Same Problem Again

[mike-the-cobra]

Got the boat back from the shop last week. Remember the story how my "new" old boat died 2 minutes into it's maiden voyage leaving me stranded on the lake? Well i took it in and they ended up draining 2 gallons of water out of the tank, put in fuel treatment and new fuel/water seperator. They told me I would need to keep an eye on it until we knew the water was completely gone.

Ran it a couple times in the driveway this week. Pulled the seperator before going out and it didn't look good, poured it in a glass, seperation of 1/2 inch on the top and 3 inches on the bottom. So I took it out to a lake last night. Put it in the water, started it up. Ran for about a minute then died. Same as last time, would barely idle for a few seconds then die. Got it home, pulled off the water seperator and it's contents was once again the color of beer. But no visable seperation this time? So I assume now the carb is full of water cause it won't start at all.

So now my problems (although searching it appears it is just not MY problem) are to pull off the floor and see how I can completely drain the tank, and then figure out how the h3ll this water is getting in! Apparently the previous owner had the same problem last year. I have receipts from them draining the gas tank, and even installing a new gas cap (maybe they thought it was getting in that way). I need to make sure the gas vent has a loop in it also (read that somewhere)

I am going to call the shop I took it too last week, but 2 days ago they has a big fire there and I am not sure if they are even open for business at this point.

How frustrating, I have gotten to drive this boat for 2 minutes total so far! LOL. Thanks for letting me vent........

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Same Problem Again

You drain the tank by disconnecting the fuel line and siphoning or pumping the fuel out. There will likely be an anti siphon valve at the outlet of the tank so that would likely need to be removed to enable this process. Replace it with a brass hose barb available in the plumbing dept at any home improvement or hardware store. How old is the fuel? Is the boat stored outside and uncovered? Is there water in the bilge repeatedly? Does the bilge smell like gasoline. If water is getting into the tank, it is not from a hole in the tank. If water can get in through a hole, fuel can get out (unless the hole is in the top of the tank of course). Do you have some kids (or brainless adults) that are helping keep your tank full (of water). Think about all of this before spending lots of money and ripping things apart. The answer is often a very inexpensive fix.

 

[mike-the-cobra]

Re: Same Problem Again

Is the boat stored outside and uncovered? Is there water in the bilge repeatedly? Does the bilge smell like gasoline. If water is getting into the tank, it is not from a hole in the tank. If water can get in through a hole, fuel can get out (unless the hole is in the top of the tank of course). Do you have some kids (or brainless adults) that are helping keep your tank full (of water). Think about all of this before spending lots of money and ripping things apart. The answer is often a very inexpensive fix.

_________________________________________________________________

Bilge does not smell like gas, no gas leaks. No kids or brainless adults, nobody touches it but me, in my yard. Boat is outside always covered with bow and cockpit covers. It poured for hours last Friday and didn't have enough water for the bilge pump to even pump out. But the gas cap is right at the corner of the cockpit cover.

but it did pur Friday, The day after I got it back and I am wondering if that is how the water is getting in (gas cap which is new hinged snap on type) or the gas vent. Don't know how old the gas is, I topped it off with 5 gallons the 1st time I tried to use it (18 gallon tank).

I might try stuffing a rag in the gas fill tube and soak the boat with water and see if the rag gets wet?

I have looked at many posts here with pictures of contaminated gas and they are the exact color of mine, color of beer....

 

[rbh]

Re: Same Problem Again

good bye old gas hello new
and put a new o-ring on the gas cap if it has one, cheap insurance
rob

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: Same Problem Again

I need to make sure the gas vent has a loop in it also (read that somewhere)

.....are you sure about that ???? My understanding is that the vent line should NOT be looped......which would present a pee-trap effect thus inhibiting venting and guaranteeing a minor spill at the next fill-up.

If you are as anal as I am about keeping you yatch clean, check that the gasket in the fuel tank sending unit's RECESS is not continually filling with washdown water/condensation.

FWIW....Ed in 'ol Virginny

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Same Problem Again

The vent tube can have a swan neck in it but not a loop.
Good idea about a dry rag in the fill tube and water test.
Do you have a vent/overflow port on the hull? I just lost a motor due the failure of one (typical $10 part "costs" more than a motor!). Also it didn't have a swan neck. If it's at the stern, maybe water is getting in when you launch. Overall, if you have a vent hole, I bet that's the source. However in your case it sounds like you are getting water in while on the trailer.
To drain the tank, disconnect the fuel line from the seperator and run it out through the drain plug hole. Hook up your priming bulb to help pump.

Check your fittings on the top of the tank--sending unit, fill and outflow--for holes. But I don't know how they'd let so much watter in.

Buy your gas elsewhere.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Same Problem Again

Draining the tank using the fuel pick-up is not going to do the trick. It will leave the contents of the bottom of the tank in tact and this is the stuff you really need to remove.

To best drain the tank you need to remove the sending unit. I made up a tank siphon using a 36" long piece of flexible copper tubing as the "probe", a 24" price of clear plastic tubing, a primer bulb, then 6' of tubing behind the bulb.

Remove the sending unit and tilt the front of the boat up. The water will lie in the bottom corner of the tank. I stuck the probe in the corner and siphoned away. It did take long to siphon the water out from under the fuel. Treat the remaining contents with Startron and you should be good to go.

 

[mike-the-cobra]

Re: Same Problem Again

Just pulled floor, plastic tank! Dang...

 

[gene8084]

Re: Same Problem Again

Draining the tank using the fuel pick-up is not going to do the trick. It will leave the contents of the bottom of the tank in tact and this is the stuff you really need to remove.


To best drain the tank you need to remove the sending unit.

Agreed. I went through all of this with my boat. Previous owner had it outside, no cover above the sending unit for a year and a lot of water got in. Thought I had it all by siphon...in the end after pulling the sending unit and getting every drop I decanted 5 gallons of crap.

Pull the sending unit. Do it right once and get it all. I doubt all that water got in since the shop did it. They simply didn't get it all.​

Loosen the bottom bolts on the carb bowl to drain the gas. Otherwise the carb should be ok if you don't leave it too long. A little dry gas couldn't hurt to get any low lying water remaining in the carb.​

Last, confirm you get a good spray of fuel when you depress the accelerater pump. The pump can get all gummed up if they've been watered for before.
​

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Same Problem Again

If you have a compressor you can siphon fuel with a solvent gun. (air gun w/hose attached). You may have to put a longer hose on the gun but it works well.

 

[Adjuster]

Re: Same Problem Again

If you live in a large boating area/community there should be mobile trucks that can come to your home, pump out your tank dry, polish the fuel removing all contaminants and put it right back in your tank.