Fuel Pumps and Paint

[NoExcuses]

I've had several problems with fuel pumps this year on my 2004 Four Winns with 5.0 GXi engines that I am attributing to peeling paint inside the heat exhanger portion of the fuel pump assembly. I also have a friend looking to buy a 2008 Four Winns with 5.7 GXi engines, I'm warning her about the paint issue but I'd like to know if Volvo actually "fixed" the problem and what year it took affect.

 

[Don S]

Re: Fuel Pumps and Paint

I have no clue if they did or not, but it's not a problem on the cooling side, it's the paint blocking the fuel going to the pump.

The problem is blamed on the fuel, but I'm not so sure the fuel is the problem. If it was, everyone (or at least a majority) would have the problem. But that is not the case. Most have no problem at all, with or without the ethanol fuel.
I would bet it comes down to some fuel additive that people are putting in their tanks to clean things, and that cleaning is taking the paint off.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Fuel Pumps and Paint

I have a 07-288 with twin 5.0 GXI-G engines. When i bought the boat it had 60 hrs on it. I now have somewhere in the neighborhood of 360 hrs
and no problems. The only time it sees any fuel additive is when it goes into storage and then it gets Stabil

 

[NoExcuses]

Re: Fuel Pumps and Paint

I have never been an additive user prior to this year (other than fuel stabilizer for winter storage), I can't say if the previous owner used them or not but I've owned the boat for the last six boating seasons and I've put 300 hours on her out the 570 total engine hours.

 

[Boxlaxman]

Re: Fuel Pumps and Paint

I had the issue on a new boat that I just got. It's a 2004 Four Winns with 8.1's. it happened when I tried to deliver the boat after it had an 18 month layup. I was so upset by the predictable problem, I called VP. Much to my surprise, I was able to get an engineer on the phone. I asked him what the real deal was. Here is what he said...

First, the pumps are made by Carter and are designed to be non-serviceable so we don't blow ourselves up trying to fix them. I can live with that...

Second, the issue IS caused by ethanol over a period of time. When the gas is allowed to sit, the ethanol separates from the gasoline and becomes concentrated enough to peel the paint. He told me that the further north you go, where the layup is longer, the more issues the are. In the south, where they use the boats year-round and gas does not sit in boats for a long period of time, this never happens.

He told me candidly that the best way to store boats now in the off-season is to store them as empty as possible with stabilizer. The condensation fears are a non-issue compared to the ethanol issues. He said that the minimal amount of water that would develop in the winter would be burned off immediately when the engine is run the first time.

Since I am an "in-water" winterizer using a bilge heater, he told me that running the engine every 2 weeks wil take care of the water, coat the cylinders and preserve the oil by killing the acid that forms which is the real reason oil should be changed.

Sounded like he knew what he was saying....

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Fuel Pumps and Paint

Darned Ethanol!!! I got kicked off of this site for 2 weeks because I was trying to warn people of what it would do.
I'd better watch out.I might get kicked off again for having an opinion.

 

[SanityCheck27]

Re: Fuel Pumps and Paint

living in California I use my boat year round for ocean fishing or crabbing with over 1,000 hrs on my V/P 7.4gi the only problems I have is the darn high pressure fuel pumps, I'm on number 6 or 7 by now they are the worst!! The shop I go to told me the problem was the Ethanol in the gas causing the contacts to short out due to corrosion. I been using Stab. in the gas tank for the last year and just replaced both the high and low pressure pumps if I could get gas without Ethanol I feel my problem would go away. Robert

 

[Don S]

Re: Fuel Pumps and Paint

The shop I go to told me the problem was the Ethanol in the gas causing the contacts to short out due to corrosion.

The contacts are not in the gas. Sounds like your shop is feeding you a line of BS and you believe it. If you have corroded contacts on your pump, then you need to find a way to keep the engine dry.

 

[daedge2]

Re: Fuel Pumps and Paint

Ok here is what I learned on my pumps. They start wining and get hot whining. So I took 1 apart to find out why. The water passage gets plugged with sand and what not. The bottom of the fuel cell is the return line for the water. It is just pressed in comes out pretty easy totally blocked. So now the engine is flushed really good after every use. Every month I pull the water lines off and blow air to clean them. I have not had a problem since. The crap in the water goes to the bottom of the water jacket witch is not very big and gets plugged. This is how I am saving lots of dollars. I have 2 fuel cells in my shop now that work. Should probable sell them may never need them. After cleaning them put them on and ran them and they work fine. My wife does not like to have problems on the water. PS When DON S tell you something it is always right them man knows his stuff.

 

[Matt in Seattle]

Re: Fuel Pumps and Paint

I took apart my Volvo fuel cell after having stalling issues due to low fuel pressure. It appeared to me that the moisture in the fuel/air had caused corrosion of the paint at the top of the fuel cell. I'm sure the seawater air we have here didn't help. Check out my post for pictures.
http://forums.iboats.com/volvo-pent...roach-volvo-penta-fuel-cell-5-0gi-545407.html

This wouldn't stop me from buying another Volvo I/O, but I would certainly price in a new fuel cell.