www.iFourWinns.com

Does anyone know if an additional fuel/water separator will help with sediment in gas tank. If so, can you recommend a product. I have a full 75 gal tank of gas. It's constantly stalling. Sometimes it won't start at all. I have new fuel pumps and filter. After filling up I got as far as a 10 minute cruise before stalling out. I had to get towed back to the dock. I pulled the fuel filter off and poured the gas into a jar. Quite a bit of sediment. But no water. This is was I got.

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Todd
1999 258 Vista
Volvo Penta 5.7 GSI
DP-SM

This is what you are looking for. Just make sure you use the right replacement filters. They come in both gas & diesel.

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?pat ... &id=133730

I would drain and clean the fuel tank, I had a similar problem on my boat I believe it was more the ethanol creating water than sediment in the tank but I drained the fuel added some cleaner

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... 4AodfBURcg

changed the water separator and I haven't had a problem since but I do use Non-Ethanol Rec Fuel now also.. Good luck if you remember one thing (DON"T) turn the boat on and run it until out of gas it will be a PITA to get the fuel system pressurized again and it will be a nightmare. Don't ask me how I know this

I agree with the above statement, I'd get the gas tank cleaned out first. The Racor filters are. Very good but for inboards you must use the metal bowl version. I change mine at the end of each season and dump the gas out and let it sit in a glass jar. Usually it's clean. Check your gas cap gasket and be careful where you buy gas.


Look for a place that does gas polishing they can clean the tank and filter out the gas you have

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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

Yes, sorry. The clear bowl is for outboards! U.S.C.G. regs call for the metel bowl in the engine compartment.

Any idea the approximate cost of the fuel polishing? I have 75 gallons of gas in the tank. I have been using Startron Gas Treatment for years. But The Startron Tank Cleaner sounds like its worth trying. It actually states that it might eliminate fuel polishing. Would I be able to use the Racor filter in place of the OEM filter. Or do I need get a mount with it?

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Todd
1999 258 Vista
Volvo Penta 5.7 GSI
DP-SM

Dont know the cost because I've never needed to do it but as far as the Racor, thee are a few different sizes. There is a Merc, OMC/Volvo and a Racor size. You can probably cross reference your filter to the equivalent Racor parts # as long as you have an OE base already installed. I can't say if any product will clean out that tank better than fuel Polishing.

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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 for all of the speedy replies. Very much appreciate it.

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Todd
1999 258 Vista
Volvo Penta 5.7 GSI
DP-SM

Sounds like you have just recently started using ethanol gas and the alcohol in it disolved the varnish in your tanks and now you are seeing the results. I went through 3 sets of fuel filters the first (and only) year that our yacht club bought into that government mandated piss water. Do yourself a favor and get that crap pumped out of your tank and put in real gas. Either that or get ready to replace your fuel pump as well.

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

Once the tank is cleaned out you may not have more issues as long as those fuel pumps can tolerate the gas.

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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 just changed my fuel filters and I would say I have ~40-50% the amount of sediment as the OP. Is that something to worry about? She runs great, so I wasn't concerned, should I be?

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1969 Chris Craft Commander 47
1999 Four Winns 328 Vista - SOLD

This...

I've been changing my fuel filters for ten years with this boat and have never seen any sediment and keep in mind mine is a lot older being an 88. You can keep running it but think about getting the tank cleaned out over the off season, it will help you avoid long term issues.

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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

If you want to salvage the fuel...this is plausable, add the star-tron and top up the tank, increase your filter changes by 2-3X and keep a spare filter on board, 2-3 tanks of fuel/and filters should remove the debris and contaminates without causing any ill effects to your engine(s).

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2000 H190 5.0GL

I have 40 gallons of gas that was in the boat, the gas works great in my riding lawnmower and my edgers. I avoided this whole route because I had launched the boat three times with the same problems coming up while the boat was in the water.