2007 Evinrude eTec 90HP outboard acting up

[desmobob]

My fishing buddy's boat started acting up a bit last fall and I was asked to help, but don't know much about outboards.

The engine is mounted on a very nice Ponga Skiff and has a large add-on fuel filter/water separator mounted near the transom.  This fall, the owner changed (replaced) the fuel filter cartridge on this accessory, as well as the small OEM filter mounted under the cowl on the engine.  Since then, the motor sometimes quits unexpectedly, but will restart after pumping the bulb on the fuel line.  

What would you experienced boaters do in this situation?

Thanks very much for any advice I could pass along,

Bob

[joefish]

Sounds like may have a leak allowing air to get sucked into the fuel line

[jbh3]

Consider replacing the fuel line and bulb with the newer ethanol resistant components. Best to get these parts from a OEM shop - not Walmart.

[Tim Kelly]

I would bet that either the cartridge replacements broke a little O ring seal or getting them off caused a little air leak at the fuel pipe fitting. I would check both the filter and the filter housing very carefully, take them apart and put them back together again carefully.

[Way2slow]

Before just start buying parts and throwing at it.  There are a few checks you need to do.

It sounds like it's apparently a fuel delivery.  This is probably either caused by it sucking air, or a restriction. 

First thing to check is to make sure he used an OEM fuel filter on the engine and not some aftermarket.  Sometimes they can be restrictive, always use the OEM.

While the cover is off checking that.  Pump the primer up tight and while holding some pressure on it, look at all the fuel line connections on the motor between the primer bulb and the fuel filter.  Make sure there are no leaks.  If it leaks fuel while doing this, it could be sucking air when the pump is pumping. 

Next, this motor has a fuel lift pump with a plastic cover holding and a fuel line going into it.  The cover has a screw in the center.  Take the cover off and make sure the filter screen under it is not dirty.  Inspect the cover and gasket to make sure there are not cracks and don't over tighten the cover when you put it back on or it will have a crack.

My next suggestion would be to bypass the extra filter he installed to see if that cure the problem.  The filter in replaced on it could be restrictive or sucking air. 

Then next place to check is the fuel tank vent line make sure it's clear and does not have a sag in it that can trap gas. 

Another common cause of this problem is then anti siphon valve in the fuel tank.  That's the barbed fitting the fuel line from the primer bulb connects to.  That fitting has a check ball in it that can stick and won't let the fuel pump pull fuel out of the tank.  The easiest way to check it is to replace it with a standard barb fitting and try it. 

Also, the fuel lift pump could be acting up.  They make repair kits for it that after you are sure everything else is good, you might want to think about rebuilding it.

[desmobob]

Thanks very much for taking the time to respond!  I really appreciate the help, and I know my buddy will too.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[desmobob]

This particular boat has been known to burp gas back out the filler when fueling it up, but it was doing that long before the recent stalling issue.  You really have to baby it when filling the tank, putting the gas in very slowly.  But I guess this can be a common problem with modern closed fuel systems.  Does anyone know what year boats started shipping with closed fuel systems?  My 2014 has a "clicker" type gas cap just like the one on my car.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Way2slow]

It's not really closed, there is a vent to goes from the tank back up into the filler neck, that is just behind that connects into filler neck just behind the hole the gas nozzle fits down in.  Two problems occur that make them hard to fill.  That vent hose from the tank back up into the filler neck can have a sag in it.   This sag will hold gas and work like the plumbing P-Trap under you sink.  If gas is trapped in that hose, it's blocking off the air trying to vent back out of tank. 

Another problem you run into is, if the nozzle has one of those rubber splash guards on it and you a pressing it up against the fuel port, it can block the air from being able to vent out.  If the tank can't vent the air out, it has a hard time letting gas come in.