Bad Gas? RESOLVED

[garbageguy]

My 5.7 GS Volvo, 4 bbl (in 1998 Wellcraft 240 SE) ran OK until about 1/2 hr after getting gas at a gas dock. I have since replaced the fuel filter/water separator, checked/cleaned the filter in the carb, checked the dist cap/rotor, put in fuel additive. It has run OK for about an hour on 2 occasions after doing this, but then cuts out, re-starts once or twice, then will not re-start. Poured the fuel from the filter after last go-round into a glass jar - no particles or water, but looks a bit dark, like apple juice. I just got this boat, don't think it ran last year - got new plug wires, distributor cap, impeller, re-built carb. oil change before I bought it this season. Prior to getting gas at that gas dock, it ran at low cruise speed for a nice 2-hr tour on Mother's day. Since gas dock visit, have been towed back twice. Got lucky and it cut out just on return to port. I'm thinking next step is to pump out gas in tank (about 30 gal). Boat is in the water, not sure of best way to do that. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[garbageguy]

Re: Bad Gas?

Re: Bad Gas?

new to this forum, tried to edit, unsuccessful, updated engine ID

My 5.7 GL Volvo, 4 bbl (in 1998 Wellcraft 240 SE) ran OK until about 1/2 hr after getting gas at a gas dock. I have since replaced the fuel filter/water separator, checked/cleaned the filter in the carb, checked the dist cap/rotor, put in fuel additive. It has run OK for about an hour on 2 occasions after doing this, but then cuts out, re-starts once or twice, then will not re-start. Poured the fuel from the filter after last go-round into a glass jar - no particles or water, but looks a bit dark, like apple juice. I just got this boat, don't think it ran last year - got new plug wires, distributor cap, impeller, re-built carb. oil change before I bought it this season. Prior to getting gas at that gas dock, it ran at low cruise speed for a nice 2-hr tour on Mother's day. Since gas dock visit, have been towed back twice. Got lucky and it cut out just on return to port. I'm thinking next step is to pump out gas in tank (about 30 gal). Boat is in the water, not sure of best way to do that. Any thoughts appreciated.

 

[gbeltran]

Re: Bad Gas?

Re: Bad Gas?

It shouldn't be that dark. What does it smell like? I think you're on the right track with draining the tank and starting over especially if it sat with gas in the tank for more than a year. Anymore gas only lasts a few months from what I've seen before it starts smelling like varnish, more if you treat it with something like sta-bil, but nothing like it used to.

 

[garbageguy]

Re: Bad Gas?

Re: Bad Gas?

Update: the sample of gas I took from the boat's fuel filter/water separator after it quit running last time ran the old 4-stroke honda mower just fine. It the mower so much of a different animal that it shouldn't enter into my investigation? Should I first look at the fuel pick-up line and anti-siphon valve (or something else) before I pump out the fuel from the boat?

 

[Jaegerboy]

Re: Bad Gas?

Re: Bad Gas?

Just my 2 cents, but since the engine dies after just about the same time period every time, you might have a vapor lock in the fuel line. Crack the fuel tank cap and/or check the fuel vent for obstructions. Run the engine for a time and see if the symptom goes away. BTW, that mower will probably run on just about anything. Probably not the best way to test for good/bad gas.

 

[insttech1]

Re: Bad Gas?

Re: Bad Gas?

I saw lots of tuning parts....and maybe replaced but not listed...:
Plugs?
Rotor?

Is tank vent plugged?
Does fuel squirt from carb after it dies? (Pull flame arrestor, throttle manually without ignition; is gas squirting in carb?)
Try to narrow down if you're losing fuel, spark, something else?

Not an expert, but maybe some things to think about....and of course the new fuel could have washed a bunch of crap into the fuel pickup...maybe pull the fuel filter again and make sure it's not full of sediment?

 

[garbageguy]

Re: Bad Gas?

Re: Bad Gas?

Thanks for the input, all ideas appreciated.

Tank vent checked and is clear. Fuel does squirt into carb after it dies. New fuel washing crap into fuel system considered - fuel filter pulled twice, a few particles the first time, none the second. Want to pull the fuel pickup at the tank and check the screen there and anti-siphon valve, but not sure how it comes off/out.

I hesitated to try the gas in the mower, because I'm not sure that the fact it runs that should stop me from pumping the fuel out of the tank (and finding a way to dispose it). Not something I really want to do, but maybe I have to, to eliminate that variable.

 

[garbageguy]

Re: Bad Gas?

Re: Bad Gas?

Problem solved. It was a short in the wiring harness that would rear it's head randomly. PO tied a wire into a hot line in the harness for power (to something). Pulled that line off, repaired the wire's insulation - good to go. I have yet to find what isn't getting power, but it's nothing critical at this point.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Bad Gas?

Re: Bad Gas?

Good job