How Do I Connect A Portable Gas Tank To A 5.0 EFI?

[Rickochet]

I have a 2001 houseboat with twin 5.0 EFI which stays in the water all year. I recently had both fuel pumps and and fuel injectors replaced. I have two fuel tanks with about 40 gal. each of very old stale fuel which probably lunched the fuel pumps and injectors. The mechanic changed the injectors using a portable tank with fresh gas. I guess to check for leaks he reconnected the boat tanks and ran the old gas through everything. I am concerned about leaving the old gas in the the fuel pump and injectors over the winter. I have a place to take the old gas but I have to do it in 5 gal. cans a few at a time and drive them 90 miles. I am afraid I am running out of time before I need to winterize and was thinking about hooking up a portable tank to run some fresh gas and stabilizer through everything then deal with the gas as I get time. The boat is 90 miles away and I want to try to get all the fittings I might need before I go back to the lake. Any suggestions on how to hook up a portable tank would be appreciated.

 

[Scott Danforth]

disconnect the inlet of the fuel/water filter from your in-floor tanks and connect to a portable tank.

 

[Rickochet]

disconnect the inlet of the fuel/water filter from your in-floor tanks and connect to a portable tank.

I know that there are a bunch of different ways to make a connection to the tank or filter but is it likely one or both ends will be hose clamped?

 

[alldodge]

How old is the gas?
Where the pumps and injectors replaced because it was running bad and determined it was bad gas, or something else?

Real strange you pay to have things changed because of bad gas, and the mechanic reconnects the tanks back up

 

[Rickochet]

How old is the gas?
Where the pumps and injectors replaced because it was running bad and determined it was bad gas, or something else?

Real strange you pay to have things changed because of bad gas, and the mechanic reconnects the tanks back up

This goes back to another story. the boat is 55' x 16" and we use it a lot at the dock but haven't taken it out never take it out as do most here. It is like a little community of floating condos. So, I let it sit for 5 years without starting it mainly because it is a PITA to winterize. I added a little bit of gas each year with some fresh stabilizer. So, most of the gas is 5 years old or older. Last year I added about 10 gals. to each tank with some Startron Enzyme fuel treatment. Last year mid summer I tried starting the boat. Neither would start. Both fuel pumps were locked up. They ran fine when I last ran them. the marina mechanic changed fuel pumps. Fuel getting to manifolds but not through injectors. After messing with it for several months he gave up and it was time to winterize. He retired over the winter. I had no luck getting anyone to work on it until I got a Merc. Tech from 50 miles away to come over about a month ago. He ran full checks on both engines. He and Merc. factory rep determined it was the fuel injectors. After another month of waiting he came back with the injectors. I told them I had not yet pumped out the old gas and they said he would bring a test tank. I got an email that the boat had been fixed. I called to ask if he used a test tank and they said yes. He ran it on the test tank then ran it "briefly" on boat gas. I guess he was checking for air leaks. He did not mention removing the old gas. The only recommendation on the bill was to change the fuel filters after running the boat for a few hours. I checked the gas last summer when changing filters. There was no water and no debris although it was a bit darker than the fresh gas. That was before I added the 10 gals. to each tank and Startron. My initial thought was to add more fresh gas and more Startron without gettiing the old gas out but every suggestion I have received was to remove the old gas. Not that easy to do and dispose of or even use if you carry 200 gallon fuel capacity.

 

[alldodge]

Then agree, run on a 5 gallon can or so long enough to flush thru the system.

Get the old gas out, and if you can find non-ethanol gas start using only it. The E0 gas will last much longer and does not phase separate. Might think about only running the motors on a portable tank unless your really going for a run

 

[Bondo]

I know that there are a bunch of different ways to make a connection to the tank or filter but is it likely one or both ends will be hose clamped?

Ayuh,..... Generally speakin', the odds are there's a 3/8" rubber hose to a hose barb at the fuel filter,....

So, a portable tank with a 3/8" line should be an easy hook up,.....

 

[Rickochet]

Then agree, run on a 5 gallon can or so long enough to flush thru the system.

Get the old gas out, and if you can find non-ethanol gas start using only it. The E0 gas will last much longer and does not phase separate. Might think about only running the motors on a portable tank unless your really going for a run

Thanks for the input.

 

[Rickochet]

Ayuh,..... Generally speakin', the odds are there's a 3/8" rubber hose to a hose barb at the fuel filter,....

So, a portable tank with a 3/8" line should be an easy hook up,.....

We are headed to the lake this weekend and I will check out the connections. Hopefully it will be something a 69 year old fat guy can get to. Thanks for the info.

 

[QBhoy]

As the guys above have said. At the fuel filter is easiest.
Im a bit confused by you being worried about the injectors as in plural.
Never had one but worked on one, are the efi engines not just single point injected at the throttle body ?
or did you mean plural as in you have two engines and two single point injectors maybe ?

 

[Rickochet]

As the guys above have said. At the fuel filter is easiest.
Im a bit confused by you being worried about the injectors as in plural.
Never had one but worked on one, are the efi engines not just single point injected at the throttle body ?
or did you mean plural as in you have two engines and two single point injectors maybe ?

I have two engines. Each throttle body has two injectors for a grand total of 4 injectors.