Ethanol Problem

[Loneshark]

I went run my boat in the river on Thursday and it started to bog down and would only reach 4200 RPMS. When I got to the landing I pulled the fuel filters off and there were small plastic bits in the fuel. I cut open the fuel line and sure enough the lining had started to come apart. Does anyone know if there are screens or filters down stream from the filter before the injjectors? If not what do y'all recommend my next step be? The motor is a 2004 Mercury 150 EFI. Thanks in advance.

[Ray]

Not sure about the newer EFI motors, but he old Merc. carbed motors had a fuel
screen. There was a white looking plastic bowl to unscrew to get to the screen.

There should be an A-1 designation printed on the hoses that are ethanol resistant.
If there is no A-1 printed on the hoses, I would change them out ASAP. This includes
all hoses from the fill up fitting to the tank, from the tank to the motor, from the tank
to the vent and any hoses under the motor cowling.

[Gerald]

There should be a screen just before the fuel goes into the fuel pump on all outboards. Look where the fuel line connects to the engine.

There should be some screws there that you can take off to get to the screen.

[Loneshark]

Gerald,

Is the screen you are speaking of the square box to the right of the fuel filter?

Changed all lines and filters this weekend but want to make sure I get as much of this junk out before attempting to run it again.

Sorry picture didn't attach. I will try again.

[Loneshark]

Picture is still not working... Getting stuck on submitting to www.saltycajun.com

[Montauk17]

That motor has a inline filter,and a spin on filter on the VST tank(silver tank on the side of the engine). The spin on filter on the side looks like a oil filter. There is also very small filters on the fuel injectors that can get clogged.

[Loneshark]

Originally Posted by Montauk17

That motor has a inline filter,and a spin on filter on the VST tank(silver tank on the side of the engine). The spin on filter on the side looks like a oil filter. There is also very small filters on the fuel injectors that can get clogged.

Are there o-rings or gaskets that I will need to change if I open the silver tank that the screw on filter attatchs to? Will I be bitting off more than I can chew? I thought about taking it apart earlier but I couldn't find a parts diagram on-line that showed me all that was in there. But I really think it is a clogged injector or blocked screen.

[Montauk17]

Originally Posted by Loneshark

Are there o-rings or gaskets that I will need to change if I open the silver tank that the screw on filter attatchs to? Will I be bitting off more than I can chew? I thought about taking it apart earlier but I couldn't find a parts diagram on-line that showed me all that was in there. But I really think it is a clogged injector or blocked screen.

Yes there is a spagettii o-ring that seals the VST tank. If you had fuel lines coming apart you need to take the VST apart and clean it. Its not very hard if you have some mechanical talent. I see you live in lafayette,I can print you out a diagram if you want to stop by the prop shop on general mouton. We should have the o-ring to seal the VST in stock. Number at the shop is 235-5761 if you want to call first to make sure we have it in stock.

[Loneshark]

I'll try to stop by later today. Thanks for your help.

[Loneshark]

Took the VST apart this afternoon after montauk hooked me up with the gasket. The VST was pretty clean on the inside just a few very fine pieces of trash on the mesh screen on the bottom of the pump. After putting everything back together I pulled the spark plugs and three were fouled pretty bad. So either I am looking at it as a possible good sign or a possible bad sign. The good would be that they were just fouled and actually alerted me to a bigger problem and I could just run some ring free through it to clean things up. But I guess it could be that some of the plastic made it into the injectors causing the fouled plugs. For now I am going to hope for he best.

[Montauk17]

How old are the spark plugs?

[Loneshark]

I changed them last spring. I took my nephews and neices tubing about a month ago which was the last time I ran it other than a couple of short runs in the river. So I guess that could have caused the fouling.

[Montauk17]

To be on the safe side I would get the fuel injectors cleaned. We bring all of our injectors to L&M fuel injection. They are on the corner of bertrand and eraste landry.

[meathauler]

I lost 400 RPM last month and it was a clogged or bad injector. $350 later going great

[Montauk17]

I dont mean to scare you,but a clogged fuel injector can burn up your motor. Better to be safe than sorry.

[Loneshark]

Where are the actual injectors? The pump in the VST is just the high pressure pump. Correct?

[Montauk17]

Originally Posted by Loneshark

Where are the actual injectors? The pump in the VST is just the high pressure pump. Correct?

The injectors are on the fuel rail on the back of the block,kinda by the spark plugs. Yes the pump in the VST is the high pressure pump. There is also a low pressure diaphragm pump on the side of the block.

[Loneshark]

Originally Posted by Montauk17

The injectors are on the fuel rail on the back of the block,kinda by the spark plugs. Yes the pump in the VST is the high pressure pump. There is also a low pressure diaphragm pump on the side of the block.

I diagnosed the problem. I have no fuel injectors. LOL. I searched all over the damn thing even pulled a diagram of a fuel rail on crowleymarine and can't find it. Do you see it in the pics attached? Is it located behind another component?

[Montauk17]

Call me tomorrow with your serial number.