I have twin 454's in my 3587. I treated my gas at winter lay up (didn't use marine stabil just regular red stabil treatment). I winterized late October, fired up engines in May, it is ethanol fuel. In spring I changed both fuel filters. I was having fuel issues pulled carbs and they had junk inside the fuel bowls. I didn't buy rebuild kits but pulled both carbs cleaned them out best I could (did not soak) with carb cleaner, checked float levels and re-installed. I am using sierra 10 micron spin on fuel/water filters (18-7944). I Went on 5 hour boat trip and started having carb issues again halfway through the trip. I run slow 1800 rpm usually one engine. I got to my destination replaced fuel filters (I didn't think to check fuel in filters for junk/water). I limped home 5 hr run switching engines 6 knots, pulled off carbs and it looked like I never cleaned them. I changed filters again but this time emptied filter contents into two clean clear jars. The fuel looked perfect no water/junk, this tells me the fuel tanks are fine it was crap that sat in carbs over winter and the ethanol turned to junk I guess. When I cleaned the carbs the first time I didn't clean fuel inlet screens (top half of carbs (edelbrock 1410 (same as carter afbs)). I bought rebuild kits and rebuilt the carbs (soaked them/boiled them, blew air through every passage, all new gaskets). I noticed when I sprayed carb cleaner backwards through the float needle valve holes all kinds of crap was logged against the screens.
My question is do you guys have multiple filters? My old Chrysler in my old boat I had a main fuel/water separator and a second metal inline filter at the carb to catch anything that got through. I hope the crap was left in the carb and that somehow its not getting through my 10 micron spin on filter. I assume merc filters were original but I dont see why the sierra after market ones should not work.
I plan to re-install carbs this weekend and change all spark plugs (I am afraid I might of fouled plugs due to lack of fuel). If this works I am going to run non-ethanol fuel through my carbs during my next winter lay up.
Thanks
KMDisland
My question is do you guys have multiple filters? My old Chrysler in my old boat I had a main fuel/water separator and a second metal inline filter at the carb to catch anything that got through. I hope the crap was left in the carb and that somehow its not getting through my 10 micron spin on filter. I assume merc filters were original but I dont see why the sierra after market ones should not work.
I plan to re-install carbs this weekend and change all spark plugs (I am afraid I might of fouled plugs due to lack of fuel). If this works I am going to run non-ethanol fuel through my carbs during my next winter lay up.
Thanks
KMDisland
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