22VE started sputtering at lower speeds

[nlee423]

I have a 2006 22VE. Last time out, about 3rd day it started sputtering at idle and low speed. It acted like it wanted to die. It was hard to get speed up, but once got going, it ran fine. Stop and it would do it again. Gas was on lower end.

Took it out again today. Full tank of gas. Started sputtering right out of the gate and cuts out. It is affecting the cruise today. It keeps kicking it off around the 10mph zone, won't hold. Sputtering is intermitent. Really frustrating. Any ideas what's up? Where to start? Simple fix? Any help for a novice like me is appreciated.

[ajholt7]

When was the fuel filter changed?

[nlee423]

just purchased this winter. Supposedly was replaced according to dealer.

[chpthril]

it may be worth it to place a catch pan under it an pull the filter. Catch as much as you can then pour it into a glass jar and see if there is any water that separates. Also check to make sure the knock sensor/drain plug on the starboard side of the engine is tight and the electrical plug is seated.

MAP and CTS are two sensors that can cause a rich condition at low RPM, then it runs close to normal once the engine is under load and the RPMs are up.

[acropilotbret]

My 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee got gas siphoned out of it years ago and the person who siphoned the gas left the cap off and couldn't get the tube they siphoned it out with out with the flapper valve so they cut it and left it for the rain and moisture. Anyway my jeep started to act like that and wouldn't idle and I had to put my foot on the gas to keep it from dieing at stop lights. It eventually turned into it sputtering so bad that couldn't drive it. It turns out it had some water in the gas tank. I solved it by putting ISO Heet into the gas tank and filling the tank. It immediately helped and after two treatments I never had a problem again.

Basically it sounds like water in your tank and I would drain the fuel filter and get it out it may take a couple of iterations to get it out. I'm not sure you want to put Iso Heet in a boat or not basically its 99% Isoprophol Alcohol. I'm not sure its true or not but I think iso heet breaks up the water enough to pass it through the filter. BTW there are two products HEET and ISO HEET the normal Heet didn't work for me but the ISO heet does! But since you have a filter that you can drain I would do that first. Maybe talk with your dealer about possible water in your tank/filter.

Good luck.

[Dave K]

Run a tank of premium and put sea-form in the tank?

[nlee423]

Does anyone know if this engine has a fuel pump or is it gravity fed? Do you know if the gas tank has a drain plug? I followed some of the suggestions. I went with new gas and 2 cans of sea foam. The boat took off wonderfully, cruise worked, etc. Thought we had solved the problem. Then after about 2-3 hours on the water, it started acting up again. It only acted up after you shut the engine off. if you left it idling it was fine. Then as the tank got lower, it never would recover and we finally had to sputter off the lake. I think I will try draining the tank and changing the fuel filter, but it seems exactly opposite of a full filter problem by the way it acts up after a shutdown.

[ajholt7]

Yes it has a fuel pump.

[nlee423]

i read somewhere about a vapor lock plug. Any help on that?

[ajholt7]

Does your boat have a Marine Power engine? Marine Power has a retrofit to deal with vapor lock. Essentially a t in the return line that sends fuel to the tank instead of back to the fuel pump. You can see it in this picture.

Out is the T at the lower left of the fuel pump. The hose with the worm gear clamp runs back to an unused port on the tank.

[bigdaddy_houseboater]

it may be worth it to place a catch pan under it an pull the filter. Catch as much as you can then pour it into a glass jar and see if there is any water that separates. Also check to make sure the knock sensor/drain plug on the starboard side of the engine is tight and the electrical plug is seated.

MAP and CTS are two sensors that can cause a rich condition at low RPM, then it runs close to normal once the engine is under load and the RPMs are up.

With Cheapo on this one too... Sounds like water in the fuel.