Need help, water in carb

[rkachmarik]

I have a volvo 5.8l (Ford 351) in my Larson 215sei with a holley 4 barrel carb.
I am having trouble getting boat to stay running after turning the key. If I work throttle manually can keep it going for about 30sec before it bogs down and dies/backfires. Decided to pulled the carb do a rebuild since it was probably never done in the 13 year life of this boat. The gas in front and back bowls was about 1/2 water which I figured is why it won't run. Since boat was out of commission pulled/drained the gas tank and used fresh gas after carb rebuild. boat still not running so pulled the bottom screw on carb to check gas and it's got water in it again. Any chance that the fuel pump has gone bad and getting cooling water in my gas somehow?? Its a mechanical pump on front of engine. Also concerned at this point if water got into the cylinders and causing rust/damage. Thank for any feedback.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Need help, water in carb

No way the fuel pump will get water from the engine.
Have you installed a water separator fuel filter?
Either you are buying bad gas or the tank still has water in it.

 

[TowRoper]

Re: Need help, water in carb

I 2nd what gary said, also have you done a FULL tune up? has it been running up till this problem?

 

[zzzzz]

Re: Need help, water in carb

what I've seen over the years is that the boat manufacturers design the engine compartment cover with the hinge right above the carb and it leaks right into the carb when it rains...ya' might wanna' check that

 

[Don S]

Re: Need help, water in carb

Gas dripping into the carb from the rain will NOT get into the float chambers, that has to come from the tank.
As Gary stated, if you didn't clean the lines out and the fuel pump and replace ALL filters, you just filled the carb back up with water.
When you cleaned the tank out, did you have the front of the tank higher than the back where you removed the gas from? IF not, all the fuel went to the front of the tank.

 

[Daviet]

Re: Need help, water in carb

As Gary said, install a water seperator.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Need help, water in carb

even a water separator will only get so much water out. I very recently got what wound up being close to a gallon of water from a local service station when I filled up. I had the tank out of the boat and empty just a few weeks ago...

I completely emtpied the tank and all the lines and even then ran some dry isopropanol through with the first tank of gas to dissolve / pick up any remaining water that I didn't get. and yea, had to clean the carb out, fuel separator out, fuel filters, etc... pita... but runs great again now. sorry for your hassle.

 

[rkachmarik]

Re: Need help, water in carb

Thanks to everyone that replied. I pulled the water filter/separator and found it half water also. (didn't change this when I had the tank out, dumb me). Pulled a few gallons of gas out of the tank (trying to get line in at bottom by putting a coat hanger around hose (stripped the pain off first) and didn't see any water. Tank was completely pulled and in garage for few weeks and it was bone dry before putting back in boat and refilled. Pulled the fuel gauge sending unit which gasket may have leaked some rain water in. Going to pull rest of gas and start over. Hate ethanol blended gas.