is it just a 4 barrel quadrajet? or do i have to know the CFM ?

You could spend a few bucks more ($25) and get a high flow Fram filter/seperator part# PCS5062M that will also have a drain at the bottom. So in the future you can periodicly drain the water from the bottom of the filter/seperator and just change it once a season!:)

do i have to go to a marine store to get those filters? or would napa/auto zone cary that ?

You should find one at a Napa. They tend to have marine versions if there is one, and auto version if it's interchangable.

I bought mine at a marine store.
I'm sure I paid double.

I don't think you need the CFM to get that filter in the carb body.

My guess is that it is more likely that you have water in the first filter than junk in the second.

Napa will have those filters chaos, and more than likely you either out of gas or your fuel filter is dirty.
I carry a spare fuel filter with me now.
less than $10

Maybe we just get more water in our fuel up here?
Maybe we have more condensation?

Mine was water. Good luck.

i plan on carrying both a filter and a water separator(or atleast the kind i can drain)!!!


i'm tired of being towed in


:mad:

You can order the above mentioned filter/seperator at any parts store that sells FRAM filters. I get mine from the local parts store.
It's nice being able to drain it easily. You can check it once in a while before you have a problem!!

Here is a link to the PCS5062M at Advance Auto Parts. The M on the part number stands for marine and twice as much $$.


http://www.partsamerica.com/PartDeta...umber=PCS5062M

The local stores do not carry it, online order only. I have bought then from local truck shop before.

update!!!!!

new fuel filter and new water separator -- same problem :( :( :( :( :( :(

I did fill the fuel tank!!!!

So I guess i'm down to the fuel pump or the pressure regulator.

what GPH fuel pump should i be running?? I think i might put an electric on ??

also -- what should the fuel pressure regulator be set to?? do they go bad? what happens when they go bad??


damn -- i want to go boating this weekend!!!!!

When you changed the filter did you dump the old filter to check for water? Sounds like possibly a vapor lock problem or trash in the tank. Could also be a small leak on vacuum side the pump causing vapor lock.
Have you changed any of the fuel system before this started.

Just me but I would try and do some more checking before throwing money at an unknown cause. You need to check your fuel pressure at the carburetor. I would say 6 to 7 psi with your set up and a minimum of 5 at wot. That is at the carb not the pump. The 5 is minimum. Mechanical pumps I have had go bad usually it is the diaphragm and they leak fuel out the vent.

I am not real hip on Holley regulator you are using. I have had problems with them. I would go with a carter HV pump that has a built in regulator. I'd stay with the mechanical if it was me.

Good luck.