What the heck is in my fuel???

[Woodeneye]

Ethanol fuel. What a nightmare. It just causes no end of problems for the US and they are trying to mandate its use here in Australia! More about agricultural lobbyists if you ask me.

Does anyone know where to get non ethanol fuel around Westport MA? As an aside does anyone think that the ethanol fuel additives actually do anything to stop it gumming up and separating?

[Brendanpd28]

 Wingtime,  i'm going to call Marblehead trading company who owns that fuel dock tomorrow. But honestly, I'm sure they're going to tell me to go screw basically.

[boatnamesue]

Ethanol fuel. What a nightmare. It just causes no end of problems for the US and they are trying to mandate its use here in Australia! More about agricultural lobbyists if you ask me.

Does anyone know where to get non ethanol fuel around Westport MA? As an aside does anyone think that the ethanol fuel additives actually do anything to stop it gumming up and separating?

Google "non ethanol gas stations near me"

[mshugg]

Just thought of an idea....  Remove the sending unit and use my manual bilge pump to pump out all of the water settled at the bottom of the tank.  Will most likely just pump the entire tank out and start fresh though.

Consider something like this siphon pump instead.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014LEQC98?psc=1&widgetName=sp_syn_da_mobile_web&adId=200003728158611&widget=sp_syn_da_mobile_web&qualifier=1498830214&id=79855004033806&ie=UTF8&spPl=1&tag=dradisplay-20&ascsubtag=7ceb84f4145fab0b2f503caf9a35aee7_CT&ref=dra_a_rv_mr_ho_xx_P1400_1000

It will be safer and easier to control where the fuel goes.  I'm sure that you could make your own with tubing and a fuel primer bulb.

[Brendanpd28]

Update:  removed the quick connector from the end of my fuel line so I could just use my existing primer bulb to pump the fuel out of my tank.  First picture is of the fuel I drained from the water separator after pumping out a few gallons.  Second picture is after I pumped out about 10 gallons.  Looks to me like I got all of the separated fuel out of the bottom of the tank.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to test run the motor, sense when I was trying to rebuild my fuel pump I lost a spring overboard.  Spent about an hour diving and trying to find it with no luck Lol.  I think it's a good idea I get an entire new fuel pump assembly anyway, instead of just replacing the gaskets and diaphragm.  I will get a new fuel pump from my local Evinrude dealer tomorrow, hook her up quick, and give the motor a test run. Thank you for all of the input as always.

[RickK]

Looks much better.  I would find a source of non-ethanol.  As said earlier, the marina should not have ethanol.  Maybe they got some ethanol by mistake and it loosened all the shellac in their tank.

[Brendanpd28]

 Thanks Rick.  The fuel dock i usually use actually isn't a marina, it's privately owned by Marblehead trading company. There's another fuel dock a little deeper in the harbor at the Boston yacht club.  I will be using that fuel dock for now on.  I'm just hoping the phase separated fuel hasn't done any damage to the internal components to my motor.  Fingers crossed.  I am going to pick up a new fuel pump tomorrow and I will post on my results.

[RickK]

Ethanol is a solvent so it'll loosen anything it can.  Most of your stuff was replaced.

[Brendanpd28]

Good point Rick...thank you.  I got a new OMC fuel pump today and will be installing it later.  My last concern is the Carb bowls.  I ran the motor quite a bit before I noticed the water problem.  Do I need to somehow drain the bowls now?  I am not sure if this can be done on the 88 SPL motors without removing the carbs.

This is the link to a carb schematic of my motor.

https://www.marineengine.com/parts/johnson-evinrude-parts.php?year=1990&hp=88&model=E88MSLESA&manufacturer=Evinrude&section=Carburetor

Thanks!

[RickK]

I'm not a motorhead - someone that is will pop in to answer you.

[Brendanpd28]

 No worries Rick, thank you.  I discovered those lower plug screws for the high-speed jets were the proper place to drain the carb bowl's.  Got her started out an idling for about a half an hour today with some more seafoam added to the fuel. Have yet to take her for a test run though.  I wasn't in the mental state today to get another tow, worst case scenario lol.  I will post on the results of the first cruise after all of this.

[Brendanpd28]

Update:  installed the new fuel pump the other day and ran her at idle for at least a half an hour.  Ran her again today for a while at idle and did about a two minute putt just around my slip.   Seems to be running OK, just not as smooth as usual it seems.  There's also a constant fuel slick around the motor. I've checked everywhere for a fuel leak but it seems to just be coming from the exhaust. Decided to inspect the new plugs now that I've had her running for a little bit.  Below are the pictures of all four plugs.  Last one looks to be a little lean to me but I'm no expert.

[Brendanpd28]

Well I'm gunna go ahead and say it's my tank vent. My buddy had the boat out the last 2 days with no issues. I decided to check the filter today before heading out and this is what I found. Pumped out all the water again. Gunna throw a clamshell or something over the vent.

[RickK]

It never occurred to me that a vent was letting in water.  Is this a new location for the vent?

[Brendanpd28]

Hey Rick,

    It was a thought that it could be coming from the vent but I really didnt think so because of the large quantity of water.  The vent is the same location as the original but it is a different style vent......a BAD STYLE.  Below is a picture of one.  Both vent holes face downward but the front one faces towards the bow and probably gets riddled with splash water!  I will need to get a large clamshell to cover it and face it downward and aft.