Mercruiser 3.0 Sputtering at idle and low speed

[Blentz17]

I bought a 98 Sylvan runabout with a Mercruiser 3.0 Aplha 1 on it about a month ago, I had it out on the lake 15-20 hours and everything has worked perfectly. Yesterday on the lake, the engine began sputtering and knocking like it was starving for gas and would cut off at low speed or idle, it also took several attempt to get it to crank when it died.. I checked the gauge it said 1/2 tank. Knowing how unreliable some gauges can be I stopped on the way home and put 15 gallons on E-10 in it. When I got the boat home, I put it on the hose and it was the same thing. When I bought the boat, I did not think to put a stabilizer in it, since it was "serviced" by the dealer. Any thoughts on the problem?

I'm thinking the car may be dirty or the gas may be causing the issue, I'm going to attempt to clean the carb with seafoam and stabilize the fuel with Sta-bil

Would this work or help? Need Suggestions

 

[alldodge]

Have you changed the fuel filter?
Even if you did change it, pull it off and dump the contents into a clear container (jar, baggie, other) and see if there is anything except clean gas.

Gas should be clear and smell like gas

Stay clear of seafoam right now

 

[Scott Danforth]

check the quality of your fuel by emptying the fuel/water filter into a clear zip-lock bag. (and replace the filter)

 

[Scott Danforth]

I'm going to attempt to clean the carb with seafoam and stabilize the fuel with Sta-bil

Would this work or help? Need Suggestions

there is no mechanic in a can for dirty fuel systems. to properly clean the carb, it has to be taken apart and each passage cleaned. if the fuel is bad, you cant bring it back to good.

 

[Blentz17]

Took a look at the carb it has lot of carbon, my model does not have a water/fuel separator on it so I checked the fuel filter in the carb, had what appeared to be dirt or something in it I don’t think it was rust, cleaned it and Im replaceing it tommarow. If this doesn’t work time to drain the the gas

 

[alldodge]

my model does not have a water/fuel separator

It should, its just doesn't look like the spin on, its part of the pump

 

[Scott Danforth]

Did you pull the carb apart and clean the idle circuits?

 

[Blentz17]

I took it apart cleaned it and replaced everything. I ran it on the hose for 3 hours engine ran fine. I’m going to lake test it later this afternoon.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Now, would be a good time to add a canister type fuel filter, just before the fuel pump,....