Fuel

[P2]

Have just got back from a fish'n trip that while cruising back to camp I lost all power. While troubleshooting I found that no fuel was passing to the motors. Checked the fuel/water seperator and Have what looks like a clear silicon gell blocking the filter. It also plugged the fuel supply line from tank to filter. Had to clean this several times and now seems ok.
Anyone have any idea why this gell would form in the Tank?. Is it a case of picking some contaminated fuel up? I used a carb cleaning additive recently ?

 

[jtexas]

Re: Fuel

drain the tank and flush it out...I see a carb rebuild in your future...what additive did you use and what kind of tanks do you have (metal, fiberglass, plastic)...did you buy marina gas?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Fuel

never ever ever use a dry gas additive in a boat tank, it always leads to what you describe and is terrible to get out.
is it a grayish white snotty slimmy substance and has any one actually used a silicone sealant on any fuel/tank fittings ?
in my area we are having a terrible time with this new fuel mix.
its picking up all sorts of water and it can recongeal on the engine side of the fuel water seperator.

 

[P2]

Re: Fuel

1) Gunk
2) Aluminum tank
3)Yes marina gas ( two different ones in two days)
4) I never have used silicone and unaware of previous owner?

I am considering installing a sierra water sperator/filter that has the clear bowel on the bottom. Good idea?? And I will try to flush as best as I can. Thanks

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Fuel

Very good idea...

 

[jtexas]

Re: Fuel

well, as far as where did your contamination come from? Gunk could have liberated some unknown silicone-like substance that spent years accumulating inside your tank. Not to criticize marinas or anything, but storing your gas right out there on the water has to be more at risk for contaminants.

I can tell ya that Seafoam is great stuff, if you can get it in the Great White North.

And the water separator is an excellent idea.

say rodbolt, are you guys putting ethanol in your gasoline now?

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Fuel

There is an article in today's National Fisherman [commercial fisherman's journal ] that may explain what happened. The additive MTBE which was recently stopped being added builds up a gummy substance on the tank walls and in the lines. The recent introduction of 10% ethenol gas provides a solvent that scrubs this gum off and winds up clogging filters. According to the article, if you have MTBE gas in your tank, DO NOT mix ethenol gas with it. Get rid of the MTBE and be prepared to change filters a lot until the ethonal gets all the gum off the tank walls.
We don't have any experience with either down here [yet] , so can't offer any personal experiece-- just what the article said.