sludge in my carb

[macr6]

Okay, here we go again.

98 3.0L merc 4cyl

rebuilt the carb a while back and put in a water/fuel sep filter. When I rebuilt the carb it was full of this jelly type fuel. Cleaned it out installed the filter and the boat ran great. Ran about 26 miles mostly wot.

The next weekend I fill up the boat with about 18 gallons and put it in the water. Having hesitation problems again right outta the gate. Long story short I brake the carb down again and it's filled with the same nasty jelly stuff. That is the best way to explain this.

Anyone know what that is? is it water, bad gas? do I need to drain the tank

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: sludge in my carb

It`s too many additives in the fuel.Under the right conditions it will turn to a jelly.you may have to drain the tank and start over with just fresh fuel.This has also happened in aircraft with very nasty results.

 

[macr6]

Re: sludge in my carb

The problem is how do I drain the tank. I just filled it up with gas when I took it out last. 26 gallons. The only thing I can think of is getting those 5 gallon gas tanks and filling each one of them up I can't get the tank out without taking the engine out

 

[skeat]

Re: sludge in my carb

Is that gas with ethanol that you are running? I never experienced it but was told that that's what the gas looks like when it separates. Nothing you can do but drain the tank. You might find quite a bit of water in the tank also as that lays below the jelly layer.

 

[macr6]

Re: sludge in my carb

Is that gas with ethanol that you are running? I never experienced it but was told that that's what the gas looks like when it separates. Nothing you can do but drain the tank. You might find quite a bit of water in the tank also as that lays below the jelly layer.

No ethanol gas in there. Just 87 oct reg.

Anyone have any ideas on the "easiest" way of getting the gas out of the tank then cleaning it while the tank is still in the boat.

Boat is a 98 capri 1750 from bayliner.

 

[skeat]

Re: sludge in my carb

I siphoned my out through the boat drain using a hose with a primer bulb from an outboard fuel line. I had to get access to the top of the tank first and remove the fill hose though. You have to be careful with pumps because so many can't be used with gasoline

 

[macr6]

Re: sludge in my carb

I siphoned my out through the boat drain using a hose with a primer bulb from an outboard fuel line. I had to get access to the top of the tank first and remove the fill hose though. You have to be careful with pumps because so many can't be used with gasoline

What did you do with the gas that you took out of the tank? I have a full tank minus a gallon or two.

I need suggestions on what to do with all that gas. Any ideas on what to put it in would be much appreciated.

 

[skeat]

Re: sludge in my carb

I drained my gas for the winter (not because it was bad) so I just put it in my car. I don't know how you could get rid of the bad gasoline, probably have to check with the local authorities unless someone here has a different approach

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: sludge in my carb

EASY way to get rid of the gas is put an ad on criagslist saying ... free gas... landscapers or people with 2 strokes will come and get it in a heartbeat. I rebuilt a boat with a 40 gallon tank that was completly full... I put an ad on criagslist and with in an hour I had three responses... they came and syphoned it out and everything. I told them it was about 9 months old they didnt care... My nieghbor did the same thing

 

[macr6]

Re: sludge in my carb

EASY way to get rid of the gas is put an ad on criagslist saying ... free gas... landscapers or people with 2 strokes will come and get it in a heartbeat. I rebuilt a boat with a 40 gallon tank that was completly full... I put an ad on criagslist and with in an hour I had three responses... they came and syphoned it out and everything. I told them it was about 9 months old they didnt care... My nieghbor did the same thing

That is a great idea! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[John_S]

Re: sludge in my carb

#1 sounds like what you have.

"http://www.fishingclub.com/Fishing/Newsletters/Week_of_11-12-07/Water_In_Your_Gas.asp?cstid=006034492752"

 

[rodbolt]

Re: sludge in my carb

when you did the carb did you also clean the filter on the fuel pump and flush the pump to carb line ?

 

[Bondo]

Re: sludge in my carb

What did you do with the gas that you took out of the tank? I have a full tank minus a gallon or two.

Ayuh,........

Why would you throw Away all that Expen$ive Ga$,..??..??.....

You're trying to get rid of a few Qt.s of Contamination, a couple of Gallons at the Most.............
Which is no doubt laying on the Bottom of the tank,.......
All that Gas that's above the contamination is Good Gas,......

In other words,.........
Throw out the Bath Water,......... Not the Baby too.......................

 

[capecodder116]

Re: sludge in my carb

I totally agree with Bondo....I've siphoned off 85 gallons from my tank into 5 gallon jugs over the course of a few weeks and burned it off in my pick up truck...then flushed out and cut a 6" inspection hole in the aluminum tank so I could clean all the crap out that settled to the bottom....dammed if I was going to give away over $250.00 bucks in fuel....

 

[macr6]

Re: sludge in my carb

Ayuh,........

Why would you throw Away all that Expen$ive Ga$,..??..??.....

You're trying to get rid of a few Qt.s of Contamination, a couple of Gallons at the Most.............
Which is no doubt laying on the Bottom of the tank,.......
All that Gas that's above the contamination is Good Gas,......

In other words,.........
Throw out the Bath Water,......... Not the Baby too.......................

Well I got rid of the gas already. checked out the tank and there is nothing on the bottom of the tank I'm guessing there was water mixed in with the gas or that it was bad gas. After I rebuilt my carb I took the boat out and ran it for 20-some miles. It ran fine. Took it out the next week, filled it up with gas, and had problems. Took the carb apart and there is jelly in it.

I drained the tank, installed a water/fuel sep, so there shouldn't be any water in my fuel anylonger. Hopefully this is fixed or anyone else would have a suggestion