Gas/Oil in water

[mort5029]

I have a 1998 Four Winns Vista. I noticed last year that when my boat was idling in the well the cabin filled with a gas smell. Now I am new to boating so it may be normal since the engine bay is right below us. The engine is fuel injected, starts on first turn every time. This year I have noticed a small sheen of gas or oil (not sure) in around the back of the boat when started during the time we wait for engine to warm. Now I have yet to really use the boat since the season started and I know all the fuels are topped full. Just wondering if there is anything to worry about. Again all seems to be working fine. Thanks

 

[mort5029]

Just an update my mechanic believes it may be that the engine is running a little rich and that if it is only at start up it should be OK. Advised me to check after running for a bit , if it still has the sheen then there we need to check.

 

[Chris1956]

There should not be a gasoline smell in the cabin. Gas fumes equal boom.

Find the leak and fix it.

Also, fuel injected engines should not run rich. Your mechanic's comment worries me.

 

[MTboatguy]

FI engines don't run rich unless the metering system that controls them is going bad. You should not be able to smell any gas fumes in the cabin, as state, that means there is a leak somewhere.

 

[kpg7121]

I have a 1998 Four Winns Vista. I noticed last year that when my boat was idling in the well the cabin filled with a gas smell. Now I am new to boating so it may be normal since the engine bay is right below us. The engine is fuel injected, starts on first turn every time. This year I have noticed a small sheen of gas or oil (not sure) in around the back of the boat when started during the time we wait for engine to warm. Now I have yet to really use the boat since the season started and I know all the fuels are topped full. Just wondering if there is anything to worry about. Again all seems to be working fine. Thanks

IMHO:

1. There should not be any gas fumes in the cabin or anywhere else on a boat A stray spark & it's all over.

2. Don't run the boat until this issue is resolved.

3. Find a new mechanic asap.

 

[mort5029]

Ok so you all are telling me that when a boat idles there will be no fumes from the engine entering the boat, even when the camper top is on, just to be clear, there is no gas smell in the boat pre starting, it is after I start and the boat is idling at the dock, I would imagine there would be some exhaust fumes entering as you idle? Maybe I was off on my first post.

 

[MTboatguy]

Ok so you all are telling me that when a boat idles there will be no fumes from the engine entering the boat, even when the camper top is on, just to be clear, there is no gas smell in the boat pre starting, it is after I start and the boat is idling at the dock, I would imagine there would be some exhaust fumes entering as you idle? Maybe I was off on my first post.

There is a big difference between "gas" fumes and "Exhaust" fumes, Gas fumes is explosive, exhaust fumes are nauseating but won't explode.

 

[harringtondav]

Gasoline vapors in your boat or bilge are a serious issue as noted. Now, if you're smelling exhaust, not quite as serious, but still potentially deadly if you idle for prolonged periods due to the dangers of CO.

Maybe this day you had a breeze blowing the exhaust back toward you, and nothing worse than that.

That sheen in the water tells of other potential troubles. Unlikely it's gasoline unless your engine has real problems per MTboatguy . It seems that would show itself with performance issues. But there are several potential leak points where your outdrive could be oozing gear lube into the water.

Watch your lube reservoir level. If it doesn't drop faster than you can keep up with it, you can probably put off an out drive pull, pressure test and whatever follows until the end of the season.

 

[mort5029]

OK the outdrive was just done last year, I have maybe 5 hours since rebuild. Hopefully if weather in this area turns finally this week I can get it out to do some testing.

 

[bruceb58]

It's not uncommon for early marine fuel injection engines especially as early as 1998 to run rich. The smell you are getting is likely some unburned fuel in your exhaust.

Unburnt fuel will leave a sheen on the water. My carb'd boat is now up at a 6200' elevation lake. It's especially noticeable more now than when it was used at sea level. Again, not an issue. My bet is you don't see it when the engine is at its normal operating temp.

 

[ahicks]

Agree with Bruce here, as well as your mechanic. Run it a few times to see where you are at. -Al

 

[mort5029]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the advice, sometimes it seems people on this forum jump all over you or your mechanic, as a new boater I may not always describe things exactly right, so a little feedback is nice without the quick comments about losing your mechanic etc...

 

[QBhoy]

My fuel injected MPI always runs rich on cold start up. Probably especially so with the cam in it. Not unusual to see fuel out port and starboard exhausts when cold and low rpm.

 

[Blind Date]

My '97 250 Sundancer (TBI EFI) runs rich at start-up and you can smell it but it's not overpowering & it goes away pretty quickly. If this is something you only notice with a "cold start" I wouldn't worry about it. If you Vista doesn't have a CO detector down below that would be money well spent. A new Minnesota law requires my Sundancer to have 2 of them.

 

[jimmbo]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the advice, sometimes it seems people on this forum jump all over you or your mechanic, as a new boater I may not always describe things exactly right, so a little feedback is nice without the quick comments about losing your mechanic etc...

When you said "I noticed last year that when my boat was idling in the well the cabin filled with a gas smell." And "my mechanic believes it may be that the engine is running a little rich and that if it is only at start up it should be OK". The people on the Forum were acting your best Interests based on what you said, as Gasoline Fumes are literally a Bomb. A competent Mechanic would NOT dismiss/consider Gas Fumes as nothing to Worry about. Based on the Info they were initially given by you, their Reponse(s) were acceptable

 

[mort5029]

When you said "I noticed last year that when my boat was idling in the well the cabin filled with a gas smell." And "my mechanic believes it may be that the engine is running a little rich and that if it is only at start up it should be OK". The people on the Forum were acting your best Interests based on what you said, as Gasoline Fumes are literally a Bomb. A competent Mechanic would NOT dismiss/consider Gas Fumes as nothing to Worry about. Based on the Info they were initially given by you, their Reponse(s) were acceptable

Agreed, but there have been many more incidents like that, just saying, the forum is a huge source of information and I appreciate it, but maybe asking clarifying questions would be prudent.