www.iFourWinns.com

Our boat seems to have a gas issue when filling up at the marina's. No matter which way, which angle, including upside down, I turn the nozzle, the gas quickly foams up and the auto shut off comes on. I don't have this problem at all at auto gas stations. I know the hose and pump rate is much higher at the marina's but have now tried 2 different ones and I can barely pump 2 gallons a minute. Have even tried pulling the nozzle almost all the way out and watching as the gas squirts down the pipe. Really a pain when you need 40 -50 gallons. Tank holds 65.

Suggestions ??

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

Could be a couple things, first would be a clogged vent. Second could be the fill hose is not routed correctly so it has a dip in it and the fuel backs up. Third could be a warped gas tank, usually where the fill hoses go in.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

On checking the vent, can I just run a smaller plastic tub down there ?? Or can I reverse a vac and blow air into the gas filler and see if air comes out the vent ?

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

The easiest way is to remove the vent hose from the gas tank and see if you can freely blow out it.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

Right now I would be happy to trade gas problems with you as I cant afford to even stick the nozzle in the boat to begin with.

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1989 205 Sundowner
5.0 HO OMC Cobra

I don't think your vent is clogged, or at lest fully I think it is restricted in some way. You may want to take the vent off & clean it. It could be dirty. The vent hose could have a kink in it. Somthing along those lines.

Going up tonight to check it out. I hope it is an easy fix. Gas tank is in the middle of the boat, so will need to unscrew floor boards.

Was going to use shop vac and just try to suck out from the vent, but after thinking about an electrical motor sucking up gas fumes, I changed my mind.

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

I really don't see the problem! Is your ins. paid up?

Last night went to work on gas issue. Tried to snake a line from the fuel vent at the back of the boat to see if there was a clog. Should have listened to what Borchik said to do in the first place because, I hit the anti-siphon portion of the vent right away. I did not know that, so figured I had found the clogged part right away. I could see something white inside, the vent. so with my tweezers ( thanks for the posts on what's in your tool box ) I pulled out a couple good sized pieces of caulking. I then still could not get the wire down, so then proceeded to disconnect the vent hose, and take off the anti siphon vent. THATS WHEN I DISCOVERED I was not going to be able to snake anything down from the outside of the vent. In any case. Used the manual tube pump and blew out the rest of the crap in there. By the time I did all this, marina fuel was closed but will try to fill today and hopefully problem is solved.

The vent cover broke off, so there is just the open hole. Do I need to replace this cover ??

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

yes, otherwise you will end up getting water in the fuel and make it easier for bugs to nest in there.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

Thanks will get one,

Admiral sat on the bow of the boat while I did the work, she really wanted me to take it to the marina to have them work on this. She was convinced I'd blow up the boat !

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

Know what have you done in the past, to make her think like that??

Happy to say IT WORKED, filled up 32 gallons in less than 10 minutes. Could feel the breeze exiting the vent. Best part was marina just dropped gas down to $ 4.23 a gallon when I pulled in. Pumps around here are at $3.19 for vehicles.

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1994 235 Sundowner w/351 Ford

beautiful!

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY