Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

[texasvet54]

As I've posted before, I've never had any confidence in the Mercruiser re-built carb that I had installed on my houseboat's Mercruiser V8 last year. So, I took it off and took it to the local Mercury guys and they said that I had a lot of crap in my carb. They put a rebuild kit in it and the picture below is what was in my carb.

The Merc guys don't know what it is, but they said that it was clogging things up. I took off the fuel/water seperator filter, poured the fuel into a bowl and found that I had the same stuff in my fuel filter. I'm kinda at a loss here because I can understand if this crap is in my fuel/water filter, but how would it get past the paper filter that is in the carb.

So, any ideas on what it is or how it got there? I placed the lid off of an eyedrop bottle in the pic for sizing.

Thanks,
texasvet

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

Kind of looks like rust.

 

[wellcraft-classic210]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

Are you running a filter ? If so is it in good condition. A good filter system should trap anything like that that might come through the line from the down stream direction.

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

Are you running a filter ? If so is it in good condition. A good filter system should trap anything like that that might come through the line from the down stream direction.

Yep, the filter that looks like an oil filter, that's the fuel/water separator, and the paper filter that is in the carb where the metal fuel line attaches.

texasvet

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

Yep, the filter that looks like an oil filter, that's the fuel/water separator, and the paper filter that is in the carb where the metal fuel line attaches.

texasvet

Remember though, that it's a fuel/water separator, not a fuel filter per say. I would have a filter inline between the fuel pump and the carb. (the tiny thing in the carb doesn't count).

 

[Alumarine]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

I had stuff like that plugging up my carb filter when my fuel tank was rusting out.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

Remove the steel fuel line from the pump to the carb and look inside. This Ethanol is doing strange things to steel and rubber.

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

I had stuff like that plugging up my carb filter when my fuel tank was rusting out.

My 95 gallon fuel tank looks to be of the rectangular sheet metal variety. Hopefully, there is nothing to rust.

texasvet

 

[FishHog]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

My 95 gallon fuel tank looks to be of the rectangular sheet metal variety. Hopefully, there is nothing to rust.

texasvet

sheet metal can rust.

 

[wellcraft-classic210]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

Rust can get pulled against filters & cause some of them to get holes over time. Also some of the Rochesters had a spring behing the filter that would compress from fuel pressure when they start to clog and let debis past.

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

Thanks for all the replies. I've got a rebuilt carb, an inline filter, a new fuel/water separator filter and 25 foot of new fuel line on order. If it happens again, I guess I'll have to take a look at changing the electric fuel pump and the metal line that go to the carb from it.

texasvet

PS My son and I bought kayaks so some of my time is now spent fishing the marina and nearby shoreline. This working on the boat is sure getting in the way of my having fun.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

If I were you, I'd be pulling the tank and inspecting it for rust just to be sure. Otherwise, you are just going to contaminate the new stuff you just bought.

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

If I were you, I'd be pulling the tank and inspecting it for rust just to be sure. Otherwise, you are just going to contaminate the new stuff you just bought.

I'll take a look at pulling the tank, but it is below deck and not an easy operation.

texasvet

 

[phillyg]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

Thanks for all the replies. I've got a rebuilt carb, an inline filter, a new fuel/water separator filter and 25 foot of new fuel line on order. If it happens again, I guess I'll have to take a look at changing the electric fuel pump and the metal line that go to the carb from it.

.

I think you're headed in the correct direction doing the above. I would avoid pulling the fuel tank at this point if you have determined it is structurally sound and would rely on the primary fuel filter to trap the particles. I'd probably increase the primary fuel filter size if possible.

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

Remember though, that it's a fuel/water separator, not a fuel filter per say. I would have a filter inline between the fuel pump and the carb. (the tiny thing in the carb doesn't count).

What type of filter are you installing that is marine approved for use under pressure (between carb and pump) in an engine compartment? I'm scared to have a filter under pressure that was designed to be used on the suction side of the fuel system.

James

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

What type of filter are you installing that is marine approved for use under pressure (between carb and pump) in an engine compartment? I'm scared to have a filter under pressure that was designed to be used on the suction side of the fuel system.

James

There are any number of filters that would work. A carburetor is seeing something like 7psi of pressure from the pump, so it's not as if we're talking massive pressure. In any case, I have an Russel Performance (Edelbrock) filter on mine. Can be found here:

http://www.russellperformance.com/mc/fuel/filters-comp.shtml

 

[avanti16]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

i just had a similar problem with my carb. i rebuilt it myself and found the same looking stuff in my carbs bowl. it from todays gas sitting for a long time, it crystalized and clogged almost every passage way in my carb. the culprit, was my gas tank. the stuff was lined all on the bottom of it. i cleaned it out and added some new filters and my problem was fixed. Im no expert, but the pic looks exactly like the stuff that came out of my carb. hope this helps you and good luck!

 

[boatguya1]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

There are any number of filters that would work. A carburetor is seeing something like 7psi of pressure from the pump, so it's not as if we're talking massive pressure. In any case, I have an Russel Performance (Edelbrock) filter on mine. Can be found here:

http://www.russellperformance.com/mc/fuel/filters-comp.shtml

That filter if marine approved I could install (I have a shop and can't have the liability of non marine approved). If not marine approved I might even consider running on my personal boat. My problem with the post I quoted was how many boats I've found with owner installed metal/glass filters or plastic filters installled by cutting the metal fuel line and splicing with pieces of hose and hose clamps.
ames

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

the picture is hard to tell if its rust or simply sediment that precipitated. where do you buy your fuel? you could be introducing metal and rust particulates from the fuel station.

there should be a cover above the fuel sending unit. remove the sending unit, look in the tank prior to pulling it.

 

[texasvet54]

Re: Can someone tell me what this stuff is?

What type of filter are you installing that is marine approved for use under pressure (between carb and pump) in an engine compartment? I'm scared to have a filter under pressure that was designed to be used on the suction side of the fuel system.

James

I have a Mercruiser 35-802893T filter mounted on the side of the engine with the output going to the bottom of an electric fuel pump with the output of the fuel pump going directly to the carb via a hard piece of what looks like aluminum tubing.

texasvet