www.iFourWinns.com

Hello everyone, I am a new owner of a 2007 318 Vista which until today has been running great. I bought the boat new a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, today the starboard engine started having issues with maintaining cruising speed. It would idle and run fine up till about 2500RPMs with no ill effects; however, at about 3500 the engine would start losing RPMs after less then 15 seconds. It would then either stall or fluctuate wildly until settling down to normal idle speed. When it stalled it would restart with no issue. It occasionally would fluctuate the RPMs but would smooth out. The boat is still under warranty and the dealer will take care of it, but I like to be well informed and would have liked to been able to diagnose and perhaps fix the issue. Could this be a fuel filter issue? Does the fuel line coming from the tank have a filter? Could the anti-syphon valve be the culprit? Today was a beautiful day on the Chesapeake Bay and I would have loved to been out on it instead of sitting in my marina. But the optimist in me was still glad I was on a boat!
Thanks for any advice or comments. This forum is great and there always seems to be a correct answer from someone.
Troy

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2007 Four Winns 318 Vista "Sas Sea Lady"
Previous
2002 Four Winns 268 Vista "Girls Knot Buoys"
1999 Sea Pro 235 WA "Bait Me"

Welcome to the forum!

Congrats on the 318 purchase!

Sorry about the starboard engine issues. Since you bought it new, why don't you just take it in for warranty?

Could be fuel filters... could be gunked up injectors. Could be one of many issues that the best solution is hooking it up to a computer.

Does the problem still happen if you rev the motor in neutral-mode?

By the way, what's the scoop on your leftover? color/options?

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I believe he is.



It does sound like a fuel related issue. Filter or pump possibly. Let us know what your dealer says. And congrats on the new boat and welcome to iFW.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Welcome

congrats on the nice boat.
sounds like it may be the high pressure fuel pump, once they hook up to the ecm they won't have any trouble finding the problem, fuel problems are the worst ones to look at your self unless you have all of the proper instruments.


Mike

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Hi Troy,

I take it you picked up one of the leftovers from riverside. Did it start giving you this issue right away? Could be a bunch of things fuel related as others have stated. The main thing is don't keep running it like this as you could be leaning her out and detonating. I'd insist on a compression test after they solve the problem, at a minimum. The 318 by me had a lot of water in one of the tanks and the ethanol certainly doesn't help. Could be a bad seal someplace. There's a lot of scenarios to chase down... Where on the bay are you located? Get her fixed and come over to Fairlee. I'm bringing the 338 up the bay this week!

Interesting. My boat is doing the EXACT same thing. see this:

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22258

I'd like to know what you come up with.

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

Thanks for the replies. Here is a little more info.
The motor in question is a 5.0 GXi Volvo Penta with the duel (high and low pressure) fuel pumps and large fuel filter located at the pumps assembly.
The boat revs fine but I never reved it more than just a short burst. When I had the issue I tried to resolve by checking fuel electrical connections. When that did not work I limped back to port at 2500 rpms with no issues. After getting back to the marina, I did notice I have a series of gas valves that dictate where the engines can pull fuel. I think I will try having the starboard engine draw fuel from the port fuel tank to see if it is a fuel pickup/strainer problem. (I do not know if this boat has a strainer in the tank)

Yes, this boat was purchased from Riverside and I knew it had been sitting. I was adamant about all filters being replaced and any fuel in the boat be removed and replaced with fresh fuel. The boat did have a little more fuel when purchased then when sea trialed. The bilge and engines were spotless when I took delivery so it was impossible to see if the filters were actually changed without removing them. I would like to think they did. The boat cruised the hour back to my home port with no issues. The following weekend I did fill the tanks with gas from my marina (Atlantic Marina Resort) at the mouth of the Patapsco. I have used their gas for a year with no issues and other folks stated it was good fuel. I went out for another hour long cruise with no issues. This was a week ago. This week however, the problem started immediately with it surging at low RPM then smoothing out. I just dismissed it due appearing to smooth out. I went up to planing speed 5 minutes later and heard the difference immediately. I looked at the tachs and the starboard engine slowly dropped. If I pulled back on the thottles she would "catchup" cand run fine so long as I remained under 3000rpms. If I left the throttle open, she would stall.
Like I said, I am contacting Riverside but I like to be knowledgeable about all systems in my boat so I can diagnose and fix problems myself. Especially if they are minor issues.
Thanks and I will let everyone know what Riverside finds.

