First problem was, run fine but would not idle; checked water separator filter, I was looking for water ring, so I thought no water, told later ethanol gas does not show a water ring; changed fuel filter, found a piece of rubber in the filter; thought great that’s it! Now motor will not start, it is "82 model I/O, so thinking varnish or trash in jets, etc; going to use Gumout carb cleaner, even though mechanic said “don’t use that stuff”. Another mechanic/friend said change plugs or at least examine them, and check fuel pump for pumping into carb bowl. I know a lot of posts have been on here concerning ethanol, I DID use Startron double dose for first use as diredted on can. Gas is 6 months old, boat only used 3 times, all in one month; so info on storage of ethanol gas would be helpful, I have read some posts on that. Any other suggestions from experience with our new headache?
PS: I thought when I bought the gas that the additive would work, also been told the additive may not be working. Also I see many similar posts about stalling out, rough idling, etc. that I believe are fuel related in most cases also.
I have had a similar problem 3 times in two years. Once on a 1998 Yamaha 25 2 stroke, once on a 2002 Yamaha 90 2 stroke and finally again last week on a 2006 Yamaha 25 2 stroke.
I have made certain to use gas at non-ethanol stations (hopefully…I asked the owner plus they have a big no ethanol sign out front).
Each one requires a carb re-build.
Here is one thing I have noticed…I have always used sta-bil in my engines. When the blue came out I switched from red to blue.
When I started hearing about ethanol I also started using Startron as a “precaution”.
Each engine ran great UNTIL I added startron…then the carbs would clog.
So…my conclusion…right or wrong is that each of these engines and or fuel systems has had some buildup of varnish or something over time. Something (starton?) has caused each of them to clog the carbs…and each time it is within a few weeks to a month of the initial dose of Startron.
I am starting to think that Starton is dissovling/dislodging old “stuff” and sending it in chunks through the carbs.
Maybe not…but that is the only thing changing on these engines since I have been purposely avoiding ethanol.
After one cleaning (for between $200 and $400) each they are fine.
The fact that there is ethanol in the fuel will not effect the way it burns, at least not much (technically you get a few fewer BTUs.)
The problems that come with ethanol are generally of two flavors.
The first flavor is that since ethanol carries more moisture with it, you can get enough moisture in your fuel for it to separate out. You always have some moisture in your fuel and it rides along completely mixed in the fuel and goes through the motor normally. The problems happen when you get enough moisture that it starts to separate out. That separated water will not pass a water separator filter and once the filter fills with water, no fuel can pass. And, you’re dead in the water.
The second flavor of problem that comes with ethanol is that it is a different solvent than our tanks, lines, fitting, filters, carbs, fuel injection setups have been using. Over months and years of no ethanol, those systems gather crud that ethanol will dissolve. Then, when you get your first few tanks of ethanol blend you wash all that crud loose. It goes into fuel filters, pumps, carbs, injection pumps, etc.
If you’re problem sound like the first flavor, maybe you just need a new filter element.
If it sounds like the second flavor? Well, I ended up buying a couple of carb kits and rebuilding my carbs. That having been done, I have not had any problems for about 1 and 1/2 years and I don’t use any fuel additive. I just try to keep my fuel tank either completely full of very nearly empty. Either way will help minimize the condensation of water inside the tank while the old girl sits on the trailer.
17’ Henry O Hornet
26’ Palmer Scott
Thanks, Fishon; sounds like you are onto something, as stated before, Startron has been under suspicion, maybe as you say, it’s because it dissolves old sludge, but how did you clean the carbs, because mechanics say rebuild rather than clean, I just hope Gumout will do the job, we’ll see.
“The big one’s still swimming, let’s go.”
You said it won’t crank now, correct?
It takes three things to make a motor crank and is the starting point for all cranking troubleshooting
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Fuel - look into the carb throat and pump the accelerator or pull fuel ine at carb and see if you are getting gas
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Spark- Is spark present to the plugs?
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Compression - ?
Which one of these is not there and then we will go from there
Rick
Answer is 1, but I forgot to fill the separator with fuel, so figure I need to fill it and prime with gas in the carb, just wanted some input before I continue my work. The separator fuel did look a little light in color, but I thought the water would separate, so I 'll probably change the separator filter also after Palmer Scott’s comments.
“The big one’s still swimming, let’s go.”