Re: OMC 5.7 acceleration problem - Update 30nov2009
Re: OMC 5.7 acceleration problem - Update 30nov2009
I finally got a chance to test run the boat for a few hours on Sunday. It accelerates much, much better and the idle is steady and smooth now. But I still have some problems and I believe they were probably created by some of the changes I made, I think they are mostly electrical gremlins now. I could write a book about every tiny detail that I have done, but I want to give the basics and if there are questions or criticisms, let'em roll; it helps.
Maclin, you can stop rolling on the floor laughing now!

Save it, cause you'll probably bust a gut on the next paragraph after this list...
These are the things that were done prior to the test run:
- new plugs gapped properly
- newly rebuilt qjet from National Carb
- new Holly marine red electric fuel pump
- new esa from cdi (verified to work properly after install)
- new fuel/water filter/separator
- new 3/8" I.D. fuel fitting and hose from the tank to the carb
I swear i'm not a complete boob, but I will get lazy on things here and there. The electric choke and the fuel pump are hooked up to the back of the alternator. This is where the original crappy fuel pump was hooked up, because whatever that connection is, it is switched when the key is switched to run because I hear the fuel pump, and the pressure gauge goes to 6lbs and I can watch the choke open after some time. I am not saying it is right, but that is where both are hooked up currently. That being said, I think the fuel pump is not getting enough current and that is causing the fuel pressure to fluctuate and the engine to be starved at the upper RPM ranges. I have an inline fuel pressure gauge and at idle it is rock solid 6lbs, under some load, it swings between 2-6lbs wildly, but the engine doesn't seem to bog or be affected. It is only when I get up into the higher RPM range and then hammer it, that I get a 1 second noticeable delay before what I believe is the fuel pump trying to catch up. The problem is reproducible 100% of the time and at the same operating RPM range. For example, I am on plane and around 2800-3600RPM and can nail it up to a certain point and no hesitation, just instant response and power. Try the same thing already running around 3700-4200rpm and the engine will bog for a split second before it catches up and gets going... every time.
I will post some pictures of all this so it makes more sense what I am talking about as far as the fuel pump layout and what not.
The fuel pump is mounted as low as I could get it without it being in the bilge and it is about one foot away from the tank fitting. The Holly manual said to mount it below the tank or at least low enough so it could form a siphon if pulling from the top of the tank. The intake on my fuel pump is about an inch or two below the lowest point of the tank. As I understand it, the Holly pumps are push and not pull type pumps and need to be gravity fed.
Here is another one, at high speeds when trying to trim up, the voltage drag is so much, that it causes the engine to bog until I let off the trim. The voltage indicator swings to 8-9 volts until I let up and then right back to normal of 14. It's not the ESA malfunctioning and munging the engine... anyone got any ideas. I will get it all sorted out eventually, but any advice to make it go quicker would be appreciated.
Any of my "theories" sound accurate?
I am seriously considering just having my original carb rebuilt by National Carb and going back to the manual choke and also ditching the electric fuel pump for a new Holley marine mechanical pump. Puts everything back to factory and gets rid of two pesky electrical connections from the choke and electric pump. When I started on all this I was sold that this was the way to go, but the more I understand (or don't understand) about electrical systems, the more it just makes me want to eliminate any unnecessary electrical connections into the stock wiring. I can tell you that the stupid aftermarket radio, cheap amp and crap speakers are getting yanked out of there today. That radio has so many connections, it just makes a complete birds nest under my dash. The amp and speakers are not hooked up right anyway, and the only good part about the whole radio and system that was put in (not by me), is that there is a good size positive and negative wire already run from the back of the boat directly from one of the batteries. I am leaving those wires in so they can be used for a bus bar or something similar in the future.
Well, it turned out to be a long post anyway, but it covers most everything.
Last question is that if everything is running perfect and the engine is developing all it's HP and torque, it just seems like the boat takes longer to get on plane than I would like, and feels like it is struggling. That is with only 1/2 tank of gas (30 gals) and me in the boat... add a full tank and 4-5 adults and I wonder how long I have to plow water before getting on plane. Prop is aluminum 3blade 14.5x19p non-cupped. I am thinking about going to a SS 4blade 14.125"x18P. Most of the boating during the season will be tubing, skiing and stop and go type action all day, so don't mind losing a couple of MPH in top-end, but would really like to give this boat a much better hole-shot to get on plane quicker. Boat is about 20' in the water, 22'10" overall and estimated weight is 4800lbs with full fuel and rated passenger load. Thoughts?
Thank you,
The CrappieDuster