July was not kind! For quite a while and in two boats, I have used a product called Star Tron. I did, however, run into a severe water/gas issue that this product turned into a nightmare. No, I'm not blaming the product at all but through my own failure to realize how bad the problem was, I turned it into a nightmare.
Regal 292, twin 350's. Two gas tanks. Dock hand inadvertantly partially filled the starbord tank with water (found that out way down the line).
Depart marina Sat morning. Calm wind, perfect temp (just trying to set to tone!) Lazy long cruise all is fine. Advance throttles, bow comes up and starbord engine drifts to sleep! Restart attempt fails. Troubleshoot and fuel/water separator saturated and full of water! No gas in it at all. Empty filter and reinstall. Disconnect carb side and crank engine (yes, safely) clean gas comes out. Prime engine, connect fuel line and restart. Ran fine, problem solved. Advance throttles same problem. Check filter again full of water. Apparant that fuel pickup in tank is in rear and anytime bow rises...see a pattern?
Fuel valves to port tank and all is fine. Back at marina, told our machanic what happened and suggested that he transfer fuel from starbord tank to the port one which was less than 1/4 (starb full) and use some large seperators to filter out the water. There was a huge problem with that since I didn't know how much water was in the tank. Added sick amounts of Star Tron to tank, let it sit overnight and nightmare began Sunday (and no, why tell the maechanic about the additive?!)
According to the manufacturer, "Enzymes in Startron prevent the water molecules that are in fuel from combining and forming a distinct water layer," I can attest it does that well!
The water mixed so well with the gas that all of it passed to to port tank with the separator only removing about a quart of water! The rest was pumped into the port tank contaminating both tanks! I did not know this until taking the boat out for a test. All I can say was thankfully towing was payed up!
During the following week our mech removed over 7 gallons of water between the tanks! He told me that it would have been much easier if I would not have used the additive prior to getting the water out. Lesson learned! I do still use the product and will continue to do so as a preventitive measure but will never use it or any other product like it if there is water contamination already present!
Found out almost two months later that because my pumpout is on the starb side the dock hand thought he would do me a favor and fill the water tank...
Ever since this experiance, I continue to have issues with the starb engine. All fuel related so next week off the carb comes off...
Regal 292, twin 350's. Two gas tanks. Dock hand inadvertantly partially filled the starbord tank with water (found that out way down the line).
Depart marina Sat morning. Calm wind, perfect temp (just trying to set to tone!) Lazy long cruise all is fine. Advance throttles, bow comes up and starbord engine drifts to sleep! Restart attempt fails. Troubleshoot and fuel/water separator saturated and full of water! No gas in it at all. Empty filter and reinstall. Disconnect carb side and crank engine (yes, safely) clean gas comes out. Prime engine, connect fuel line and restart. Ran fine, problem solved. Advance throttles same problem. Check filter again full of water. Apparant that fuel pickup in tank is in rear and anytime bow rises...see a pattern?
Fuel valves to port tank and all is fine. Back at marina, told our machanic what happened and suggested that he transfer fuel from starbord tank to the port one which was less than 1/4 (starb full) and use some large seperators to filter out the water. There was a huge problem with that since I didn't know how much water was in the tank. Added sick amounts of Star Tron to tank, let it sit overnight and nightmare began Sunday (and no, why tell the maechanic about the additive?!)
According to the manufacturer, "Enzymes in Startron prevent the water molecules that are in fuel from combining and forming a distinct water layer," I can attest it does that well!
The water mixed so well with the gas that all of it passed to to port tank with the separator only removing about a quart of water! The rest was pumped into the port tank contaminating both tanks! I did not know this until taking the boat out for a test. All I can say was thankfully towing was payed up!
During the following week our mech removed over 7 gallons of water between the tanks! He told me that it would have been much easier if I would not have used the additive prior to getting the water out. Lesson learned! I do still use the product and will continue to do so as a preventitive measure but will never use it or any other product like it if there is water contamination already present!
Found out almost two months later that because my pumpout is on the starb side the dock hand thought he would do me a favor and fill the water tank...
Ever since this experiance, I continue to have issues with the starb engine. All fuel related so next week off the carb comes off...