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Fuel starved

Put my boat (3.0L) in the garage for the winter last Oct. No fuel stabilizer. 1/2 tank of gas.

Pulled it out periodically to start it...no problem.

Hadn't pulled it out since December so I pull it out a couple of weeks ago and couldn't get it started. Fuel line to the fuel pump was dry. No time to troubleshoot further so I stuck it back in the garage. Put fuel stabilizer in at that point.

Pulled it put today. Sprayed carb-cleaner down the carb to give it a kick.

It started up fine and ran very smooth.

Ran smooth for 5-10 minutes and then stopped dead. Won't start. It will sputter if I spray carb cleaner in it, but it's not getting fuel.

What probably happened?

Thanks.

sat_alight
Mar 11
I would pull the tank draw connection and see if there is something plugging the filter, or even if you have gas in the tank. CalifBill
Mar 13
Thanks guys.

I suspect the fuel pump too. Just surprised me that it would run fine for as long as it did. I didn't think that much fuel could be in the system to run the 3.0L 5-10 minutes with a non-functional fuel pump.

I agree that a dry line between the tank and the fuel pump is the key. I didn't check that again after I got it running and then when it shut off.

I don't think it would be the carb jets because it did run for awhile. Make sense? However, I did wet it down with carb cleaner.

sat_alight
Mar 13
The fuel pump, if mechanical, may have just started to fail last start, now when trying, the diaphragm failed completely and no pumping. As Chuck said, trace back to where you find fuel. If present up to the pump(or water separator/filter) ck for good seal there, as an air leak will let the fuel pump suck air instead of fuel. If the system is tight,the pump is probably bad. JR

JR
Mar 12
Could be varnish in the carb jets. Without rebuilding the carb, you can get liquid carb cleaner and run it straight into the carb. Break the fuel line somewhere and hook the can up to it upside down like an IV. Keith
Mar 13
Best clue: Fuel line to pump is dry.

Check to see if the outlet valve at the fuel tank has been shut off. Or, if you have an inline filter between the tank and the fuel pump check to see if you have fuel to that point. Work back upstream until you find fuel, and then see why it's not getting to your pump. (Maybe your neighbor's teenager has been fueling his jalopy all winter via a siphon hose and your fuel tank? Wouldn't be the first time.....)

Depending on the design of the fuel pump, you may have had enough fuel collected there to run a small engine for a few minutes, and then it would "stop dead" and not restart.

Chuck
Mar 12
   

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