Lifetime Ban

[chpthril]

Add a bottle of stabil, top off the tank and go run. I doubt you will have any issues.

Just to clarify, my post was in reference to the gas itself, and in no way meant to ignore any other needed maintenance. This boat has only sat since Oct. This is no longer then many Norther boaters, so in my professional opinion, the gas has not reached a point of causing issues. I'll bet it was actually Summer-blend, which is what the refineries are switching back to right now. yes, it will not be as fresh as fuel pumped today, but it has not reach the level of crystallizing. There is no need to pump, siphon out. Just go with what I suggested and run the tank out.

[jsz]

While we are on the subject of bad fuel, is there any way to test gas that we suspect might be bad?

Is there such a thing as a gasoline tester?

[chpthril]

While we are on the subject of bad fuel, is there any way to test gas that we suspect might be bad?

Is there such a thing as a gasoline tester?

[da.bell]

^^^ Do you need more nose hairs or less to perform that test Chpthril?

[ajholt7]

So you just pour the gas in there. Is there a digital readout?

[LovinPowell]

not a digital readout but look at the eyes, that will tell you.

[rostap]

Weathers warming up, lakes filling..man I love this time of year! Gettin' the itch just to get her out on the water. I think I'm going to take it out this weekend, run it and then take it in for some preseason maint. Impeller, oil change, etc. Also I had this prob at the end of the season where boat started first turn of the key off the trailer and ran fine, but if we parked, swam for a while and the tried to start it, it took quite a few times to get the engine to turn over. Never quite got to the point where I thought I was going to have to start looking for a tow....but pretty close! Wasn't a battery problem either because it was a fresh battery. Anyone have any similar experiences?
.

[chpthril]

Weathers warming up, lakes filling..man I love this time of year! Gettin' the itch just to get her out on the water. I think I'm going to take it out this weekend, run it and then take it in for some preseason maint. Impeller, oil change, etc. Also I had this prob at the end of the season where boat started first turn of the key off the trailer and ran fine, but if we parked, swam for a while and the tried to start it, it took quite a few times to get the engine to turn over. Never quite got to the point where I thought I was going to have to start looking for a tow....but pretty close! Wasn't a battery problem either because it was a fresh battery. Anyone have any similar experiences?
.

Sounds like vapor-lock. This is where the under hood temps cause the fuel to boil in the lines. once the fuel turns a gas, in other words, a vapor, it will not flow through the injectors at the proper rate and the engine will be hard to start or not start at all. Opening up the engine cover and allowing things to cool will usually eliminate the immediate symptom, but the root cause needs to be found.

In your case, it sounds like you had a tank of winter-blend gas. Winter-blend has a higher volatility then Summer-blend, so the warm temps of Spring can cause the winter-blend to evaporate in the lines causing the vapor lock. Running the tank out and filling up with a fresh tank should cure it. Most refineries are switching over to the summer-blend now.

[rostap]

Hmm..interesting. I wonder is it more of a prob. with older boats or is it fairly common? The engine temp doesn't run hot, but of course at a stop there's no water running thruough the eng.

[chpthril]

Hmm..interesting. I wonder is it more of a prob. with older boats or is it fairly common? The engine temp doesn't run hot, but of course at a stop there's no water running thruough the eng.

When the boat is run, then sits, the lack of airflow will raise the under hood temps, resulting in vapor lock. Now, this more common on older, i'll explain more in a sec, and those with the wrong seasonal blend of fuel.

The other leading cause of vapor lock is low static fuel pressure in the system. As an engine ages an components get some wear on them, things like fuel pumps, injectors, regulators, etc, have a tendency to bleed off pressure when the engine is off. When the pressure drops, the fuel's boiling point drops (think pressurized radiator - the 12lb cap allows us to run past 212* F and nor boil) and the fuel can vaporize.

If you continue to experience a vapor-lock type of symptom well into the Summer, then I would lean towards an internal (or external ) fuel leak.

[rostap]

Thanks chpthrl...great information. Seems like it was happening most trips out throughout summer. Guess I better get it checked out soon, something about a possible fuel leak doesn't sound good. Combine that with the last time I turned all the boat lights on I thought I was smelling a little bit of a burning/short (which I quickly turned off).....if anyone sees a fireball on sunday....wave to me.

I understand your explanation, but in terms of cars/trucks which I consider myself somewhat inclined, I don't quite understand what's different with a boat.

[da.bell]

Thanks chpthrl...great information. Seems like it was happening most trips out throughout summer. Guess I better get it checked out soon, something about a possible fuel leak doesn't sound good. Combine that with the last time I turned all the boat lights on I thought I was smelling a little bit of a burning/short (which I quickly turned off).....if anyone sees a fireball on sunday....wave to me.

I understand your explanation, but in terms of cars/trucks which I consider myself somewhat inclined, I don't quite understand what's different with a boat.

Are you heading to Folsom???? If so, I will stay off the lake just kidding.

[SPBFAN]

There is such a thing as a fuel tester. Their also is a way to test the fuel with a more manual process.

Fuel Composition Tester



Accurately analyzes gasoline and gasoline/ethanol blends.
This hand-held tester will verify fuel problems, avoiding hit-and-miss troubleshooting.
Designed for use with a digital multimeter...place a fuel sample on the tester and it will output a frequency that is read by the multimeter.
Indicates the percentage of alcohol present, and if water is present in fuel, an LED will light up.
Useable on all gasoline engines, from lawn mowers to delivery trucks, and also E-85 (flex fuel) vehicles.

[rostap]

Are you heading to Folsom???? If so, I will stay off the lake just kidding.

Yep...come on out..tell your family there's a chance of an early 4th of july fireworks show

[da.bell]

Yep...come on out..tell your family there's a chance of an early 4th of july fireworks show

LOL