Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post - Gas-Mechanical problem with boat engine

Dave R · 05-30-2008, 07:42 AM

While I think an ignition tuneup is a good idea, your problem sounds exactly like your inital diagnosis, fuel starvation. Approach it that way to start and then expand the diagnosis as necessary. Boat spark plugs last for hundreds of hours and don't typically fail so catastrophically.

You may need to fill the new fuel filter before installing it, many mercs won't draw enough fuel into the filter, to keep running, when it's installed dry.

You don't need another fuel filter downstream of the spin on filter, filter-wise (not water separation) it's probably got adequate filter media area for the lifetime of the engine. You only need to change it to get rid of water.

05-30-2008, 07:42 AM	#17
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	While I think an ignition tuneup is a good idea, your problem sounds exactly like your inital diagnosis, fuel starvation. Approach it that way to start and then expand the diagnosis as necessary. Boat spark plugs last for hundreds of hours and don't typically fail so catastrophically. You may need to fill the new fuel filter before installing it, many mercs won't draw enough fuel into the filter, to keep running, when it's installed dry. You don't need another fuel filter downstream of the spin on filter, filter-wise (not water separation) it's probably got adequate filter media area for the lifetime of the engine. You only need to change it to get rid of water.