Gas/Oil Mix leaks all into Boat with Engine Tilted Up

[clarky711]

Greetings,

This is with my 59 Evinrude 35HP Lark. I went away for a 2 week vaca and when I got back there was about 3 of the 4 gallons of gas/oil mix in the bottom of my boat.

Upon my last trip out I decided to leave the engine tilted up (I've never done this before) as I didn't forsee any problems. My 6 gallon plastic gas tank does build pressure when it sits for any extended period of time. Anyway the fuel seemed to have leaked from the engine and dripped into the bottom of the boat. My float bowl was not tight and the gasket was removed so is it possible that the fuel leaked out of there?? Still crazy that 75% of the fuel in the tank leaked out (not to mention $ out the window in gas).

Is it wrong to leave your outboard tilted up for extended periods of time? Could there be any other place that the fuel may have leaked from. I just replaced all of the lines so they are all good. Also, is it common for the plastic tanks to build up pressure, and enough to force fuel thru the lines and out the bowl?

Thanks in advance for the questions.

Mike

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Gas/Oil Mix leaks all into Boat with Engine Tilted Up

leaving the motor tilted leaves the carborator tilted, thus the float is not level, to close the needle. i'm surprized it runs with bowl loose. store in running postion, this also drain the water from the block, incase of freeze. also disconnect fuel line from motor.

 

[clarky711]

Re: Gas/Oil Mix leaks all into Boat with Engine Tilted Up

No, it didn't run with the bowl loose, i had to order a new gasket for it, but I didn't want to over tighten the bowl without the gasket so that I wouldn't crack the glass bowl.

Is that where you think it leaked from, or from the carb directly. Thanks.

MC

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Gas/Oil Mix leaks all into Boat with Engine Tilted Up

either place, it is normal, with pressure on the line. the float needle was not closed, so the carb over flowed. or the loose bowl. could have been either.

 

[clarky711]

Re: Gas/Oil Mix leaks all into Boat with Engine Tilted Up

Thanks again for the advise. I'll be sure to disconnect the gas line from the engine in the future. Something I've always wondered about though is why there is no vent on the tank?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Gas/Oil Mix leaks all into Boat with Engine Tilted Up

There's a vent, but it only works one way, I think.

Disconnecting the fuel connector is the sure way to prevent this, as was said. I guess that's why my dad always reminded me to do that...over and over and over again.

 

[1976SRV190]

Re: Gas/Oil Mix leaks all into Boat with Engine Tilted Up

Old outboards all used either a two hose presurized system or a single hose presurized tank. If you leave the tank connected, and EVERYTHING isn't in perfect condition in the fuel system, what happened to yuo will happen. Unhook the fuel lines and open the tank valve next time and it won't happen again.