Ran for 10 min then died

[jlinder]

I pulled the boat out for the season and started prepping it for a trip out on the lake. Started up fine and ran it for about 10 minutes - no problems.

Then engine died and would not restart.

Pulled the gas-water separator to look for water. No water, but lots of crud in there. Going out to get a new one but for now flushed out and filled with gas and put back on.

Engine ran for about 30 seconds to a minute then died again. Removed separator and empty again.

I read the FAQ from Don S. (thanks Don) on this and am going out to pickup what I need to run the tests suggested but thought I would post a question here to see if someone has any ideas.

Specifics: 1988 OMC drive w/ 5.0L GM engine

My thoughts:
1. Separator/filter needs to be replaced. Getting one now.
2. Where did all the crud come from? Suspect problem/dirt in the tank.
3. Believe the fuel pump is working since the fuel is being sucked out of the separator and fed to the carb.
4. Believe problem is between the separator and the tank. Wonder if there is a clog somewhere in the line from the separator to the tank? Going to try putting a clear line in place to see if anything is passing from the tank and what it looks like.

Any suggestions?

 

[chopperdog]

Re: Ran for 10 min then died

Hi,

I have just dealt with a similar problem.

It is possible your ESA has gone bad.
It is an black box located behind the W shaped mechanism that connects to your transom shift cable.

The ESA connects to the Ignition interupt switch.
The ESA has the ability to interupt power to your coil.
It is supposed to do this a little, but if it fails, it can completely cancel the power to your coil.

The way I checked it was to take a jumper cable from the + side of a battery to the + side of the coil. My engine started and ran great.
Do not run it this way, it is just to diagnose the problem.

If this is the case with you, the problem is probably in your ESA or interupt and over shift switches.

Good luck.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Ran for 10 min then died

Chopperdog -

Thanks. I thought this posting did not work and I reposted with engine not getting fuel.

I found that by filling up the fuel filter it would run again so fuel is the problem.

The engine died after about 30 seconds and I found the fuel filter empty again.

I have ordered a new fuel filter an hope that fixes it.

Thanks

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Ran for 10 min then died

You have bigger problems that your fuel filter...its the fuel in your tank. You need to drain all the crud that is apparently at the bottom of your tank and clogging your fuel filters.

 

[Charlieg]

Re: Ran for 10 min then died

i had this same problem a while back, On a automobile, but it sounds like the same symptoms. the screen on the fuel pickup inside the tank was so restricted with debris nothing i did helped. i finally found this after alot of cash and busted "wrench Knuckles" , it sounds like your problem is in the tank itself, you can change the filter 1000 times and you will never solve the problem. the tank needs to be compleetly drained and cleaned and or coated, this is fairly simple in an automobile but depending on the type of tank in your boat this can be verry difficult. hope this helps! good luck.

 

[jlinder]

Re: Ran for 10 min then died

Got the new fuel filter finally and engine now working. Will run for a bit and then pull the filter to check for debris.

Don't know what to do about the tank if it is full of crud. It is built in so I would have to rip out the deck to get it out.

Now that I think about it can't remember changing the filter, don't know how old it was.

What should the interval be for replacing these?

 

[Don S]

Re: Ran for 10 min then died

Don't know what to do about the tank if it is full of crud. It is built in so I would have to rip out the deck to get it out.

You can clean water and small bits of crud out of the tank with a cheap automotive electric fuel pump some hose, some small copper tubing and an empty container.

Here is from a reply I posted a few years ago.

Now, to get the water out of the tank, try this.
First, head to NAPA and get a cheap electric fuel pump. Make and model doesn't make any difference. Pickup some fittings for the pump so you can attach some 1/4" ID clear tubing to both ends of the pump. Then get you a couple of feet of copper tubing that will fit tight inside the clear tubing, and put it on the pickup side of the pump. Make the output hose long enough to go into a container for your junk gas.
Now, put some wires on the pump (a red and black will work..... red for positive and black for negative) put some clips on the end so you can hook to a battery.
NOW, since water always settles to the bottom of the tank, raise the bow of the boat so the back of the tank is lower than the front. The water will also head to the back.
Then remove the fuel pickup tube from the tank (make sure the fuel level is low enough when you start that it doesn't run out of the fitting when you pull it out).
Start your electric fuel pump and stick the copper tube all the way to the bottom, move it around and you will get all the water and leave the gas.

Dispose of the contaminated fuel properly