Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

[listenupp303]

What is the consensus in regard to removing the fuel line after a day's fishing and trailering the boat home? What is the harm in not removing the fuel line?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

I'd say the only thing would be possibly a carburetor needle valve might take on a "set" if rubber if the float kept pressure on it all the time. Taking a set would lead to flooding problems as once it has the crease in it, it will be hard to seal off the bowl once full of fuel.

I leave my connected and my fuel, over time drains back to the tank and allows my float to hang loose.

Some run their engines dry which involves removing the fuel inlet and leaving it off. That does the same thing mine does naturally and prevents any build up of old fuel in the bowl and possible varnishing problems.

Mark

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

Running an engine dry is not possible. There will always be an amount of fuel left in the float bowl. The fuel that does burn off is replaced by air which is what causes the gum and varnish. As for drain back, that can only result in a small amount of fuel draining back because the inlet is normally at the top of the carb. Therefore only the fuel in the line would likely drain back. Check valves in the primer bulb and the anti-siphon valve on built-in tanks would prevent drain back unless both were bad. Slight pressure build up is possible in the fuel line when the boat is sitting in hot sun but it should not build to the point of being forced past the needle and seat unless they are already worn or damaged.

 

[JB]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

I did that for many years and never had a problem caused by doing so, but:

I only did it to single carb, non oil injected outboards and particularly to portables that were coming off the transom and going in the back of the vehicle.

I didn't do it to multi-carb engines because it seems very likely to run at least one cylinder dry before the rest run out.

I didn't do it to oil injected outboards because it seems to me that would overload the fuel system with oil and cause problems.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

I did that for many years and never had a problem caused by doing so, but:

I only did it to single carb, non oil injected outboards and particularly to portables that were coming off the transom and going in the back of the vehicle.

I didn't do it to multi-carb engines because it seems very likely to run at least one cylinder dry before the rest run out.

I didn't do it to oil injected outboards because it seems to me that would overload the fuel system with oil and cause problems.

Yes, yes, yes, sir. Ditto. On Silvertips remarks, I could have a problem as over a month or two, or three, of sitting in the barn, when I go boating, I have to squeeze the bulb like half a dozen times to get it firm. That pretty well tells me that all 3 carb bowls are empty.

Don't recall having this happen before, but that doesn't mean it didn't. But as JB suggested, prior to oil injection, I always ran my engine dry so it required a lot of pumps to fill up my engines....and yes I was probably guilty (heck I know I was, could tell by how the engine ran....of running one cylinder dry before the rest).

Remember sir, your mind is the first to go.....er ah I think?????

Mark

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

Pontoon boats are unique in that having the fuel tank mounted on the deck above the carb will gravity feed, or siphon fuel to the carbs.

Many of the small tanks have a vent screw on the tank cap. When this vent is closed, I have seen a number of carbs flood due to the high pressure created by hot weather pressurizing the tank. After rebuilding those carbs I have advised those owners to either leave the vent screw open or disconnect the fuel hose when not in use.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

Pontoon boats are unique in that having the fuel tank mounted on the deck above the carb will gravity feed, or siphon fuel to the carbs.

Many of the small tanks have a vent screw on the tank cap. When this vent is closed, I have seen a number of carbs flood due to the high pressure created by hot weather pressurizing the tank. After rebuilding those carbs I have advised those owners to either leave the vent screw open or disconnect the fuel hose when not in use.

To add to your experience sir, mine siphons because the tank is below the engine and the tank is built in with a permanent vent. So it works where I agree with you that the others you mentioned on toons won't.

Mark

 

[sutor623]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

i didn't do it to multi-carb engines because it seems very likely to run at least one cylinder dry before the rest run out.

bingo!

 

[N3UP]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

Treat all your fuel with stabilizer and I don't see that it should matter.

 

[M9.9]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

Kinda hesitant about depending on stabilizer for the six months between fall and summer usage, especially within the carburation system. The reason is the stabilizer I use warns of a maximum longevity of 3 months once added to fuel. Wondering if there is a longer lasting product available?

 

[nimmor]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

I use Sta-Bil in the Ethanol treatment version. It suggests for long storage to use a higher dosage so on my last trip of the year I double the dosage.

 

[N3UP]

Re: Remove fuel line after a day's activity?

During the season I have been using Startron and Ringfree.
Marine Sta-Bil is good for up to 2 years as far as I know, in the proper dose.

My boat is a weekend warrior, so it sits at least a week between uses.
I have dual 40 gallon tanks, so it's usually a couple of weeks between fillups, which is one reason to use some sort of treatment.