3000 EXPRESS
3-8
3.5 Fuel System Maintenance
Periodically inspect all connections, clamps and hoses for leakage and damage or deterioration.
Replace as necessary. Spray the valves, tank fuel gauge sender and ground connections with a
metal protector.
Frequently inspect and lubricate the fuel fill cap O-ring seal with petroleum jelly or silicone grease.
The O-ring seal prevents water from entering the fuel system through the fuel fill cap and it should
be replaced immediately if there is any sign of damage or deterioration.
Contaminated fuel may cause serious damage to your engines. The filters must be checked for
water and other contamination frequently. The filter elements must be changed at least once a
season or more frequently depending on the type of engine and the quality of the fuel. Please refer
to the engine or fuel filter manufacturer’s instructions for information on servicing and replacing
the fuel filter elements.
The age of gasoline can affect engine performance. Chemical changes occur as the gasoline ages
that can cause deposits and varnish in the fuel system as well as reduce the octane rating of the fuel.
Severely degraded fuel can damage the engine and boat fuel tank and lines. Therefore, if your boat
is not being run enough to require at least one full tank of fresh fuel a month, a fuel stabilizer should
be added to the gasoline to protect the fuel from degradation. Your dealer or the engine
manufacturer can provide additional information on fuel degradation and fuel stabilizers recom-
mended for your engine.
Avoid using fuels with alcohol additives. Gasoline that is an alcohol blend will absorb moisture
from the air which can reach such concentrations that "phase separation" can occur whereby the
water and alcohol mixture becomes heavy enough to settle out of the gasoline to the bottom of the
tank. Since the fuel pick up tube is very near the bottom of the tank, phase separation can cause
the engine to run very poorly or not at all. This condition is more severe with methyl alcohol and
will worsen as the alcohol content increases. Water or a jelly like substance in the fuel filters are
an indication of phase separation from the use of alcohol blended fuels.
DO NOT DRAIN ANY FUEL INTO THE BILGE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE OR EX-
PLOSION.
AFTER THE FILTER ELEMENT HAS BEEN CHANGED, PRIME THE FUEL SYSTEM AND
CHECK ALL FITTINGS FOR LEAKS BEFORE AND AFTER STARTING THE ENGINES.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINES, ALWAYS OPEN ALL HATCHES, WINDOWS, AND
DOORS AND RUN THE BLOWER FOR AT LEAST FIVE (5) MINUTES TO COMPLETELY
VENTILATE THE BOAT AFTER SERVICING THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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