Yamaha fuel bulletin

[Moses]

Txs Bill.

In MA, most gas stations switched over in May of this year. It would have been nice if Yamaha posted this information back then vs waiting for the end of the boating season.

Related, I just got my boat back from the shop. Diagnosis - clogged fuel injectors. Until this year, the only solution was to replace these (4 in my 150) at a pretty hefty price. This year they started cleaning them at $50 per. Even though my boat is back and is running great, it took multiple phone calls to Yamaha by the marine shop and myself to ensure this was covered under warranty. My engine was only 1 year old with 6-7 months of use on it.

Problems to watch out for;

1. after a couple of minutes idling the engine would surge a few times then die - clogged injectors were limiting gas intake.

2. unfortunately this happened 2 weeks ago out at Stellwagon SWC, when I gave the engine throttle, the boat would pick up on plane and w/i 2 seconds throttle itself back down. WOT for my boat is usually ~35 knots, this particular day it ranged from 7 - 19 w/o adjusting throttle, a very unsettling feeling - the engine's computer system was trying to compensate for the clogged injectors and was getting all screwed up, it is also believe that some of the debris was floating therefore affecting multiple injectors at different times.

Happy ending since Yamaha covered cleaning and I used the boat friday, sat and sun for a combined 30 hrs and she ran like a champ!

[nightprowler]

Originally Posted by Moses

1. after a couple of minutes idling the engine would surge a few times then die - clogged injectors were limiting gas intake.

2. unfortunately this happened 2 weeks ago out at Stellwagon SWC, when I gave the engine throttle, the boat would pick up on plane and w/i 2 seconds throttle itself back down. WOT for my boat is usually ~35 knots, this particular day it ranged from 7 - 19 w/o adjusting throttle, a very unsettling feeling - the engine's computer system was trying to compensate for the clogged injectors and was getting all screwed up, it is also believe that some of the debris was floating therefore affecting multiple injectors at different times.

this is exactly what my engine is doing....i have a 9.9 to go on a 11 ft aluminum, ive been for awhile now trying to figure out what the hell is going on. this gives me new ideas, i think some maintenance is in order this weekend....where can i get these filters? direct from yamaha?

[MTC]

Originally Posted by nightprowler

this is exactly what my engine is doing....i have a 9.9 to go on a 11 ft aluminum, ive been for awhile now trying to figure out what the hell is going on. this gives me new ideas, i think some maintenance is in order this weekend....where can i get these filters? direct from Yamaha?

On the 9.9 take the screw off the side of the carburetor bowl and spray some carb cleaner in it. Than pump the ball until clean gas comes out. Throw some Startron into a fresh tank of gas and give it a try. I have done this to at least 20 boats this year.

[Mr. Sandman]

Check those filters!! I can't tell you how many folks I know have had engine problems this season and the source was all fuel and fuel filter issues.

I would change the filter every 50 hours to feel comfortable. That is a lot, and they should last a lot longer but one batch of funky fuel and your hosed. Nothing like getting stuck in an ugly spot in a raging current or sea and have your engine start gagging.

Just yesterday a friend called saying he thinks his engine crapped out it sounded terrible and had no power in gear and he was thinking about repowering. He was moaning after replacing the prop and talking to the (suzuki) mechanic who said it didn't sound good and he could get to it in a few days. I asked him if it stalled or coughed at idle? and he said yes and it never does that...I said take off all the filters starting at the racor and dump it out and look inside. Later that day I got a phone call from a happy fishermen...it was full of water and gunk and he "fixed" the problem for less then 100 bucks. My advice was

A) change the filter every 50 hours
B) buy MARINE gas at a decent place, stay away from discount fuel places. (they get discount fuel because they purchase the dregs from the bardge after all the premium stations buy the stuff off the top)

I learned the hard way. Buy quality and use what the manufacture says to for additives. (ringfree, drygas or whatever)

The Yamaha dealer actually took off my racor and put on a Yamaha filter for warrenty issues (similar specs but they don't have a drain port) I was PO'ed but they said if your engine blows and you don't have this filter on they will balk at warrenty repair.