I'm done lurking, now I need some help

[Snarf]

Over the winter I bought a 98 explorer 215 with a 200 Evinrude Ocean Pro. Ran it on muffs and it started and ran great at purchase. Ran it at home on muffs on several occasions with no issues except for a 15 second constant alarm after the initial start up alarm sequence test. I took it out on its maiden voyage and didn't get to far. I don't know why it didn't happen when parked but the fuel is about 50/50 fuel & water. I can only guess that when parked the water and fuel had settled and separated but the trip to the lake mixed it all up. I made it about 300 yards with normal acceleration and then it ran out of clean fuel and died. I pulled the line apart at the inline filter and squeezed the bulb and pumped some gas into empty water bottles and found the 50/50 mix. Other than draining the tank, replacing the fuel water separator filter and getting some fresh gas and seafoam, is there anything else I need to do? What is the alarm at start up?

[flounderpounder225]

Fortunately these older carb'd motors are pretty resilient and can handle a little water, unlike the new FI motors, however, if you had that much separation on the fuel sample, you need to get rid of all of it, most area landfills and environmental recycling places can handle the old fuel, around here on craigs list, guys are selling the empty plastic barrels, find someone with a hand crank pump, remove the sending unit, and pump that old stuff out, there is nothing else that can be done, don't put any more chemicals in there that claim they will "absorb" the water, it ain't happening.  Believe me, I went through the whole bad fuel deal, towed in twice, easier to deal with it now and be done.
Here was my thread viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7132&hilit=+Fuel+sample

[Georgie]

As Marc said, drain her, flush the lines, put new fuel in (new fuel doesn't need seafoam unless you think it's gonna sit) and run her again.  For what it's worth, that's a TERRIBLY watery fuel mix.  Curious how it separates percentage-wise once you drain the tank.     I'm a bit worried b/c if it was previously bad/separated fuel, the water should've been on the bottom and the fuel on top, and since the fuel pickup is on the bottom she shoud've run poorly when you first tested her if the fuel was bad....Hmmmm....

The gang needs exact details on the 15 second alarm to give you any feedback.   Could be serious, could be minor.

i.e.

1) how long after ignition did it begin?
2) what did you do to make it stop?
3) intermittent or constant?
etc.
etc.

[wingtime]

You should have gotten a fault light with the alarm.  what was that?     Also as already said.... dump the fuel.  Clean the tank and start over.  Not sure where you are but you might be able to get a fuel polisher to come out... they will pump put the old fuel and filter out any junk in the tank at the same time...  then fill her back up with non-ethanol if you can find it locally.  (pure-gas.org to find a source near you)

[Snarf]

I will drain all fuel, flush and start over. While I was still on the lake, I filled plastic water bottles and in 5-10 minutes they separated out to 50/50 and some were probably closer to 60/40. My first thought was a hole in the tank taking on bilge water, but when I got out of the lake and pulled the drain plug, there was less than a quart of bilge water.
  Georgie:
      1- within 2-3 seconds of starting, cold start or warmed up.
      2- I don't do anything, it stops after 15 seconds, every time.
      3- Its a constant(non-beeping) alarm.
 The key on sequence goes as normal, fault light test followed by a single beep.
 No fault lights on dash during the 15 second alarm tone.
 Only other thing I know of I can add, the gas guage does not work, sending unit it dead and definately needs replacing.

[flounderpounder225]

I will drain all fuel, flush and start over. While I was still on the lake, I filled plastic water bottles and in 5-10 minutes they separated out to 50/50 and some were probably closer to 60/40. My first thought was a hole in the tank taking on bilge water, but when I got out of the lake and pulled the drain plug, there was less than a quart of bilge water.
  Georgie:
      1- within 2-3 seconds of starting, cold start or warmed up.
      2- I don't do anything, it stops after 15 seconds, every time.
      3- Its a constant(non-beeping) alarm.
 The key on sequence goes as normal, fault light test followed by a single beep.
 No fault lights on dash during the 15 second alarm tone.
 Only other thing I know of I can add, the gas guage does not work, sending unit it dead and definately needs replacing.

Water and ethanol mixture create an acidic mixture, probably corroded the windings on the sending unit resistive coil.... Do the normal sending unit check anyway, ground the pink wire at the sending unit with the key on and watch the Gage, if it pegs full, the sender is most likely shot... Mine is...

[Snarf]

Someday I'll learn more attention to detail. If I had noticed that 1 of the 4 lights during the self test wasn't working, it would have made life a little easier. The light thats not working is the "Low Oil" bulb. I checked the oil tank and there was about an inch of oil. I filled the tank and the alarm is gone. Now I need to replace the bulb. I finished the tank cleanout, not as much water as I thought. Still not sure why it didn't act up until I got to the lake unless the fuel pickup wasn't getting the water because of the angle the boat was sitting at while parked. Any suggestions on where to get the fuel sending unit? Anyways, all seems fine for now. I'll know more after the next trip out.
  Thanks for the help, I'm sure I'll have more question soon.

[GoneFission]

The fuel sending unit is a standard part - get the Teleflex universal sender that you cut to fit - just follow the instructions on the package:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid= ... &_from=R40