Mercruiser V6 4.3 alpha 1 Bogging/Stalling

[SharpeCon]

Hello,

I recently bought my first boat: A 1989 Caravelle 20'. The boat had been sitting out partially un covered for about a year and a half. I was informed it had been winterized and it needed a new impeller. I got the boat home put a new battery in and changed the impeller myself. The tank was empty or real close to so i filled it with premium gas and a can of seafoam, Put it in the water and it would not start. Figured out it needed a new starter, so I changed that as well. I then put it in the water again, it did start relatively easy, it stalled a few times but I throttled it up in nuetral and then put it in reverse and then back in forward. I ran wot for about 10 mins and at first about 3/4 of the way up on the throttle it wanted to cut out, and if I throttled it up and down real quick it would finally get up to full speed (wot). but then suddenly it bogged down and stalled eventually. I did get it started again the same thing happened. After that it would start, if before I started it pushed the throttle all the way forward as to squirt some gas into the carb, it would start and idle but as soon as I put in forward it would die. So on the water I changed the fuel filter which didnt seem to help. It just kept wanting to die. I did notice the oil was kind of a light tanish brown color, not a clear brown like it should be. Not sure that really matters? If someone could help me try and narrow down what it could be without having to do a fuel pressure test? I have read that thread and seems a little complicated. Although with a manual I can pretty much fix anything. Thanks in advanced! I am desperate to get this thing out this weekend!!!

 

[twostroke87]

Re: Mercruiser V6 4.3 alpha 1 Bogging/Stalling

Sounds like a fuel problem even if you filled the tank with premium and seafoam, its not gonna matter if there was 15 gallons of crap gas/water in your tank. Start by taking a fuel sample from the tank into a clear bottle, water in the gas will always be at the bottom. Your gas should look kinda like green tea, almost clear with a slight yellowish tinge. It should not look like apple juice, orange juice, a bloody mary, or foggy in any color for that matter. If your gas sample is clean check to make sure your fuel/water separator isn't rusting, check to see if your fuel lines are your engine are stainless steel or just regular steel which could be rusting internally. Pull the carb filter that sits between your fuel line and the carb.

If all of these things check out ok then you might need to do some carb work.

If you are unsure as to whether or not your gas is any good, get a spare gas tank, fill it with 87 regular octane (no need for premium), and hook it with a gas ball and line directly to your fuel pump after your fuel water separator. Disconnect the fuel line at the carb and flush the line out with fresh gas, hook it up to the carb and run it off of the spare tank and see if that helps.

Hope this points you in the right direction