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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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fuel line advisory

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/15/2010 : 06:32:20

So...our 5 yr old Mercury 8hp (+ 500 hrs) has been running fine...last weekend it died on the way in to the marina, so we sailed in under partially furled genny (always great fun !)...the yard took a look and there is rubber in the carb and fuel pump - apparently the rubber fuel line from the tank to the motor has degraded badly...their recommendation is to replace the carb (rebuild kits are not available)and pump and fuel hose. My point is that I've never heard of replacing the rubber fuel line as a step of preventive maintenance, but I guess it's become something to do...

Jerry

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 06:46:57

Replace the carb???? May be the easest solution but, I think it is a money maker for the marina. I guess it's possible for the ethanol in fuel to degrade the fuel line byt if that's the case, it would likely be a more widespread issue. I'm also surprised the the in-line fuel filter didn't filter out the "rubber". Unless, of course, it's the hose after the filter that is degraded but, I doubt it. My motor is also 5 years old and the hoses look new. I wonder if they're looking at gummy fuel deposits and calling it rubber?

I think I'd change the fuel filter, maybe change the tank-motor fuel line since it is exposed to UV and ethanol, spray some carb cleaner into the carb a few times and see what happens. For good measure, throw in a couple new spark plugs.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 07:02:39

I agree with John, replacing the carb isn't necessary. I've got 35 year old carburetors on a Johnson 50 that are still preforming nicely. I suppose a tiny piece could slip by the filter and clog the jet but a little cleaning or carb cleaner should do the job nicely.

I had a 2 year old Primer bulb fall apart on me a couple weeks ago. Wonder if it was ethanol?

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jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 08:00:02

Check the outside of the flexible fuel lines for labeling that says the line is approved for fuel containing ethanol. If you do not find that labeling and you have used ethanol contaminated gasoline then you have your answer on the source of the problem.

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 08:50:03

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jbkayaker
 Check the outside of the flexible fuel lines for labeling that says the line is approved for fuel containing ethanol. If you do not find that labeling and you have used ethanol contaminated gasoline then you have your answer on the source of the problem.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Maybe.

If the mfg made these with hoses not compatible with ethanol, this would be a rather common problem since there are thousands of Mercury/Nissan/Tohatsu motors our there. I've never heard of rubber in the carbeurator. But, then again, there are lots of things I've never heard of.

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jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 09:20:02

My 1999 Nissan outboard had the problem. When he fixed my engine my mechanic told me he had seen dozens of old outboards with the same problem. So in my view it IS a common problem.

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Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 14:26:45

Alcohol is a better solvent for many things than gasoline. Gum in older tanks can dissolve and free particulate sediment to clog the carb. Put 1/2 gallon of low ethanol gas and a little fuel line cleaner additive in your tank and shake it periodically for a few hours. Dump it and rinse with fresh fuel, then refill the tank. Use a filter.

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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 14:40:27

James, You don't need a new anything except a new hose assembly. The carb and pump just need to be cleaned out. What your Marina mechanic is telling you is the quickest and easiest fix from his stand point but is the most costly way to you. Boy if a mechanic told me somthing like that, It would be the last time I would ever use him. I wish you lived closer, I'd have you up and running in an hour.

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 14:52:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jbkayaker
 Check the outside of the flexible fuel lines for labeling that says the line is approved for fuel containing ethanol. If you do not find that labeling and you have used ethanol contaminated gasoline then you have your answer on the source of the problem.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm dealing with the same thing. If your mercury fuel line has the red writing on it, replace it ASAP along with the bulb for the fuel line with the blue writing on it. As it is, this has improved performance but it looks like I'm going to have to remove the carb and clean it as it won't idle at an acceptable level.

Dave I might try that.

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 17:39:09

If you google 'rubber hose damage ethanol' about 155,000 results!

Lot's of reading, none so far that seem definitive.

Paul

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 18:49:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jerlim
 So...our 5 yr old Mercury 8hp (+ 500 hrs) has been running fine...last weekend it died on the way in to the marina, so we sailed in under partially furled genny (always great fun !)...the yard took a look and there is rubber in the carb and fuel pump - apparently the rubber fuel line from the tank to the motor has degraded badly...their recommendation is to replace the carb (rebuild kits are not available)and pump and fuel hose. My point is that I've never heard of replacing the rubber fuel line as a step of preventive maintenance, but I guess it's become something to do...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hard to believe there's not a rebuild kit available for a 5 yr old Mercury! Something seems fishy. I can get a rebuild kit for my '89 Suzuki.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2010 : 19:20:34

A few years back my engine was not idling well, and running rough.

I opened it up and found a lot of rubber residue from the fuel line in the carb jets and bowl.

Luckily, Honda offered a rebuild kit, so I pulled off the carburetor and took everything that I could apart, and cleaned everything with carb cleaner, found all the tiniest orifices and replaced all the gaskets and O-rings.

Once I put it back together, it ran like a champ. I replaced all the gas lines and squeeze bulb with Ethanol-proof hose and it has been fine every since.

I use fresh gas mostly, and add a bit of stabilizer in if I know I won't be motoring much in the coming week.

I do clean out the carb every winter to make sure she'll start again next spring. So far, so good.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2010 : 08:11:56

It does appear that the mechanic may be right that a specific rebuild kit for the Mercury carburetor is not available. However individual parts are available. I agree with the majority here that just a good cleaning is necessary but if you need to replace the jets while it is apart they are readily available.
Try this link:

http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Merc/parts.html

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2010 : 18:12:42

Ethanol combined with water is highly corrosive to older fuel lines and is a wide spread problem across the nation according to my mechanic this past spring. As he was cleaning the carburetor on my '89 Evenrude he noted that ethanol related damage to fuel lines and fiberglass fuel tanks was perhaps the most common issue they address. His suggestions: replace older fuel lines with ethanol tolerant lines, run the motors often (sitting unused is the worst) and replace the gas in the fuel tanks with fresh gas at least once or twice a season here in the north.

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/25/2010 : 15:27:16

Here in Knoxville Conoco has ethanol free gas. Do any stations around you have it too?

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2010 : 07:00:59

I think I traced back my problem and it goes back to a couple months ago when I bought gas at a Exxon station instead of the marina. A friend pulled the carb off for service, hopefully it can be cleaned and fixed.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2010 : 07:47:02

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 I think I traced back my problem... I bought gas at a Exxon station instead of the marina...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Usually it's the other way around. Do you have a Racor?

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 07/26/2010 07:47:27

PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 07/26/2010 : 08:28:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by PCP777
 I think I traced back my problem... I bought gas at a Exxon station instead of the marina...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Usually it's the other way around. Do you have a Racor?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Never heard of one, I guess not.

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