rdhoagland
Recruit
- Joined
- May 2, 2011
- Messages
- 3
Since obtaining ethanol treated fuel in Florida I have had multiple fuel related issues at have now culminated in the engine only being able to run at relatively high rpms with the choke on.
My first symptom was finding that the ethanol dissolved the liner in the fuel line from the tank. Chunks of liner and much varnish in carburetor. Replaced fuel line, added in-line Racor water-separating fuel filter and dismantled and cleaned the carburetor several times.
The engine ran for a while until I found that I needed to supplement fuel supply by periodically using the in line primer to keep the motor from dying. About the same time I noticed gas in the engine oil. I replaced fuel pump which stopped the gas leak to the oil, and the engine ran well for several days until two days ago, when the present symptoms appeared.
I have since once again given the carburetor a thorough cleaning (I estimate this has now been done a total or 8 or more times over the last month) with no change in the symptoms. The rubber gaskets in the carburetor, however, have become soft and swollen over time and likely need replacing (It also appears they must be ordered individually, and not all appear to be shown on the parts diagram. The missing gaskets are the two located in the primer/plunger compartment.)
I am cruising on my sailboat in the southern Bahamas with plans to leave this week for the Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico, but am dependent on the outboard for dingy transport to and from the boat. Parts and experienced Mercury mechanics are not are not available locally and parts must be shipped from the US, a long and drawn out process.
Any troubleshooting assistance would be greatly appreciated.
My first symptom was finding that the ethanol dissolved the liner in the fuel line from the tank. Chunks of liner and much varnish in carburetor. Replaced fuel line, added in-line Racor water-separating fuel filter and dismantled and cleaned the carburetor several times.
The engine ran for a while until I found that I needed to supplement fuel supply by periodically using the in line primer to keep the motor from dying. About the same time I noticed gas in the engine oil. I replaced fuel pump which stopped the gas leak to the oil, and the engine ran well for several days until two days ago, when the present symptoms appeared.
I have since once again given the carburetor a thorough cleaning (I estimate this has now been done a total or 8 or more times over the last month) with no change in the symptoms. The rubber gaskets in the carburetor, however, have become soft and swollen over time and likely need replacing (It also appears they must be ordered individually, and not all appear to be shown on the parts diagram. The missing gaskets are the two located in the primer/plunger compartment.)
I am cruising on my sailboat in the southern Bahamas with plans to leave this week for the Dominican Republic & Puerto Rico, but am dependent on the outboard for dingy transport to and from the boat. Parts and experienced Mercury mechanics are not are not available locally and parts must be shipped from the US, a long and drawn out process.
Any troubleshooting assistance would be greatly appreciated.