05 SAN with a corroded fuel pump??

[shag]

I have a conundrum. I have a 2005 SAN with 400 hours, just had it in for service and am being told the high pressure fuel pump inside the FCC is severely corroded and in danger of failing. The warranty just expired a couple months ago. This boat has always been used on a private fresh water lake, stored on a lift with a full tank of fuel, always used high quality name brand fuel from busy stations.
Maintenance always performed at suggested intervals. The only thing I can think is the crappy Ethanol fuel that the government is forcing us to use - is causing moisture to condense on the pump. PCM's statement is that the standard ethanol is ok to use. I am going to call PCM and see if they will warranty this. Any ideas?? Thanks!

Mike

[Miljack]

have you ever changed the filter in the FCC? If not, and you didn't drain the fuel bowl periodically, you may have gotten water in your tank, and then into the FCC where the high pressure pump lives. I had a problem and got some water in my fuel tank, and it took a while to get the water out of the system.

How bad is the Florida fuel in regards to ethanol mixture? I believe some areas had an allowable concentration of up to 10% ethanol in their fuel, maybe you're a victim of that specification?

[shag]

Well, I have serviced the filter before, and drained the bowl. 10% is the mixture, but with the humidity in the summer, I think the Alcohol attracts more moisture. Everyone I know, has small engine problems (carburetors) related to the ethanal - and mileage suffers in cars too. I know several people with outboard motors that have the same fuel relate issues. Thanks for the reply!

[Miljack]

You're 10% ethanol and humidity in Florida probably did your pump in. You're right on the ethanol being more prone to absorbing the moisture out of the air. I've heard of boaters using Stabil product made specifically to treat the blended fuel, I believe it's greenish blue?

We have some friends in Apopka, in what part of FL are you?

[shag]

I'm in Orlando. Funny, I started using the 'marine' Stabil, specifically for ethanol, about 6 months ago. Probably too late. I will let ya know how PCM handles my request for consideration.

[DanielC]

I live in Oregon. I have been using E10 gasoline for several years in my 1997 Ski Nautique. My boat has 2240 hours on it. I did lose the low pressure pump around 920 hours, first run of the season, the one time I did not use Sta-Bil in my boat over the Winter.
I use the fuel stabilizer now. I use the standard red Sta-Bil.

[DanielC]

I live in Oregon. I have been using E10 gasoline for several years in my 1997 Ski Nautique. My boat has 2240 hours on it. I did lose the low pressure pump around 920 hours, first run of the season, the one time I did not use Sta-Bil in my boat over the Winter.
I use the fuel stabilizer now. I use the standard red Sta-Bil.

[bobchris]

well since the 10% mix has been on the market for over 20 years without problems, now since it's something new to you, you have to point the finger at it as the cause.

Problem is you got water in the system some how and the ethenol didn't pull it out of the iar and put in in your tank.

So come up with some other excuse for your mistake for not checking and drainig it as often as it should have been. Guess that month or two of just sitting had nothing to do with it or the tank not being as full as you thought it was while it sat and baked in the sun then condensed at night in the cool florida air. one extreme to the the next. **** that never creates any condensation so it must be the fuel because I'm a little challenged to figure out the real reason.

[WakeSlayer]

Long time no see BC, where have you been?

[shag]

Sorry

Wow. Thats pretty accusatory. Sorry to cause the inconvience. Ethanol in fuel here has not been being used that long.

Thanks for the input though.

[shag]

RE: Sorry

Just as a follow up, after talking with PCM, and since my warranty had just expired - they are going to warranty the pump anyway (I pay labor - or just replace it myself). PCM has excellent customer service. Thanks PCM!

[bchesley]

RE: Sorry

You have to take what bobchris says with a grain of salt. He is a bitter bear at times.

Great for PCM. The pump is not hard to swap out. I am sure we could walk you through it.

[bobchris]

RE: Sorry

THAT'S COOL THEY ARE GOING TO WARRANTY IT FOR YOU, but the gas mix you discribe has been in use since the 80's maybe not in your neck of the woods but alot of other area's around the US. The issue is condensation and it accumulating in the tank and/or FCC. So to blame it on the gas is a little far fetched for me to agree to being the root cause when in actuallity it's condensation cause by the change in temp's over night then being baked during the day by the sun. If you have to use the 10% blend then you have to step up the maintenance because it will make it easier for condensation to form so extra precautions need to be adhered too and the nornal schedule is not regular or soon enough in this particular case or problem.

[shag]

Thanks

Thanks for the advice. I am sure that PCM is doing this as a customer service issue, and I am quite sure I can replace the pump myself. I really thought that draining the bowl once every month or two would be plenty. I never really saw any water - I would even put the drained gas into a glass jar and wait to see the water separate -but never saw any. My boat stays in a covered boathouse with separate cover over the boat as well. I am sure some moisture still condenses though, being that we have the high humidity here all summer. Anyway, I have yet to see the pump -just going on what the Dealer tells me. ("Severley corroded").
End point is that You get what you pay for - Nautiques are IMO the best made boats, and they stand behind their product...... As do their suppliers.

Thanks!

[nautiboat]

FCC is fuel control cell? And the FCC has a filter? How often should it be changed? The FCC has a fuel pump inside of it? What fuel bowl are you draining?