Gray Marine Fuel Line Issue

[TableRockBoater]

Here's something I assume y'all know about. 

I know what ethanol does to marine-grade parts, but I just learned about this one the hard way.  I had this issue on a new-to-us boat, where the previous owners probably did not use non-ethanol fuel.  When I took apart the gray fuel line, I saw it has exactly this problem, that liner is all gummy, and blocking fuel flow.

Then I found this:

 

[Dutch]

My comes by tech told me that several years ago.  He didn’t have the line so I had Bill Cooper at Son Sac Marine do it when I was camped at Stockton State Park.

[TableRockBoater]

I guess I'll be getting my new fuel line at O'Reilly's instead of a marine place, and I'll replace the bulb while I'm at it. 

There is the possibility that some of that gunky liner has made it past the fuel connector.

Both here and in Florida, I have only used non-ethanol in our boats and small engines ever since it's been available.  Our Florida gas stations were first to come around, and offer a non-ethanol pump, even at Murphy Gas.  It's a heavy boating area, and they call it Recreational Gas.

Prior to that, probably about 2013, I spent over $600 getting all the fuel-degraded parts replaced in our '98 Fisher deck boat.  I had no idea what was causing performance problems then, and the mechanic kept a handful of small parts from the fuel system.

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

This is from letting that crap sit and not using the boat. It was like this when i got it.  Ive never had any issues with Ethonal as long as you burn it and dont let it sit around

[gurzik]

Replaced mine last year on the recommendation of Fair Grove marine. 

[TableRockBoater]

1 hour ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

This is from letting that crap sit and not using the boat. It was like this when i got it.  Ive never had any issues with Ethonal as long as you burn it and dont let it sit around

I hate to say what I'm going to say because it will probably sound like I'm picking on you, but, we have lived on Table Rock Lake for more than 20 years, with our boats and other boats all around us.  Thousands of boats sitting on lifts, in slips, in marinas, in dry docks, on trailers, and most boats sit a whole lot more than they get used.  Most don't get used for several months every year, and some don't get used for much longer perios.  Same in our very-boatey Florida area, most boats just sit, especially Snowbird boats.

Your personal experience with ethanol goes against conventional wisdom, and Boat US has put a lot of research into it.

Just say No to ethanol . . . unless you're a corn farmer. 

[TableRockBoater]

I got our fuel line assembly off, and it is going to be a very simple process to replace the bad fuel lines with good ones.

[MrGiggles]

I've had bouts with that stuff before too. It's garbage. 

I just use regular old 5/16 black fuel hose. Oreilly's has it but it's expensive. Farm supply store is way cheaper. Cut the crimped clamps off with dikes and put the new line on with regular hose clamps.

It's not very UV resistant, and isn't approved for enclosed bilge areas. You will have to replace it every few years because the sun will make it crack. But it's cheap and easy to get.

[TableRockBoater]

I don't need much, and it's not as expensive as the aggravation or the tow bill.  I google-studied clamps, mainly because fuel line clamps are strange, and found the regular worm clamps are not a good idea, but that's probably what I'll use if I can't figure out the clamps that are on it now.

[MrGiggles]

1 hour ago, TableRockBoater said:

I don't need much, and it's not as expensive as the aggravation or the tow bill.  I google-studied clamps, mainly because fuel line clamps are strange, and found the regular worm clamps are not a good idea, but that's probably what I'll use if I can't figure out the clamps that are on it now.

Actual fuel injection line clamps are available at any parts store.

They clamp a lot tighter and won't bite into the hose like a worm drive can. But they work just fine on the suction side of a fuel system, even a snugged up zip tie serves that purpose just fine, many outboards left the factory that way. Fun fact, there are zip ties specifically made for clamping hoses.