2002 342 - won’t plane

DanW

I have a 2002 342 with Mercruiser Horizon 350 engines with outdrives. In the last few weeks, I can’t get on plane. RPMs on both engines top out at about 3800 (That seems too low if I remember right). Drives are all the way down. I tried with tabs up and then with some tab down. Gas tanks are at 3/4, full water tank, empty waste tank, and only two people on board. When trying to get up on plane, I get a strong gas smell. I raised the hatch and didn’t smell any gas in the bilge so the smell is outside the boat. I recently had the bottom cleaned but we don’t get much growth where I’m at anyway. I’ve owned this boat a little over a year and until recently, the boat would easily get on plane. Otherwise, it runs and sounds great. It starts right up and will cruise off plane with no issues. I’m going to call the mechanic in the morning, but anything relatively easy I should/can look at? It will probably be a few weeks before a mechanic will have time for me. 

Thanks, Dan

LaRea

When/where did you buy the fuel?  Have you checked the fuel filters for water?

PickleRick

Was the gas smell coming from the exhaust fumes, unburnt fuel caused by running rich? 

YYZRC

Are both engines behaving the exact same?

PickleRick

Im wondering if they are in guardian mode.  I thought that was 3500ish rpm from what ive read.  None of my boats have ever been efi.  The rpm gauges being off a bit seems common

DanW

I purchase gas from my marina and haven’t heard anyone else have a problem. I need to check fuel filters, though, and I should have thought of that. Sometimes, my brain doesn’t think of the obvious when I’m tired. 🙄 fuel smell seems to be coming from exhaust and, yes, both engines behaving the same. Although one did start acting up about a week before the other. That may point toward fuel filters and/or water in the filters. Do you know if these engines have one or two filters each? I’ll also have to read up on guardian mode. I don’t know much about that. Thanks for the pointers. It’ll be a week or so before I have time to look at it again. 

YYZRC

If you have the cool fuel modules there are two filters per module. A silo shaped filter and a basket filter. 

aero3113

You might have an in-line filter for each engine also. Follow the lines and you will see them if you have them.

Aqua_Aura

I have the same issue currently and it is my bad gas I have been trying to burn down. I get the strong fuel smell as well I am guessing from the slow speed,bad fuel burn and the exhaust coming back in. 

Black_Diamond

a 2002 will have the water/fuel seperator filter and an in-line fuel filter mounted on the fire wall. The latter are gold colored and will be after the fuel shut off valve. 

Might well need cap/rotor/plugs. Clean the spark arrestors. Change the PCV valves too. Start simple!

davidbrooks

I was just experiencing this yesterday.  Max RPM i could hit is 4250 on both engines.  It def isn't guardian mode if you can get to that RPM.  In my case i replaced plugs, wires, distributor and cap two years ago.  So first step for me is fuel filters.  I am planning on first replacing the inline filter and see what happens.

DanW

I only see the fuel filters on the engines. There are no in-line filters on the firewall. I traced the fuel lines from where they come through the firewall to the filter on the engines and no in-line filter. Did they not install them on my model year (2002)? Or am I missing something?

Black_Diamond

Filter would look like this:

https://www.ebay.com/i/163283481530?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=163283481530&targetid=4580702888518295&device=m&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=395665092&mkgroupid=1233652256105976&rlsatarget=pla-4580702888518295&abcId=1129776&merchantid=51291&msclkid=166245a870081a1e98be1a82b446f416

davidbrooks

Mine are mounted on the firewall.  Just under the shutoff valves for each engine.  Easiest part in the whole boat to replace.

YYZRC

Here are mine

DanW

I’ve got nothing that looks like that. In fact there is nothing but an uninterrupted fuel line from the firewall to the filter on the engine. 

davidbrooks

if you dont have it i would recommend putting it in.  It will give you a much larger filter to catch any water or junk before it gets to your engines. 

bella-vita

I don’t have those inline filters on my 2002 342 either.

aero3113

Not on my ‘08 330 either.

DanW

Thanks for everyone’s help. The new fuel filters seem to have fixed the problem. On to the next issue!

Liberty44140

Newer boats, 05ish and newer won’t have those, they have the cool fuel module which is two filters in one unit. 

Black_Diamond

Something to check: the orings on your gas caps. They will break down over time and is an easy water entry point.  

aero3113

Black_Diamond said:

Something to check: the orings on your gas caps. They will break down over time and is an easy water entry point.  

Definitely check the orings. If they haven’t been changed in a while they will probably look like this.

YYZRC

Are the o rings a standard size or...?

aero3113

@YYZRC do a forum search. There are a couple of threads with the part number.