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Vapor Lock/ Cooling issues
halifax212
Member Posts: 553 ✭✭✭
Saturday - After my run I pulled up to the flushing station at the marina. I normally bring my own hose but this time there was one there so I used it instead. After a minute or so, I noticed a steaming discharge of water and saw the crappy hose at the marina had kinked. As well the flow valve on my earmuffs was at 40% amplifying the problem. I quickly fixed the kink and then shortly after the engine started to idle very weak to the point of stalling, but not quite. I shut off the engine and tried to restart, only to have it act like the IAC had failed again. I brought the boat home and tried starting in the driveway with the same results...3 or 4 seconds of weak idle then stall. I swapped out the IAC with another I had on hand but the same result. Next I changed the fuel filter which I had not done in the Spring. I noticed it was only half full. I did not fill the new one before install(I never do) No change , in fact it would not fire. Some quick research on the site pointed to vapor lock and decided to wait until this morning .
Sunday - Turn the key and no change. I decided to check to see if the the gas filter had fuel so I took it off and was only half full. This time I pre filled , reinstalled and yes, it fired almost right away. Problem solved! I am pretty happy with myself at this point with my limited mechanical knowledge. As I let it idle, I kept an eye on the temp gauge. It seemed to come up fairly quick from a cold start to 160, and levelled off at about 175 which it never does(usually 163). While the engine was coming up to temp, I was feeling the top of each riser and noticed the STB side was warming much faster than port. Even at them the port was still relatively cool to touch.
Moving forward - What do I throw my money at next? I feel the impeller is working since there is water flow out of the back. The boat ran fine on Saturday, although when I first started out there was a long continuous beep for 30 seconds and did not return. Engine was not even up to temp at this point. I believe I cooked the engine enough on Saturday to cause vapor lock but unsure how this has turned into a cooling issue.
Sunday - Turn the key and no change. I decided to check to see if the the gas filter had fuel so I took it off and was only half full. This time I pre filled , reinstalled and yes, it fired almost right away. Problem solved! I am pretty happy with myself at this point with my limited mechanical knowledge. As I let it idle, I kept an eye on the temp gauge. It seemed to come up fairly quick from a cold start to 160, and levelled off at about 175 which it never does(usually 163). While the engine was coming up to temp, I was feeling the top of each riser and noticed the STB side was warming much faster than port. Even at them the port was still relatively cool to touch.
Moving forward - What do I throw my money at next? I feel the impeller is working since there is water flow out of the back. The boat ran fine on Saturday, although when I first started out there was a long continuous beep for 30 seconds and did not return. Engine was not even up to temp at this point. I believe I cooked the engine enough on Saturday to cause vapor lock but unsure how this has turned into a cooling issue.
Comments
6 years, you’re on borrowed time. I would replace the impeller before it fails on you at the worst time.
Dream 'Inn III -- 2008 400 Express