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 Post subject: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:22 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:02 pm
Posts: 202
Location: Boat on Lake St.Clair; live in St. Marys, GA.
All of a sudden the port engine has been stalling at idle; happened about 4 or 5 times this week. Today had two instances where the engine cut out at cruising speed. When I'm at idle speed it cuts out completely - have to restart. Today at 3800 rpms it cut out but didn't completely quit. It was just a momentary loss of power. It definitely got my attention, though.

Gauges are all reading correctly.

I'm assuming it's either a fuel flow or electrical issue.

In the back of my mind I'm wondering if it's a precursor to an ethanol issue. Say it ain't so!

I have the mercruisers 6.2 with injection.

Talked to the mechanic - he's going to check it out on Monday.

Any thoughts?

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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:02 pm 
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Location: Boat on Lake St.Clair; live in St. Marys, GA.
First of all I think I hold the record for posts without responses.

Secondly, one can not type and eat a Hershey's bar with same fingers.

Cap'n Morgan posed a question when he saw our listing in the for sale section. After the Admiral had 24 hours to think about it she decided she didn't want to sell our girl. Post deleted.

Here is the answer: Problems were resolved. It was a combination of three things - all contributing. The electronic throttle control (a/k/a butterfly) was sticking. The fuel regulators were clogged with paint peelings. Gee, I wonder what caused that? Due to explosive weed growth this year and my boat's singular ability to suck up weeds, this caused the raw water pressure to drop to 1#.

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2006 348 Vista
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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 8:07 pm 
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Location: Indiana
I've heard the Mercruiser Cool Fuel units have an issue with paint peeling inside the fuel lines clogging everything up.

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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 7:05 am 
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Location: East Providence, RI
rjrose wrote:
First of all I think I hold the record for posts without responses.

Secondly, one can not type and eat a Hershey's bar with same fingers.

Cap'n Morgan posed a question when he saw our listing in the for sale section. After the Admiral had 24 hours to think about it she decided she didn't want to sell our girl. Post deleted.

Here is the answer: Problems were resolved. It was a combination of three things - all contributing. The electronic throttle control (a/k/a butterfly) was sticking. The fuel regulators were clogged with paint peelings. Gee, I wonder what caused that? Due to explosive weed growth this year and my boat's singular ability to suck up weeds, this caused the raw water pressure to drop to 1#.


any wory about getting clogged injectors? if the regulators can clog i am sure it can go further to the injectors

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1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 7:18 am 
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Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 9:49 am
Posts: 4989
Location: West Michigan
firecadet613 wrote:
I've heard the Mercruiser Cool Fuel units have an issue with paint peeling inside the fuel lines clogging everything up.


VP fuel pumps have the paint peeling issue as well, much more prevalent than in the Mercruiser fuel management system.

Thanks for the follow-up rj. Glad you decided to keep the boat and got your fuel issues fixed.

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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 8:44 am 
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Location: Boat on Lake St.Clair; live in St. Marys, GA.
Neutron: Definitely concerned about the paint debris travelling to the injectors. It would only take a miniscule piece to wreak havoc.

I'm sure the Merc & VP engineers had a basis for painting the internal components of the fuel system. You have to wonder, though, considering ethanol fuel is a CORROSIVE SOLVENT!

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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:00 am 
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Location: East Providence, RI
I agree, what were they thinking!

how is she running now, any hiccups?

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1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205


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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:20 am 
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Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 9:49 am
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Location: West Michigan
Thankfully my engine is a 2011, and not made before 2009. Since then the new fuel modules are not painted on the inside and use different style raw water hose connections. Which eliminates the problem. Those with pre 2009 engines and Cool Fuel III may want to be proactive and get the Gen III kit to fix it. Order the Gen III Cool Fuel Module with pumps and filter, or a lower module housing only, along with the proper hose kit for installation. One module and one kit are required per engine.

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2000 Four Winns 268 Vista
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Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy
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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 10:20 am 
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268 Vista

Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 9:49 am
Posts: 4989
Location: West Michigan
Just talked to a business contact of mine at Mercruiser about this. He confirmed my engine does not have this issue, but pre 2009 engines likely will. He also stated, that they have gotten lots of input from there field techs recently about this issue. Many have said that the problem occurs on boats in all climates, but a large portion are on boats in southern/humid climates, like Florida, Alabama, Louisana etc.
Because of the corrosive environment of salt water, and the high humidity. Boats that have been stored on a lift, outside, and that are not used regularly, will have this problem sooner than later. He says that because the boats sit for so long without use, the paint will erode in larger pieces which can clog the system quicker, once the boats gets used. If the boat is used several times per week, the pieces of paint that break loose are often smaller and do not seem to cause problems so soon. The real bummer is, that one day your boat will run fine, and the next day the engine(s) will just shut down. Leaving you stranded, and needing a tow. Plus the fix is about $600 per engine.

I would sure hate to plan a long trip on my boat, and suddenly have this happen, and ruin the trip. I asked him why the he** would they paint these internal parts, and he said he could not comment. :x

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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:15 pm 
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Location: Long Island NY
I have read of the exact same issue affecting Volvo powered boats, with the same outcome, and expensive repairs. It makes you wonder why these components were painted inside in the first place, certainly mechanical fuel pumps and carburetors are not. It sounds like they had to go to a more corrosion resistant material.

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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:26 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 10:02 pm
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Location: Boat on Lake St.Clair; live in St. Marys, GA.
Cap'n Morgan wrote:
Thankfully my engine is a 2011, and not made before 2009. Since then the new fuel modules are not painted on the inside and use different style raw water hose connections. Which eliminates the problem. Those with pre 2009 engines and Cool Fuel III may want to be proactive and get the Gen III kit to fix it. Order the Gen III Cool Fuel Module with pumps and filter, or a lower module housing only, along with the proper hose kit for installation. One module and one kit are required per engine.


Cap'n: Thanx for explanation. The techs suggested I do this - showed me the service bulletin - but didn't mention the new modules are not painted. That makes all the difference in the world. Price for complete kit is $1K while the lower housing and hoses are $450 not including labor.

Neutron: so far so good.

I am currently adding good gas and running around the lake like mad trying to burn up all the "poison" and then heading back to the gas dock for more good gas. Expensive (but what isn't when it comes to boating) but fun. Hopefully by season's end I will have burned all the sh** fuel out of my tanks. Let's hope it works.

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 Post subject: Re: Engine stalling
PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 11:05 am 
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Location: Long Island NY
I had some issues when we went through the transition from MTBE to E-10 but after that, I have not had problems with my stone age fuel system GM design circa 1966...(Quadrajet 4bbl carb and mechanical fuel pump)....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II


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