1992 Bayliner w/Merc Crusier V6 4.3 LIter

[kinsanity]

I did not winterize my boat last year as we did not have time to get it in the water. With that being said when we tried to start it last weekend it would not fire up. I got some starting fluid and sprayed it in the carb and it would fire right over and idle for a few seconds but that is it. Won't start unless I use starting fluid It does act like it is getting gas but could the gas be bad since it has not been ran since 2017. Please any advice would be helpful.

 

[TunaFish389]

Check to see if your getting accelerator pump squirt in carb (assuming carb). Have someone move throttle idle to full throttle while looking in carb and you should see a squirt of gas. If not then the system is not full of fuel yet. If this is the case keep cycling engine till fuel lines are prime. Sometimes it takes a while.

Could be many other issues but I would verify your getting fuel first. The gas age doesn't worry me. I always winterize with a half tank of gas so next time I can put half fresh fuel in there. I do it with my snowmobiles too and never had an issue.

 

[Bt Doctur]

get rid of the ether and put gas in the float bowl thru the carb vent

 

[Scott Danforth]

First, Welcome aboard

I did not winterize my boat last year as we did not have time to get it in the water.

as long as it was properly winterized, you should be fine. however any rubber bits that have been sitting may have issues.

I got some starting fluid and sprayed it in the carb and it would fire right over and idle for a few seconds but that is it. Won't start unless I use starting fluid It does act like it is getting gas but could the gas be bad since it has not been ran since 2017.

after 2 years, what once may have been fuel, is now broken down to a useless bunch of sludge. it is no longer fuel. your fuel system will need to be cleaned from one end to the other.

stop using ether

 

[havoc_squad]

I hope you don't live in a location where freezing temperatures exist.

If you do live in such a location and the raw water cooling system is not drained before freezing temps arrive, when you get it running you need to check for leaks and water intrusion into the oil, signs of freeze damage.

Freeze damage is very expensive and not covered by nearly all major boat insurance companies, nor is it covered on engine warranties.

 

[kinsanity]

I live in Nebraska so yes it does freeze but the boat was winterized in 2017 and was not in water or started at all last year. It sits in a non heated storage during the winter. I was able to get it to turn over and idle for a bit but then it died. Checked oil and no water was in it or at least there was no beads of water mixed in with the oil on the dip stick. Sounds like a fuel issue to me as well but I wanted others opinion. Thanks

 

[achris]

.... Sounds like a fuel issue to me as well but I wanted others opinion. Thanks

Did you at least check for spark?

Chris......

 

[kinsanity]

Yes, I am getting spark. I get a tune up and oil change each year when I get it winterized but since I did not put it in the water or even start it last year I figured it would be OK.

 

[Scott06]

If it was properly winterize and you didn't put water in the engine it will be fine from a freeze protection stand point, likely your fuel is fouled, start by seeing what the contents of the fuel filter and carb look like. If they are fouled cleaning entire fuel system is in order

 

[Rick Stephens]

Could be many other issues but I would verify your getting fuel first. The gas age doesn't worry me. I always winterize with a half tank of gas so next time I can put half fresh fuel in there. I do it with my snowmobiles too and never had an issue.

I would completely disagree with this. Leaving a tank half full means you get condensation from the air inside. Far safer to fill any gas tank all the way full before parking. Add stabilizer if you want, but half full is asking for water.

 

[achris]

I would completely disagree with this. Leaving a tank half full means you get condensation from the air inside. Far safer to fill any gas tank all the way full before parking. Add stabilizer if you want, but half full is asking for water.

Yep. Either completely full or completely empty. Half full equals trouble...

Chris....

 

[TunaFish389]

If worried about moisture while storing then you are not storing properly or vehicle is not up to par. Like I said half tank and never had an issue.

 

[Scott Danforth]

with an open tank vent, after 2 years, doesnt matter if the tank was half full, or full. what is left in the tank is sludge.

cant escape the fact of vaporization and breakdown of the fuel

in this case, it would have been best to completely empty the tank prior to storage. and to fog the cylinders and back off the valve springs for long-term storage.