Fuel system

[Artman]

I have a 1996 ski Nautique with a 351 PCM engine. It’s running a little rough. I suspect a fuel problem. I tried to find the fuel separator canister near the front of the engine but there’s nothing there. The only thing I was able to find was an in-line fuel filter towards the rear of the boat. Is that the only fuel filter on this system? I’ve had a couple of other ski boats and all of them had fuel separator’s. Can anybody help me?

[Skidave]

Is this a carburetor or fuel injection motor. Both were available that year. Carb boats only have the spin on fuel filter you found.

Early fuel injection may not have the Fuel Control Cell (FCC). Others can verify.

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[Artman]

I think it a carb engine. The filter I found is not a screw on type nore is it a water separating filter. It’s a filter that is in the rubber gas line between the engine and the gas tank Just ahead of the back seat but behind the motor

[gun-driver]

The early year GT-40s (‘95 some’96s) without the fuel cell only had an inline filter.
Not to many early 176’s had a GT-40 not that can’t i believe it was an option.

[Artman]

Thank you!

[gun-driver]

A picture of the motor would solve that mystery.

[Jonny Quest]

There are a lot of potential causes for “running a little rough“, such as fuel, carburetor, timing, plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor, etc.

You may have a spin-on canister type fuel water separator on the port side of the engine compartment, near the transmission. It may be mounted at or below floor level.

JQ

[Artman]

Ok. I change the in-line fuel filter and it ran good until it warmed up. It seems like what I put a load on the motor or it warms up it starts running poorly. What would cause it to run poorly after putting a load on the motor? I’m thinking I need To change the plugs in the plug wires. Any suggestions?

[Artman]

Ok. I got my Nautique 176 tune up. Runs great. Thanks. Now I have another problem. When I get the boat up to around 25 or 30 mph, there is a loud growling noise sometimes followed with a loud vibratory squealing noise. Sounds pretty nasty. I put the boat on the lift and tried to wiggle the prop and shaft. As far as I could tell, there was no slop in the cutlass bearing. I checked the transmission fluid. It was ok. Any ideas?