BF225 fuel issues

[MIKENVAHBEACH]

2004 BF225 (800 hours) on a 22? Pursuit, boat is run coastal all year long never winterized. In 2007 the stern was enclosed, a bracket was installed and the fuel tank was removed from the boat, cleaned, pressure tested, and exterior of the tank was painted with coal tar epoxy. The tank was reinstalled and the boat ran fine for several months; since last summer I have been fighting the typical ethanol fuel problems with water in the tank and the white powder in the HP filters. The tank has been drained and fuel replaced (3 times), HP filter and pump have been replaced, fuel rail and injectors have been cleaned, plugs replaced, new fuel lines, and new twin Racors (30 mic and 10 mic). The boat ran great for 3-4 months, however I ran it outta Oregon Inlet two weeks ago and fished about 40 miles offshore and the boat ran home fine no problems, the next morning I cleared the inlet again and the boat started losing power like water in the fuel (seems like the same problem I had previous year), the Racors either were completely full of water or fuel I could not tell, but I drained and replaced them however it did not correct the problem, I limped home. Once home, I drained the vapor separator(again), replace the HP filter (again), replaced the Racors(again); maybe a teaspoon of water was observed when I drained the fuel from the HP pump. Now the fuel cut-off solenoid is pumping gas straight out the vent tube so I am replacing this part. Are these series of events related? Am I missing something? I have been polishing the fuel with a series of Racor water sep/filters and an old fuel pump, but since this is occurring when the boat is on the trailer I feel it is doing little good, since if there is any water it will be settled at the bottom of my tank. Maybe need to polish the fuel while driving the boat around on the trailer to shake the fuel up? Any input would be appreciated I?m getting frustrated!

-Mike

 

[Primalurges]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

Mike,

Check your fuel tank vent and make sure its not facing up or forward. I have a pair of twins on a 28 with a 284 gallon fuel tank which usually has between 50 and 100 gallons of 10% ethanol mix and in 500 hours have removed no more than a teaspoon of water from the racors. Don't think your water problem is being caused by the ethanol.

 

[MIKENVAHBEACH]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

When the tank was installed the vent was facing forward, that has been corrected and the tank has been pumped three times and fuel replaced, I can not believe there is any major amount of water left in this tank, unless its coming from ethanol. Any thoughts on removing ALL the water?

 

[gss036]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

I saw a post some months back where a guy was getting all kinds of white powder stuff in the water/separator filter. It was either here on the Whaler board I think, possibly the Classic SeaCraft board, those are about the only ones I hang on. Might be worth a search. This is one of those senior moments.

 

[Primalurges]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

The fuel pick should be at the very bottom of the tank so if you're boat is on a trailer stack a couple of bricks under the trailer jack, tilt the engine up, and crank up the front of the boat as high as possible, disconnect the fuel line entering the fuel/water seperator and connect it to a pump, and pump the tank dry. You'd be surprised how much fuel can be left in your tank when your gauge is on empty. I did this once and used a drill driven pump that costs about $10. You wont find a pump made for (gas pumping) and the gas will eat up the seals so have a fiire extinguisher handy just in case. Don't recall what kind of tank you have but I do recall hearing that ethanol causes fiberglass tanks to desolve. If you have aluminum, your problem has unlikely the ethanol. One last thought, if you always use the same gas station don't rule that out as a possible cause for the contamination. Good luck

 

[MIKENVAHBEACH]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

GSS036,
I searched and found a similar thread with close up photos of the filter, mine was similar but not as white.

Primal,
I pumped the fuel out thru the sending unit hole, each time I would level the tank and pump till i saw the bare aluminum of the tank, I know it did not get every drop but I'm not sure you can ever get it all. I'm still wondering if the cut off solenoid is related or just a coincidence? All I know is its pumping alot of gas striaght out of a vent tube right now, part shuold be here Monday.
-Mike

 

[MIKENVAHBEACH]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

Getting the part today hopefully this solve it!

 

[sunbird 18]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

The fuel cut solenoid is supposed to be open during the first 30 sec to 1 minute of engine on. The vent at the top of the pump is opened via the fuel cut solenoid to purge any air from the lines and from the pump into the VST. It is normal for fuel to come out of the solenoid when you initially turn the engine on. You can even disconnect that solenoid and have no adverse effects. It is a vapor lock countermeasure. If you dont experience V/L, dont be afraid to disconect it.

 

[MIKENVAHBEACH]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

I replaced the part and ran the motor on a set of ear muffs and the fuel stopped pouring out of the vent tube, I guess the old solenoid was stuck open. I will run the boat hopefully tonight and this weekend, hoping the water in the fuel issue is resovled as well, guess I'll have to keep an eye on it. I will post results.

 

[MIKENVAHBEACH]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

Well the fuel cut off solenoid was not the problem, I launched the boat and it continued to pump fuel out the vent tube so I put it back on the trailer. This morning I took it by my mechanic he said sounded like a stuck float/needle valve, he recommended hitting the vapor separator to loosen the float. I?ll try that tonight and see if it works. He said it another ethanol fuel related problem. I just can't seem to get it running right.

 

[MIKENVAHBEACH]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

Well after some time I thought better to start banging on my vapor separator, so instead I disassembled it and replaced the float valve as I was pretty sure it was the casue of my problem. Bought the 40 dollar valve and found it was gummed-up so bad it wouild not move at all. I have some photos I will post later, this ethanol stuff is pretty nasty.

 

[gss036]

Re: BF225 fuel issues

Sounds like the problem is fixed, happy for you.