Engine Seems To Have Lost A Little Power..

[donjuarez]

2 stroke 25hp Evinrude... was running fine most of Sunday... (and previously too of course)

Pulled up at a spot, and anchored/drifted, fished a bit as you do...

then on my way back to the ramp, no problems starting up, started first go as she always does, except it seems like the fastest I could go was about 8 knots, giving it more throttle than usual to reach this speed...

Prop looks like its all in order, just wouldn't give me the go forward it normally does..

Seemed to be pumping plenty of water without much hassle, Iat first I suspected maybe something was stuck around the prop..

When I got home and flushed the engine, everything looked and sounded normal again...

engine did sound a little different on the water though... and I'm wondering if it could have been the Unleaded e10 fuel I put in it, as it sounded like it was having a little bit of trouble digesting the fuel.. i.e the occassional cough.. (which it's never done before)

Any thoughts? hoping it is just the fuel and nothing worse..

AJ

Edited July 9, 2008 by throw me a fish

[harrold101]

I'm wondering if it could have been the Unleaded e10 fuel I put in it, as it sounded like it was having a little bit of trouble digesting the fuel..

I was always told by the old man to never put E10 into the boat... i dont know why(maybe someone in the business could tell you) but that seems to be your problem.

scott.

[Flightmanager]

Hi Cam, premium unleaded fuel will not hurt your engine, only your wallet. For your HP I would use good quality regular unleaded and save the money. The only fuel that should not be used in boats is E10, due to the ethanol attracting water and the problem this will cause with runability.

Cheers,

Huey

G'day AJ ,

Running E10 is not recommended for outboards , for the reason given above. I doubt however that a problem could have arisen so quickly with E10 fuel. Have you checked the spark plugs ? Also , how long since the carbies were looked at? Perhaps all it needs is a service?

Ross

[donjuarez]

Have never put e10 in before, and probably wouldn't have.. except the servo I always fill the boat up at has trashed their unleaded pumnps and replaced them with e10.

Only noticed after i'd pulled up and reached for the pump.. by then, convenience kicked in and it was too late to reconsider.. figured it wouldn;t hurt... wrong!

Any one else had this problem?

G'day AJ ,

Running E10 is not recommended for outboards , for the reason given above. I doubt however that a problem could have arisen so quickly with E10 fuel. Have you checked the spark plugs ? Also , how long since the carbies were looked at? Perhaps all it needs is a service?

Ross

I probably ran for about 30 minutes or so before the problem started...

Was fully serviced in late January/early Feb this year.. has never skipped a beat (except for a shear pin) until Sunday (took it out the weekend before without a problem too)... Spark plugs were replaced, impeller replaced, and apart from that, just a standard service (reputable outboard service centre in hornsby)..

I guess the general consensus would be:

1. Trash the fuel and refuel with the good stuff!

2. Check Sparkies and Carbie and make sure nothing strange going on in there..

3. Take it back out on the water and see how she runs? worst case, I'll just be speed limited again...

4. If still not the goods, take her in for a pro to have a look at it?

AJ

Edited July 9, 2008 by throw me a fish

[Flightmanager]

Sounds like a plan to me !

Ross

[a boat]

Hi AJ, I second that plan.

Cheers,

Huey.

[donjuarez]

Thanks guys!

last question..

just want to make sure I haven't done any permanent damage by using e10?

what's the worst that could happen? water mixed in with the fuel? or in the carbie?

[a boat]

Hi AJ, no major damage should of happened. Give the carby a good clean out and inspect the gaskets if after filling with good fuel you still have a problem, the E10 can make older gaskets perish and the needle and seat would also need to be replaced, but if only a small amount went thru I would not think this has happened.

As for any water getting it the crankcase, yes possible, but again if you get it running again soon and run it for a while it will not be an issue. If lets say you put this engine away now for a couple of years and did not use it, then the little water in around the crankshaft and bearings could casue the engine to lock-up.

Just do the things you are planning on doing in the next few days and you will be right,

Cheers,

Huey.

[dogtooth]

Hi AJ , STEP 7 IS IMPORTANT . PETROL MEANS FIRE. DO NOT START ENGINE TILL ALL STEPS COMPLETED.

First step .

1 . Trash the fuel , and refill tank with good stuff..

2 . Undo fuel filter on the side of motor if it has one , and empty and clean it . ( do not reinstall yet ).

3. look for a screw on the bottom of the carbie , could be on the side this is carbie drain plug . ( remove do not reinstall yet ).

4. Now pump some good fuel from your tank till a fair bit comes out where your filter is . ( reinstall filter ).

5 . pump some more fuel till a fair bit comes out of your carbie drain . ( reinstall carbie plug ) .

6 . You have now eliminated any water in you fuel system .

7. NOW GRAB SOME DEGREASER AND HOSE AWAY ANY FUEL THAT IS SITTING AROUND THE BOTTOM OF YOUR ENGINE , WITHOUT WETTING ELECTRICAL PARTS .

8 . Check spark plugs and if good . She should fire up and run well.

Cheers Dogtooth .. John