VP Engine hesitates/lags upon acceleration

[whitesharkseeker]

As I was pulling from the dock/launch yesterday I couldn't throttle up my engine. It would hesitate and almost conk-out but idled fine. It would rev up with no problems in neutral but hesitated under load. Pulled back in and noticed a piece of kelp wrapped around my intake ports on the outdrive. Engine ran fine after a third attempt throttling up. Maybe my engine was just cold? Would kelp cause those symptoms? Engine is a 1996 VP 5.7Gi DP. Cruised all day and no further problems.

Thanks in advance, Eric

 

[Don S]

Re: VP Engine hesitates/lags upon acceleration

Pulled back in and noticed a piece of kelp wrapped around my intake ports on the outdrive. Engine ran fine after a third attempt throttling up. Maybe my engine was just cold?

Kelp over the intake ports would have caused an overheat, not a cold condition. Did it overheat? An alarm would have gone off at about 210?. but it wouldn't have caused that problem.

 

[whitesharkseeker]

Re: VP Engine hesitates/lags upon acceleration

Kelp over the intake ports would have caused an overheat, not a cold condition. Did it overheat? An alarm would have gone off at about 210?. but it wouldn't have caused that problem.

Thanks, Don. No, the engine temp seemed fine and no alarms went off. The only thing I did differently was run the boat a little sooner than usual that's why I was wondering if it would lag with a cold engine? Changed fuel filter and low pressure fuel pump 5months ago.

Thanks for the help, Eric

 

[Don S]

Re: VP Engine hesitates/lags upon acceleration

When was the last full tuneup and a compression check? Have you had it hooked up to a diagnostic computer?
What is the full model number or serial number of the engine?

What do you mean by "a little sooner than usual" when taking off?

 

[whitesharkseeker]

Re: VP Engine hesitates/lags upon acceleration

When was the last full tuneup and a compression check? Have you had it hooked up to a diagnostic computer?
What is the full model number or serial number of the engine?

What do you mean by "a little sooner than usual" when taking off?

Engine model: 5.7 Gi PLKDLE; serial number is 4110142059

Just started the engine with water muffs on and started and ran fine in my driveway but I fear it will lag under load again. My meaning to "a little sooner than usual" just meant that I didn't let the engine warm up as I usually do. It was cold when I left the dock.

Hope this info helps, Eric

 

[Don S]

Re: VP Engine hesitates/lags upon acceleration

I would get it hooked up to a scan tool and find out what the engine temp is showing when it's cold. If it's showing the engine as being warm, the ECM gives fuel for a warm engine.

 

[whitesharkseeker]

Re: VP Engine hesitates/lags upon acceleration

I would get it hooked up to a scan tool and find out what the engine temp is showing when it's cold. If it's showing the engine as being warm, the ECM gives fuel for a warm engine.

Thank you for the advice. Where is the best place to buy a scan tool? So, if I understand correctly, the ECM could be flooding the engine on acceleration?

-Eric