www.iFourWinns.com

I have a 1997 238 Vista, it appears I have a fuel leak, but do not see anything leaking around engine, it appears it may be coming from either the tank or the seals around it. I have no access to the tank, as it is under the aft cabin with no access, from what I can tell. Is this going to be a major problem to find the leak, either replacing seals or even tank, if that is has a leak? what is the best approach? If tank has to be replaced is it better cutting out a access through aft or removing engine and fire wall to take it out that way, if that is the problem? anyone have this problem in the past, or any suggestions?
thanks
Steve

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Rub your hand under the bottom of your fuel filter(s) and see if it is leaking from there. If that is not the issue and you are using ethanol, replace every hose there is and send ric the bill.

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

The first thing I'd do is turn off the battery switch, and see if you can find the access plate for the gas tank sending unit. It's often a circular plate that is removable, there has to be access to that. There is a small gasket under the sending unit cover, that can leak, it is not hard to replace and you can also look at the fuel lines for the fill, vent and feed line at the same time. They are usually all visible if you remove that access plate. I'm not sure if those boats used plastic or aluminum tanks. A leak could easily be coming from a hose, the gasket for the sending unit, or even from the fuel filter on the engine. Be careful, fuel vapors are heavier than air so they drop down to the lowest level. Also static electricity can ignite fuel vapors so be mindful of that.

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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

thanks, I will start there... appreciate your help!

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+1

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

I did have to put a tank in a 268 that was around the same year as it did develop leaks around the seams of the tank, it was plastic. Had to remove everything from the mid cabin to get it all out....pain in the butt!

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

also I will mention that it always smells like gas after I take it out for a drive. It wont really smell if its been sitting for a day. When I took it out for a cruise on saturday and docked it every body that walked behind the boat said it smelled like a gas station. After everybody told me that I started it up and felt around the engine looking for leaks on every hose and carburetor so I am very certain that its not coming from the engine.

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Please don't keep running that boat, if there is in fact a leak, and it sounds like there has to be based on what you said above, it is very dangerous to start it, you can check the obvious points noted above, but if that does not reveal the leak then you have to bite the bullet and get the tank inspected.

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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

How much do you think it would cost to have the tank inspected?

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Not sure, it depends on the access, can you post some pix of the area where the tank is?
My old 88 Horizon has a hatch over the tank that just unscrews, I could remove the rear seat, the engine bulkhead and then the tank would be easy to remove.
If it just involves removing stuff, you might be able to do that part yourself if you can figure out how take it all apart. Take pix so you don't forget how to put it all back, LOL. If you do the dis-assembly and re-assembly and have a shop just replace the tank it probably will keep the cost down. Hopefully you don't have to cut the deck to get the tank out. In that case I'd have a shop do it, that's just too risky with a gas leak and power tools.....

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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

I agree, it is more than I can tackle.. I am not at the boat, but when I looked yesterday, there was no access at all, as it seems it is located underneath the aft cabin, and no access trough engine compartment either. So, it seems the only option would be, going through the fire wall, to even inspect the tank and hoses..

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You stated that "always smells like gas after I take it out for a drive." I could be wrong, but I think Lou has already mention it. I would check the fuel system to the engine first, than fuel fill hose & than the tank. I am thinking that it is leaking when the engine is running. It could be forced out of a crack in the tank from the motion on the boat too.

Or you could rent or buy one of these cameras, I have sean them cheaper. http://www.cpopowertools.com/dewalt-dct ... 1&q=camera

The machanic went down to look at the boat today. He didnt find any leaks or anything on the hoses. He says on friday we are going to dry up the bilge with a vacume and get all the water and whatever else is in there out and take it for a cruise to see if the bilge fills up with anything else. If you dont hear from me by monday and you see on the news about a large explosion on the cheasepake bay, you know what happend

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Here's an idea, not sure if it will work for you but I tried this when I thought I smelled gas. I bought a gas fume detector, but did not get around to installing it. I took up the tank cover and put the sensor for the fume detector right over the gas gauge sending unit, it did not trip. I then lowered it down to the bottom of the bilge, right in front of the drain hole that goes from the tank compartment to the engine bilge, and also in the ski locker. None of these areas sounded any alarms, but I still felt that I could smell something very faintly. So before the boat goes back in the water, I am taking up the cover and filling the tank with gas and driving it around to try again. But to be on the safe side I think I will just replace the tank sending unit. I think the human nose is even more sensitive than a fume detector. You can smell gas below the threshold for an explosion (good thing LOL).....

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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

great idea Lou, thanks!!

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