Look what i found in my fuel line.

[balistikb]

My 1999 250 EFI started to stall when throttling up. So I started my troubleshooting. When I got down to the fuel line I started to blow compressed air through it and it wouldn't go easily. I eventually got to a hard part of the hose and opened it up.
Surprise! This is what I saw.....

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

What in the world is that stuff? Looks like sawdust.

 

[balistikb]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

The mercury parts guy said it was the fuel line disintegrating.

 

[chicknwing]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

that does not look like a fuel line disintegrating to me. Sure am curious though.

TC

 

[balistikb]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

It was shinny and rubbery. I did see bigger pieces that looked the shape of the fuel line but I did not take pictures of it. If it isn't that then I would like to know what it could be.
In any case I got the outboard running.

 

[Don S]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

Is the fuel tank in your boat fiberglass? The ethanol fuel we now have breaks down the resin fiberglass tanks are made with.

 

[balistikb]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

No the tank is not fiberglass. The mechanic was pretty sure it was the fuel line breaking down over the years.
The boat is a 99 so it is possible that the line is as old as the boat.

 

[lmannyr]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

Thats a fuel line? The walls look thin for a fuel line. I'm no expert but i bought fuel line the other day for my car and the walls were 3 times as thick as that.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

Thats a fuel line? The walls look thin for a fuel line. I'm no expert but i bought fuel line the other day for my car and the walls were 3 times as thick as that.

That's the outside shell of a fuel line. The inner tube's gone, and the debris used to be the reinforcement cordage.

Too much of something in the fuel.

 

[puget sounder]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

Like don s said. Read up on ethanol. And their pushing for higher % for autos but it's reaking havic for boaters. It'll blow you away what damage it can and does do.

 

[Alvarez]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

Balistikb what caused that is the ethanol.That's the same problem I had on my hose deteriorating like that.I had the grey mercury hose with the primer bulb.All those mercury quicksilver grey hoses with the primer bulb the ethanol causes them to crystalize and break.Change water seperator and in line filter.Then get an alchol approved hose..

 

[balistikb]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

What would be considered an alcohol approved hose?

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

balistikb,

Where do you live? Is there any printing on that fuel line?

Reason I ask is to understand what type of fuel you would have in your area, and to know for sure what type of fuel line that is.

I'd be interested in sending that for material analysis if I were you. If in fact that is deteriorated fuel line, it could result in extensive engine damage and the root cause would be helpful for everyone to know.

If its not deteriorated fuel line, then we just added to the negative hype re ethanol without data to support it.

Do you have any accessories in your fuel line from the tank to the motor?

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

Interesting thought on the ethanol. I just bought new marine fuel line a few weeks ago and printed right on the line is something to the effect of "ETHANOL APPROVED". Wondered what significance that held.

 

[Alvarez]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

I bought my line in miami florida in a mercury dealer called boat center.West marine had the fire resistant hose 3/8 which is not bad,but they recommended me at the boat center where they told me my problem the hose i need it saids alcohol approved and its 3/8 grey hose.I ;am going there tommorow and i will get you the upc bar code or sku any information where you can get the hose.Where are you Located the may have dealers near you...

 

[sschefer]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

Nope, aint buying it. Thats granola and that's not fuel line. Not 1999 fuel line anyway.

 

[Alvarez]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

Beleive it or not it's the ethanol on the fuel that makes the hose deterioate like that.At first it crystalizes the inner hose like pieces of clear thin tubing falling apart until it evetually creates smaller particles and its the inner hose coming apart..Mines its a 2003 hose from a mercury marine quicksilver hose with primer bulb.And I was told clearly the root cause of the problem with out me asking.So i bet these cases has occured many times...

 

[sschefer]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

I suppose different types of hose create different effects. Black fuel hose that is not E10 or better rated produced black flakes that plug up everything in their path. I just went through that but that hose has not been used since the mid 90's after they found the problem.

The grey type hose in the picture is typical of the Quciksilver or Moeller hoses that I have seen but they usually have a liner then reinforcing cord and the outer cover to meet fuel rating specs. The fuel line in the picture shows none of that, not even fragments. If that hose was deteriorating over time like would be natural then the fuel filter would have been plugged long ago. Nope I'm still having a hard time buying off on that being from the fuel line. I'm not skeptical about the Ethanol theory because I have dealt with that problem.

 

[verado7]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

the hose will say right on it...alcohol resistant ,and as a side note you can buy gas at stations that dont use ethanol but as fuel hauler i can tell you that when brand x runs out of there fuel they buy from the other guy until there bulk plants are refilled so you really cant avoid it 100%.

 

[moorecomp]

Re: Look what i found in my fuel line.

I suppose different types of hose create different effects. Black fuel hose that is not E10 or better rated produced black flakes that plug up everything in their path. I just went through that but that hose has not been used since the mid 90's after they found the problem.

The grey type hose in the picture is typical of the Quciksilver or Moeller hoses that I have seen but they usually have a liner then reinforcing cord and the outer cover to meet fuel rating specs. The fuel line in the picture shows none of that, not even fragments. If that hose was deteriorating over time like would be natural then the fuel filter would have been plugged long ago. Nope I'm still having a hard time buying off on that being from the fuel line. I'm not skeptical about the Ethanol theory because I have dealt with that problem.

I just replaced a hose and primer bulb and the hose was the same as the one in question. Inside the hose, is a very thin inner lining, kind of brownish clear. There is no reinforcing cord in it at all. Just the inner lining and then gray outer hose. I could see how the inner lining could fail, but the hose I changed had none of the debris as shown in the photos. I'll see if I can get a cross section picture of the hose I changed.

Craig Moore
Mancelona, MI