Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer
Home / Ran Out of Gas Pressurize Fuel Line Again

Ran Out of Gas Pressurize Fuel Line Again

Post a Comment

You are here: Home / Boat Work / Outboard Fuel Line Problems

How to tell if you have a blockage in an outboard fuel line, why they occur and how to choose a replacement fuel line that will have fewer problems.
Pin it!

What is causing the rise in outboard fuel line problems? We've had problems with two hoses in the past three years.

RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM

A blocked outboard fuel line prevents fuel from getting to the motor. It generally starts with a partial blockage, where playing around with the fuel hose and pumping the primer bulb will get the motor to start or keep it running. But blockages don't cure themselves. In a few days, squeezing the primer bulb does less and less, possibly getting to the point where there is no resistance in the bulb and it does not expand when released.

When this happened to us recently, the solution was pretty simple: a new hose.

PICTURES OF THE BLOCKAGES

I was curious about what had happened – both basic curiosity and wanting not to have continued problems.

Dave, my husband, began by trying to blow through the old hose. He couldn't in two out of the three sections. That confirmed a blockage. Or actually, at least two blockages.

The first cut end of hose that I looked at didn't seem to have a problem:

The fuel line for our outboard had all the symptoms of a serious blockage. We really weren't prepared for what we found when we cut it apart!

But the second one looked a little funny:

The fuel line for our outboard had all the symptoms of a serious blockage. We really weren't prepared for what we found when we cut it apart!

It looked like the inside of the hose had melted and twisted.

Turns out, these new hoses have a "non-permeable liner."

The fuel line for our outboard had all the symptoms of a serious blockage. We really weren't prepared for what we found when we cut it apart!

And it can break free (delaminate) from the outer hose and twist itself up. Hmm, I didn't see that liner in that first bit of hose that I saw. Wonder where it went? I split the hose lengthwise:

The fuel line for our outboard had all the symptoms of a serious blockage. We really weren't prepared for what we found when we cut it apart!

Hard to get a good photo, but basically the liner appeared to be totally wadded up. No wonder fuel couldn't get through!

Everywhere we cut, we found a problem:

The fuel line for our outboard had all the symptoms of a serious blockage. We really weren't prepared for what we found when we cut it apart!

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE HOSES

In talking with clerks at the local NAPA store, West Marine, other cruisers and outboard mechanics, it seems that we are not alone in our outboard fuel line problems.

For the record, this hose was made by Attwood and is not quite 18 months old. We've used non-ethanol gas more often than not; when we've used gas with ethanol, we used a gas additive as well. I don't remember the exact designation of the hose, but I remember when buying it that it was supposed to be okay for use with ethanol gas.

What I've learned (and this is all word-of-mouth and anecdotal):

  • All fuel hoses have more problems than they used to.
  • Ethanol gas causes more fuel line problems but using ethanol-free gas is not a guarantee you won't have problems.
  • New hoses have an impermeable liner to keep ethanol from degrading the other hose material.
  • That liner can delaminate from the outer hose and cause blockages.
  • The hoses with the grey outside coating (UV protection) seem to have more problems than others.
  • Attwood brand hoses seem to have more problems than some others. They had at least one recall of hoses due to delamination of the inner liner causing blockages.
  • OEM hoses seem to last longer before showing problems.
  • Automotive fuel hose doesn't seem to be having the delamination problem but doesn't have the UV inhibitors and may crack from UV damage.
  • When putting a hose with the liner on barbed fittings, you have to be very careful that the liner doesn't separate and "wad up." It may still do that on its own, but you need to be careful not to add to the problem.

OUR SOLUTION

Our "solution" was to get automotive fuel hose. Since it doesn't have the UV protection, we may try to cover the exposed portions of the hose with tubular webbing or even just tubes made from old t-shirts to give it some UV protection. We're still working on that.

Bottom line, however: carry replacement fuel hose and hose clamps! There is basically no sure-fire method to avoid problems either with the liner or UV damage. Either type of hose can have a problem.

Read Next

Feel like you don't have a clue where to start when the outboard won't run? This guide is for you! A great resource to keep in the dinghy — Outboard Troubleshooting for Non-Mechanics. Know exactly what to try when your outboard won't start! Waterproof and fuel-proof, easy to use. Now sold on Amazon; can be shipped worldwide.

Some links above (including all Amazon links) are affiliate links, meaning that I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.

Reader Interactions

gibbsprepition1988.blogspot.com

Source: https://theboatgalley.com/outboard-fuel-line-problems/

Post a Comment for "Ran Out of Gas Pressurize Fuel Line Again"