I did something REAL STUPID today! Any tips, ideas or opinions are appreciated.

[alexmlane]

Long story short, it was FREEZING cold and raining and we left at 4:30am to head to a tournament so we stopped to fill the boat up with gas. I left one of the gas caps off and proceeded to load the boat, blast off, then my partner notices after 2 stops that the gas cap is off.

I am not sure if water got in there or not. Sometimes I am known to flood the rear deck but I really dont think I did this time. I am getting no alarms or anything like that. I have a 250HPDI if that matters.

My question is should I drain the gas out of that tank? Replace my filters? Or say the heck with it and run the gas out??

I would greatly appreciate any response!

[esoxfly]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by alexmlane &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Or say the heck with it and run the gas out?? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Seriously? Dude, this is your motor we're talking about. There is absolutely no reason to not drain it, change filters now and then again 5-10 hrs after you fill it again. A filter is like $20. I'd run two filters in 20 hrs after something like this to make sure I got it all out of the system.

[Rich Z]

Drain it!! Let the boat sit for couple days and disconnect the hose at the clear filter on the motor. Attach 3 foot section of additional hose and pump the bulb to drain into a container. You will know right away if you have water in your tank.

[alexmlane]

I think I will go ahead and drain it then. Here is something else. I have 2 gas tanks and run them on duel.

I have heard 2 different things. I have heard that running on duel will pull gas from both tanks at the same time and I have also heard that duel will equalize, say if you have 10 gallons in one and 20 in the other.

If I drain it should I drain both tanks??? Thanks a lot!!

[Rich Z]

It depends on how long you ran the motor with contaminated fuel. I would close the fuel valve to the bad tank and check for water in the good one first. Switch the valve and do the same on contaminated tank. You may not have to drain all the gas. Also, unscrew the drain plug on VST and change water separator filter to ensure all water is gone. When you get it all done run motor on hose for 10 min and check the clear filter and water separator filter again.

[Z518 Comanche]

I don't think your tanks will equilize. I pull off both tanks. The tanks are never the same level. I would say you will only have to worry about the tank that you left the lid open on

[alexmlane]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rich Z &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It depends on how long you ran the motor with contaminated fuel. I would close the fuel valve to the bad tank and check for water in the good one first. Switch the valve and do the same on contaminated tank. You may not have to drain all the gas. Also, unscrew the drain plug on VST and change water separator filter to ensure all water is gone. When you get it all done run motor on hose for 10 min and check the clear filter and water separator filter again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What exactly is the VST??? As far as the water separator, is that the 10-Micron filter or the small filter that is clear on the motor on the port side?? Those are the only ones that I am aware of.

Thanks a lot!

[esoxfly]

The VST is the curved tank with the blue dot on it just forward of the three fuel pumps. There's a filter inside.



The water separator is the 10 micron mounted on a bracket in your fuel line between the fuel tank and the engine.

[alexmlane]

Thanks esoxfly! The MORON dealer that is "Yamaha Certified" didnt even change those recently. All he knew of were the other 2.

Thanks again!

[SkeeterJohn]

Also take a look at your clear fuel filter at the back of the engine because it has a water contamination ring in it believe. Although i'd play it safe and also drain the tanks...

It's one more thing to add to a check list.. I've never done it but when you're in a rush i could see how easy it would be to forget to shut the gas caps. One wave and you've got water in both tanks.

[Rich Z]

Good pics esoxfly. The filter in VST does not need changing. Just clean it with seafoam or ring free and blow out with air. But I would just unscrew the brass plug first to ensure no water is sitting on the bottom of VST. There is a good post on how to remove the VST filter on top of this board. This procedure should be done every couple years or so.

[alexmlane]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SkeeterJohn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also take a look at your clear fuel filter at the back of the engine because it has a water contamination ring in it believe. Although i'd play it safe and also drain the tanks...

It's one more thing to add to a check list.. I've never done it but when you're in a rush i could see how easy it would be to forget to shut the gas caps. One wave and you've got water in both tanks.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sad thing is, I did this once before in another boat of mine. Or wait.....maybe I should blame it on my tournament partner! lol

[alexmlane]

I went down to my shop and poured the gas from the 10 micron fuel/water separator and poured whatever that filter is that is on the port side of the motor into a glass jar and there was no water at all in there.

I had the tank slam full at take off and now there is about half a tank left. Shouldnt I be pretty safe that no water is in there?? So to sound like a moron but I am just a fisherman not a mechanic.

I thought about just running the rest of that fuel out with a good dose of stabil and then changing the 10 micron.

I am 90% sure that water didnt get in there. The 2 places I stopped, I remember easing into my spot. It could have gotten in there loading it maybe but that ramp wasnt steep at all. Thanks again!!!

[SkeeterJohn]

Just remember gas will float on top of water so if you let the boat sit for a few days then drain off some gas using the primer bulb you should be able to say for sure if there's any water in there... You could also then let the gas you drain off sit in a jar and see if it seperates.

I'm not sure how long you'd have to let it sit for it to seperate.. Perhaps someone else knows that.