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2007 Four Winns 318 Vista "Sas Sea Lady"
Previous
2002 Four Winns 268 Vista "Girls Knot Buoys"
1999 Sea Pro 235 WA "Bait Me"

I too have 5.0Gxi and your stated problem was identical to mine - it was the high pressure fuel pump. I know of one other boater that had a similar issues and it was the pressure regulator on the fuel rail. The Volvo high pressure fuel pumps are none to fail. You sometimes will get an early warning indicator of a high pitch sound coming from the fuel pump assembly. You can replace only the high pressure side rather than the complete pump assembly which includes the low pressure pump.

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2002 Vista 298 VP 5.0Gxi

Interesting. I DID notice the starboard fuel pump was whining louder than normal. Riverside said that could be one of the issues, as they have replaced several since the "new" gas has been released. I am waiting on a schedule for their tech.

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2007 Four Winns 318 Vista "Sas Sea Lady"
Previous
2002 Four Winns 268 Vista "Girls Knot Buoys"
1999 Sea Pro 235 WA "Bait Me"

Congrats on the new boat....You see last year I took delivery of my boat and on my way towards home (a 300' miles trip)after 4-5 hours running time, my port engine would run at 2000 rpm at idle....not too good for clutching it in !!!! So to make a long story short, I ended up finishing my trip with a piece of rag in the air intake so to reduce the air flow going to the engine (wich would make the engine running at proper RPM at idle!!!!) Turns out hat the engine computer was defective and that diagnostic came after hooking up a computer so the Volvo tech could find what the problem was....So I was sent a new one and replaced it myself!!!! Right now I still have a few other minor issue with the boat and try to fix them myself .... I had big expectations from this manufacturer, but unfortunately seems like that no matter how much you pay, perfection can't be bought!!!!! I also drive a Land Rover and the issues I keep getting makes me wonder !!!!!

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Dan
2008 V318 5.7 Gi
KAMARIA

Here is the latest. Riverside gave me a fuel/water separator/filter to replace the existing one. I emptied the contents of the old filter into a 16oz beer glass (the only thing I had on board since I forgot my mason jar). There was approximately 3/4 - 1 inch of water in the bottom of the glass. Seemed like a lot for 3 hours of actual run time. Anyway, I installed the new filter and the boat ran great for an hour then it stumbled again. I changed the fuel flow valves and started pulling fuel from the port tank and the hesitation stopped. After a few minutes I changed the valves back to factory position and the boat ran great for 45 minute ride back to the dock at 3500 rpms. Seems I may have some more water in the starboard tank. I will remove the filter tomorrow (engines too hot to get to the starboard fuel filter today) and see how much it has accumulated after a 2 hour run.

Question. Since I just installed the new filter today can I just drain the filter and reinstall? Or should I continue to replace new filters until the hesitation of the starboard engine stops (which I will assume means the majority of the water is out of the starboard tank)

Thanks,
Troy

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2007 Four Winns 318 Vista "Sas Sea Lady"
Previous
2002 Four Winns 268 Vista "Girls Knot Buoys"
1999 Sea Pro 235 WA "Bait Me"

replace filters until all water is gone. Depending on how much fuel you have on board it might be worth pumping the tank and getting rid of the water. Watch the ethanol blended fuel it is a huge source of water in fuel.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

I would pump the tank. That seems like a lot of water. Also watch the ethanol blend fuel it will cause havoc to your fuel system. If you are running the 87 octaine fuel it will more than likley contain ehtanol which like water, If you use better fuel it will contain less ethanol which in the long run costs more for fuel but will create less problems. If you use your fuel quickly it won't matter how much ethanol is in it.

Mike

_________________
2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

Any opinions about "Marine Formula Sta-Bil"? Supposedly greatly helps the issues that come with ethanol in fuel. Haven't used any myself. Waiting until the next tank which will likely be when I fill it up and winterize.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

I use a stabilizer with every fill-up and have with every boat I have owned. I don't know if that's why I have never had fuel-related issues, but I never have.

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Previously:
2008 V358/Volvo 5.7 GXi Inboards