Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

[NY_SXR700]

I have had a problem with my 1999 Johnson 115 J115PLEEM for about 3 years now. Last fall it got worse. I have one cyl cutting out below 3000 RPM's (pretty sure it's the bottom port cyl). Last fall it would even cut out at 4000+ then kick in. I have a few things I know I want to check before taking it to a dealer. The oil I use is blue, I noticed my fuel filter (translucent) has a blue tint to it (oil mixing in the fuel filter). I am not sure if that is supposed to happen. The motor does smoke a lot. I have checked spark and compression 135psi on all 4 and that all looks good in the driveway. It never runs on 3 in the driveway or in the spring on it's first run. It gets worse as the season moves on. What would cause the oil in the fuel filter are, or is this normal. What would cause a cyl to not work below 3000 RPM. I guess we can start there. TIA Doug

 

[JB]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

Howdy, Doug.

Welcome to iboats.

I doubt that the blue tint in your fuel filter has anything to do with your problem.

I think it is far more likely a weak ignition problem. My first move would be to swap the coils from the suspect cylinder to one that I am sure is working well. If that didn't switch the problem I would swap the power paks and then spark plugs.

Had a spark plug in a Mercedes years ago that would not fire between 2000 and 3000rpm. . .worked fine above and below that window. Some mysterious harmonic gremlin.

 

[NY_SXR700]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

Howdy, Doug.

Welcome to iboats.

I doubt that the blue tint in your fuel filter has anything to do with your problem.

I think it is far more likely a weak ignition problem. My first move would be to swap the coils from the suspect cylinder to one that I am sure is working well. If that didn't switch the problem I would swap the power paks and then spark plugs.

Had a spark plug in a Mercedes years ago that would not fire between 2000 and 3000rpm. . .worked fine above and below that window. Some mysterious harmonic gremlin.

Thanks for the reply. I did not know I could move the coil packs around. I may try that. I will also add that my tach is acting up and has been for a while. If I slap it, it goes to where it should. On my dad's 370 Ray I know his tach went bad and caused the motor it was watching to run poor and t-shooting that was a real pisser and turned out to be a bad tach. I would replace my tach but I can't find the same looking one. As far as my power pack it's original and a new one is like $350 and not returnable if I but to "test". So, that is like a last resort thing. Plugs get swapped twice a year QL78YC I have tried the QL77JC4 but, my motor does not run as well with them. I have owned the boat motor since new. On GPS she has always run 38mph and she still does. It's just the smoke and the dropping a cyl that pisses me off. I just never noticed the oil/gas in the fuel filter. It was always "gas" colored so I have read a lot about a diaphragm that might have burtst and is pre-mixing fuel on top of the VRO mixing fuel. Thanks again for the tip on the coil packs. Doug

 

[NY_SXR700]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

Is it possible that there is a spider nest in my OIS system. Possibly blocking the "optics" till the RPM comes up (centrifugal force moving it out of the way)? I have not tore it down far enough to even find the OIS optics part of the system ever. I am just tossing stuff out. I have LOTS of spiders here.

 

[DC20]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

Doug,
Do as JB said, put some new plugs in, if that doesn't fix it then swap the coils.
I don't know about the spider thing.

 

[NY_SXR700]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

Well, I just started it for the first time since September of last year. After running all the fogging fluid out of her, she ran smooth as silk again in the driveway. I am going to take her out fishing Wed. morning with the plugs in it right now. After that ride I will replace with new. You guys are saying replace plugs, keep in mind I do replace them several times a year. No less than two times. This is not a plug issue. I am guessing electrical, based on the 3000 RPM deal and my tach acting up. Everything on my motor is stock and it has never been in for service. Service around here is poor at a best and it will most likely run worse after that trip. I don't want to be 20+ miles off shore with someone I don't know working on my motor. I'll end up in Canada in no time. hanks for the tips. I'll follow up after my Wed. morning fishing trip. Coho, Kings, Browns and Steelies are on order for wed. morning.

 

[NY_SXR700]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

I am not sure if I should start another post about this one. My Wed. morning shakedown went well. Motor ran great at speeds but the dropping of 1 cyl, I was able to reproduce at will. After a great fishing trip int he big lake, I went into the bay to play around with the motor. I found out the following. If I hammer down from 5mph it drops a cyl. If I roll on slow it never drops a cyl. Trolling speeds was smooth on all 4. Once or twice at idle out of gear it dropped the cyl. Put it in gear and it comes right back. I did not do any work on the motor yet. I did not move a coil or change plugs. I wanted a base line for fixing this problem. I don't think moving the coil will get me any closer, since I can't really tell what cyl is dropping. I just know when it drops the boat and motor vibrates if it drops at idle the power head shakes. Is it possible this is a timing issue? My motor is 100% stock and I have never cleaned the carbs or had a link/sync performed. With 2 guys full fishing gear and 50 gal of gas I got 38mph which is what she did when new. If one or more carbs were blocked I would have burned a cyl from a lean condition. I did a 3 mile WOT blast to clean her out and she ran great. I am thinking it is a bad carb or timing. What are your thoughts before I start shotgunning this thing. thanks, doug

 

[NY_SXR700]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

Another thing, do my carbs have a drain plug? I am wondering if I may have water in a float bowl. I know on my 2-stroke sleds if I have water in a bowl it may idle fine, may run fine on smooth ground. But, hammer down or hit some bumps and the water will splash the main jet and cause a dropped cyl until fuel gets back in the tube. Just a thought.

 

[NY_SXR700]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

To the top. Thanks

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

Where are you catching those fish?

 

[NY_SXR700]

Re: Oil mixing in the fuel filter?

Lake Ontario, It's white hot out there right now. First year in almost forever we are slamming Kings in the spring. Friend went out Sunday morning in the rain and went 10 for 11, 9 were Kings 2 over 20lbs. All between 6am and 11am. Lake Ontario is on FIRE!!! Browns are so easy you can't get your second rod set before the first one fires..... Now, back to my motor, it needs a little TLC.