Well I think I got to the bottom of my fuel problems. My boat had been
intermittently cutting out at cruising speeds. I pulled the anti-siphon
valve and found quite a bit of brown, sand like particles, which I'm
assuming are varnish. I also drained my Racor and had quite a bit of this
as well. The first couple of times this happened I did not notice any of
this in the Racor.

I hooked up a hand pump and was able to get some of this out of the bottom
of my tank, but I wasn't happy with the ability to get to the bottom of the
tank where I'm sure most of this lies. I'm going to try a fig up a better
way to clean out the bottom of the tank to see if I can get the rest of this
out.

The boat did sit for nearly two years with the same tank of gas and no
Stabil so it did have ample time to get mucky. What other steps can I take
to rid the system of this stuff? Is there an alternative to the anti-siphon
that would be easier to monitor the accumulation and clean? Thanks.

linus

Is there an alternative to the anti-siphon
that would be easier to monitor the accumulation and clean? Thanks.


Assuming you have the mechanical ball and spring type anti-siphon valve,
there is an alternative. I switched from mechanical valves to electrically
operated anti-siphon valves, to help resolve a vapor locking problem. In
terms of your issue, I don't think the electric valves would be any easier
to monitor or clean, but they might be less likely to get fouled in the
first place. The problem with the mechanical valves is that they are always
in the business of restricting fuel flow, due to the constant resistance of
the spring. Ideally, you would like to have flow restriction only when the
engine is not running, but the spring the mechanical valves is constantly
delivering resistance to the fuel flow. The fuel pump must always overcome
that spring resistance, as well as generate the vacuum required to draw the
fuel from the tank. I can see where heavily varnished fuel could easily
muck up a mechanical valve, perhaps restricting its ability to be fully
opened by the fuel pump. The electric valves open and close the fuel line
by way of a solenoid operated valve. When the engine is running, the valve
is fully open, and when not, the valve is fully closed. Since the valve is
operated electrically. the fuel pump never has to generate the vacuum
necessary to overcome any spring resistance, as in the case with the
mechanical valves. Perhaps this type of anti-siphon valve would be less
likely to gummed up by fuel varnish. Maybe not.

"RG" wrote in message news:KRGQa.6503$Bp2.4178@fed1read07...
Is there an alternative to the anti-siphon
that would be easier to monitor the accumulation and clean? Thanks.


Assuming you have the mechanical ball and spring type anti-siphon valve,
there is an alternative. I switched from mechanical valves to
electrically
operated anti-siphon valves, to help resolve a vapor locking problem. In
terms of your issue, I don't think the electric valves would be any easier
to monitor or clean, but they might be less likely to get fouled in the
first place. The problem with the mechanical valves is that they are
always
in the business of restricting fuel flow, due to the constant resistance
of
the spring. Ideally, you would like to have flow restriction only when
the
engine is not running, but the spring the mechanical valves is constantly
delivering resistance to the fuel flow. The fuel pump must always
overcome
that spring resistance, as well as generate the vacuum required to draw
the
fuel from the tank. I can see where heavily varnished fuel could easily
muck up a mechanical valve, perhaps restricting its ability to be fully
opened by the fuel pump. The electric valves open and close the fuel line
by way of a solenoid operated valve. When the engine is running, the
valve
is fully open, and when not, the valve is fully closed. Since the valve
is
operated electrically. the fuel pump never has to generate the vacuum
necessary to overcome any spring resistance, as in the case with the
mechanical valves. Perhaps this type of anti-siphon valve would be less
likely to gummed up by fuel varnish. Maybe not.


Do you have an online reference where I can look at one of these electronic
devices?

Do you have an online reference where I can look at one of these
electronic
devices?


Unfortunately, no. I did my best to Google up a website for a manufacturer
or dealer for marine electric anti-siphon valves yesterday. Came up empty,
and I can't remember the name of the manufacturer of the three that I have
installed on my boat. Sea Ray uses these valves as OEM equipment in all
their late model cruisers. Sea Ray started using them as OEM equipment in
model year 2000, one year later than mine. I worked out a deal to retrofit
my boat where they sent me the valves at no charge, and I took care of the
labor to install them. The valves were worth $100-$150 each, if I recall.
If you really want a lead to the source, call Sea Ray customer service at
800-648-8535. I'm sure the guys in customer service could easily tell you
who their supplier of the valves is.