water in fuel (tank issue?)

[dfleet]

I have a '97 2150. I recently got some major water in the fuel; spark plugs and a fuel filter took care of it. I was staying at Dale Hollow lake for a week and bought gas at a place I normally don't. But no one else had any problems there. My boat has always a bit "chuggy" when you first fire it up after sitting a while. I'm wondering if perhaps I might have a slight water leak in the filler tube or vent tube into the tank. Has anyone experienced such a thing?

[IDBoating]

I've heard of some people's vent check valve not properly preventing water from splashing into the vent, down the hose, and into the tank. Possibility?

[Stingreye]

I've heard of some people's vent check valve not properly preventing water from splashing into the vent, down the hose, and into the tank. Possibility?

I think the check valve is to prevent fuel from escaping the vent line while filling up your tank and I don't think it will prevent water from entering the tank (not 100% sure on this though).

I am pretty sure I was getting water in my tank when surfing heavy on the port side. After moving the vent forward, I have not had a problem since.

Are you surfing with the boat on the fuel vent side? The filler gas cap on mine is waterproof I think.

[IDBoating]

I think the check valve is to prevent fuel from escaping the vent line while filling up your tank

I can assure you that fuel can pass right through that fuel check valve, and all over the side of your boat, with absolutely no problem at all. It's the result of locating that vent below the fuel filler port, which means that before it gets to the top of the filler tube it's already spilling down your gelcoat. As I've noted here several times, my previous boat placed the vent even with the filler tube so you'd have plenty of warning before spillage occurred. I cannot understand why any manufacturer places the vent so low, as it certainly does not have to be "low" to perform its function.

I like your idea of relocating it. I have promised myself to do that but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Stingreye]

I can assure you that fuel can pass right through that fuel check valve, and all over the side of your boat, with absolutely no problem at all. It's the result of locating that vent below the fuel filler port, which means that before it gets to the top of the filler tube it's already spilling down your gelcoat. As I've noted here several times, my previous boat placed the vent even with the filler tube so you'd have plenty of warning before spillage occurred. I cannot understand why any manufacturer places the vent so low, as it certainly does not have to be "low" to perform its function.

I like your idea of relocating it. I have promised myself to do that but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Does yours have this valve? Thats the one thats on mine.
http://www.iboats.com/Attwood-Fuel-V.../view_id.37945
Its a P.O.S. but it seems to be marketed as a surge valve.

Also from here:
http://www.boatus.org/findings/40/

Inline Fuel/Air Separators
An inline fuel/air separator is a simple and inexpensive device that is installed directly into your tank’s overboard vent line. As the fuel tank gets full and frothy fuel surges up from the tank, a ball rises and cuts off the travel of fuel that would normally escape overboard via the vent. Some of these devices claim to help shut off automatic fuel nozzles when your tank is full. Although none of the devices tested had a special whistle integrated to indicate fuel level (a feature we really loved in a now discontinued product) there was still an audible difference in some of the units when the tank was near full.


Check it out next time you are in the boat WA (I still could be wrong) but when I examined it. There is a ball valve and the ball is down from gravity but the fuel will lift the ball and block the fuel from exiting. When I took mine out and replaced it, I could turn it upside down hear the ball moving around. Its different than the check valves on our ballast and other items.

Is it possible the valve seized on yours and isn't floating up and the fuel escapes?

[IDBoating]

Mine is hard to see, but I looked at it yesterday while installing other things in the boat and mine appears to be a metal (copper? brass?) fitting-like piece halfway up the vent hose between the tank and the vent throughhull. It does not appear to be plastic like the one to which you linked, although the description of its operation sounds way better than what mine does.

There are always new threads popping up here about people having fuel spill out of their vent lines. I swear I just read one a couple of days ago. I just read another one on WakeWorld this morning. I think there are two kinds of vent "valves". The first is the kind you're describing, which seeks to prevent fuel spillage. The other focuses on intrusion of water into the tank while still allowing air to pass out. They both want to permit air to escape, but one blocks fluid going OUT while the other blocks fluid going IN.

A quick search revealed that there are now combo units that claim to do everything: Allow air in and out for normal fuel expansion and consumption, while preventing fluid (water) in and fluid (fuel) out. They look like little P-traps that replace the thruhull. Might be the right answer to solving the entire issue.

[Stingreye]

Interesting! I wonder if your valve really is keeping water out because I know you are running as much if not more weight than me and I don't think you have had any water intrusion issues.

If you do decide to get one that prevents surge, I would test it out with a gas pump on land so you can return it if it burbs fuel out the filler.

I had to fill at the slowest possible setting and it still had fuel come out the fuel filler with that Atwood one. With my new Racor LG100, I have only spilled after the handle clicked when I tried topping it off to see if it would take any more. I fill up 99.9% of the time on land so the LG100 was been worth every penny. You can actually hear it venting more air or at least I could before I moved my vent forward! Now I can't hear it but the handle so far has clicked off without spilling.

[IDBoating]

Interesting! I wonder if your valve really is keeping water out because I know you are running as much if not more weight than me and I don't think you have had any water intrusion issues.

Nope, no water-in-fuel issues here that I know of. But perhaps it has failed and its failure mode is to let fluid out but not in.

I fill on the lake except when putting the boat into storage (once a year). I fill until I can hear the fill tube filling up (change in sound) so I definitely fill the tank, but I don't top off the fill tube(s) because when I list over it would put the fill cap below the fill tube on that side. Not worth the risk of a spill.

[chpthril]

I would get a glass pickle jar or similar, pull the fuel/water sep filter and then dump the contents of the filter into the glass jar and let it settle. Place a clean catch pan under the filter as you pull to catch any that spills. Try not to tip or spill the filter until you get it over the opening of the jar. You need to catch all you can out of it. If there is water, it will separate quickly.

[IDBoating]

BTW, I do that at winterization every year: Examine what comes out of PCM's combined F/W filter and HPFP housing. So far, so good... no traces of water at all. The filter gets slightly discolored from particulates in the fuel but I replace it every year anyway.