ETHANOL Problems

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:48 am

Anyone having problems with Ethanol?

Our Trojan F32 has diesels, but my 25' Chaparral Express runs a 454 with Quadrajet. After sitting for 4 months, we ran it Saturdey on the hill, and it seemed OK, so we splashed it Sunday to go King fishing. It quit running (just bogged) after about 6 miles @ 1,800 RPM.

The Quadrajet carb was spewing fuel into (and all over the top of) the engine, so we opened the engine hatch and let it air out. I pulled the Qjet apart and made sure the float wasn't sticking, the float needle was working properly, the metering rods weren't hung and the accel pump was pumping. Put it back together and fuel still flowed out the top (mostly around the accel pump shaft).

We could keep it running at 1,500-2,000 RPM, which was unsafe, so called TowBoatUS ($100/year). Looks like the ethanol has eaten my accel pump seals - and possibly the rest of the seals.

Anyone else having problems with Ethanol?

I'm looking into rebuild kits, and see the Ethanol friendly kits use Viton (Dupont) seals. Anyone else have experience here?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:17 pm

deleted so not to offend

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:23 pm

prowlersfish wrote:Yep I weedwacker down the pick in the tank eatten away lawn mower leaking fuel every where .arrrrrrrrrggggg?

I think that was a sentence?

Paul · Post by **Paul** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 1:42 pm

Hi Ross,

If you have fuel that high up in the fuel bowl, where it's seeping out around the accelerator pump shaft, the plunger on the float is not doing it's job. Is this plunger rubber or steel tipped? If rubber, it may simply be time for a re-build. If steel, the fuel pressure entering the carb may be too high. Do you have an electric pump? If so, does it have a regulator?
Dirt can also keep this plunger from seating correctly.

Hope this helps

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:13 pm

The float plunger is metal, and the fuel pump is the stock, Mercruiser belt-driven fuel pump with no pressure regulator that has worked for 2-3 years.

Is the seat rubber, or was there possibly a rubber piece on the plunger that has dissolved off?

Perhaps, as you say, dirt OR the mix of ethanol and non-ethanol fuels has created a gum which has now lodged in the float plunger seat? It ran OK on Sat (old fuel), but went bad after several miles (15 minuets?) on Sunday. The seat and plunger both looked visually clean when inspected when I tore the carb apart at anchor in the harbor Sunday.

For reference, I replaced the fuel/water separator (little/no water in it) on Sat, and left my 100 gallon tank filled all winter to reduce condensation.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 7:17 pm

deleted so not to offend

kevin babineau · Post by **kevin babineau** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:29 pm

i had several boats last year do this..rebuilt the carb..but one was bc the fuel pump put out 17lbs i pulled my hair out trying to figure that one out

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:30 am

Standard carb rebuild kit?

or did you find one with the Viton seals?

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 1:18 am

eye understand!

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:22 pm

I dont know what the heck you guys are talking about,, its like you guys are speaking like the riddler on batman,,, riddle me this...... lol

farfrompuken · Post by **farfrompuken** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:41 pm

i use this and it works great

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:14 am

Riddler?
Batman?
E-Zore?

I'm confused too ... just looking for anyone that has had issues with Ethanol "eating" their carb seals.

farfrompuken · Post by **farfrompuken** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:49 pm

yes had problems with ethanol. i rebuilt both carbs. guy that i use for rebiulding said( for quadrajets) he has a newer gaskets and seals that is ethanol friendly.THEN I USED THE EZZORB

jwrape · Post by **jwrape** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:44 am

Yea, Ethonal is harder on rubber parts than gasoline.

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:17 am

Are things different in the US? All Shell marinas in Ontario supply zero Ethanol Gold fuel at the dock because of the negatives of it. You should see what it does to two stroke engines as it attacks the oil in the mix!

Trojan Boat Forum

ETHANOL Problems

ETHANOL Problems

Shell Marinas no Ethanol