I am dealing with a wired problem on my port engine, basically:
after about 30-60 minutes idling or 1500 rpm trolling i want to accelerate to move fast to another place and port engine start to stutter, looses rpm (but does not die) and lately i can hear some backfire. So far so good.
The wired thing is: if i switch off port engine and start her immediately again problem is gone and she act totally normal, same if i switch off the engine before i accelerate.
So first thing to check was to replace the primer bulb with a new one, same problem, then cleaning the racor type spin on cartridge water separating fuel filters with a unknown brand cartridge and we found water and a lot of rust particles in the filter element. Probably a bit more than a liquor shot glass full. The catrtridges were badly rusted so i first thought it was rust from the cartridge itself, but after about 200 gallons of fresh fuel again water drops and less rust particles in the filters. Rust and water drops were in both filters and coming from both tanks as after first filter replacement i switched fuel valves so that each engine is using it's own tank
Yes, they are rust particles as they are attracted by a magnet.
I am aware that i have to pull the fuel senders to have a look inside the tanks to check what else is in there and i found yesterday a new seal for one who it seems is leaking a tiny, tiny bit as the water poodle around sender plate and elbows has a light gasoline smell.
However, still stumped to have so much rust inside a aluminum fuel tank with no ferrous parts (as far i know) except maybe the spirals inside the fuel filler hose, but they must be in a very bad shape to expose the steel wire what i would exclude on first guess.
The most probable hypothesis is that when i bought the boat in the first days of June and filled it up at the marina there, the water and rust came from their in winter low used gasoline tank, or it was just before refilled and the sediments were stirred up. Second hypothesis is that ex owner who used plastic jerry cans to fuel got contaminated fuel on a road gas station.
The last hypothesis is that the person who replaced the rear tank fuel sender dropped a nut, screwdriver or anything other ferrous material inside then tank and left it there and it started to rust over the time.
However, bad gas is the most understandable reason and its not uncommon here, particularly in spring in Marinas or in less frequented gas stations.
For this reason two hints to avoid that nasty problem:
1° avoid to get fuel (diesel or gasoline) in a low traffic gas station or in spring in a marina, the most frequented ones are more safe also for getting freshest fuel
2° never ever fill fuel when the tanker is there or just leaves as filling will stir up the sediments
Gast stations should have frequently and often maintained filters and my friend who wons ane here in town don't use the refilled tank for two days
Next task is to pull the fuel sender and check inside to decide if polishing the fuel would be enough or if i have to pull the tanks to clean them well (and replace them in case of corrosion)
Thats number 5 of 5 boats i had here and had to replace the fuel tank, 1 50 gallon aluminum tank by Florida Marine Tanks on my BW 23 Outrage and 3 Stainless steel tanks on my Italian made boats plus eventually the two in my 306 Canyon.
I hope i can find two reasonable big size poly tanks, if not i fear i will need to have build again a SS tank here or import a aluminum tank from US.
I am doomed ....
Chris
