Marine fuel filter - mystery crud

[my1stbenz]

Engine is a Marine Power 350 Vortec with about 250hrs. I bought the boat a few years ago from the second owner who used the boat but didn’t maintain it with love. I am told by my wife and coworkers that I am OCD.
Every season I change the fluids and all filters. Boat maybe sees 40hrs of use on the Columbia River each season. Yesterday after cruising back into the marina the boat wouldn’t start when it was time to load on the trailer. It eventually did after I gave it some throttle but it was odd considering the thing runs like a watch.
This season I skipped the fuel filter replacement but today changed it just in case. Before I swapped the new fuel filter in, I ran the boat in the driveway and it fired right up. I changed the filter regardless.

When I looked in the old filter I saw some white/cream colored material in the filter. I stuck a small screw driver in to see what it was and it came out like a hard cheese.

Is this a normal material or adhesive in the filter or could it be a contamination? I use fuel stabilizer each winter and never have any issues with this MPI engine.

I had already installed the new filter and couldn’t see if this material was also in the new unit.

Boat fuel tank is plastic and I’ve never had water issues in the fuel. I always run Costco gas.

I’m tempted to finally purchase a filter cutter.

Very hard to see in the filter. Sorry.

 

[fantastic]

Get a cutter...
Well worth it in times like these.

 

[oil pan 4]

We like mystery crud

 

[my1stbenz]

I will divulge more about the crud on Monday after the Rivian delivery van presents cardboard offerings to the porch.

 

[PontiacHO]

My bet is that is moisture that the filter caught. The water activated that crud that holds the moisture in place. Probably got some contaminated fuel…

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Engine is a Marine Power 350 Vortec with about 250hrs. I bought the boat a few years ago from the second owner who used the boat but didn’t maintain it with love. I am told by my wife and coworkers that I am OCD.
Every season I change the fluids and all filters.

Sounds like you fit right in with many of the members of this forum. "Hi, my name is my1stbenz and I have a fluid/filter addiction and am OCD in maintaining things". Welcome to BITOG.

On the fuel tank is there an opportunity to get to the bottom somewhat easily? You may not think you have a water/moisture issue but it might just not be obvious. I'll reference my friends boat with dual tanks and a friends heating oil tank (and my own).

My friends boat he normally ran just the one tank, second tank had stabilized fuel but was barely used. When he did go to use it boat kept dying, ran poor when it was. It was a water issue, condensation etc. happens more on the water. He used a product called Phazer 2000 that he said worked great. It got the moisture mixed in and he was able to run it out. I would possibly use something like BG Fuel system drier (used to be Ethanol shield I think), watch some videos vs regular dry gas things. You should be able to use it in conjunction with the stabilizer.

I use a product called Fuel Right, made for diesel but when I called company they said works just as well for gas. It gets rid of Bio-film bacteria that is more present in diesel. I had probably 2-3" of water at bottom of my home heating oil tank, using the tank stick with water indicating paste. I used the shock dose of Fuel Right on next 2-3 tank fills right before delivery. After those tanks I had no water left, I check yearly. I also now add the Fuel Right before every delivery to keep it away.

If you can get to bottom of your tank with stick/string, you can try one of the water indicating pastes and see what you get. I like the BG video's with the water in a test tube/glass. You could try that on your own with some of whatever stabilizer you use and maybe the others. I don't know if keeping the tank full with stabilized fuel is better or getting it as empty as possible before it sits too long at least off season. In season I'd probably keep it full and use one of the above.

With your MPI also discussions on things like Yamalube, Valvoline Restore and Protect Fuel System Cleaner, BG 44k, Techron, Redline SL-1, Gumout Regane and others. Clean injectors and valves should be happier.

 

[my1stbenz]

I have easy access to the fuel gauge sending unit and can be peering in the tank in short order. I could use my Harbor Freight handheld suction pump with straw to draw some gasoline from the bottom of the tank.

Offseason I will leave the tank half full with a good dose of Stabil fuel stabilizer. In the off season I treat my boat fuel tank like an onsite source of emergency fuel if things were to go sideways or I needed to run a generator etc… it’s a 57gal Jerry can.

The boat is covered and parked in my driveway when not is use. That and the fact that it was a plastic tank led me to ignore water in fuel, but it very well could be. I can’t wait to dissect the filter.

A lot of the fishermen around here use aluminum boats with aluminum tanks, they are more prone to issues with moisture in fuel for sure. My coworker and his friend both have had this issue and dumped their tanks to start fresh.

I’ve run Techron doses before but will try something new. Maybe the BG?

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I have easy access to the fuel gauge sending unit and can be peering in the tank in short order. I could use my Harbor Freight handheld suction pump with straw to draw some gasoline from the bottom of the tank.

Offseason I will leave the tank half full with a good dose of Stabil fuel stabilizer. In the off season I treat my boat fuel tank like an onsite source of emergency fuel if things were to go sideways or I needed to run a generator etc… it’s a 57gal Jerry can.

The boat is covered and parked in my driveway when not is use. That and the fact that it was a plastic tank led me to ignore water in fuel, but it very well could be. I can’t wait to dissect the filter.

A lot of the fishermen around here use aluminum boats with aluminum tanks, they are more prone to issues with moisture in fuel for sure. My coworker and his friend both have had this issue and dumped their tanks to start fresh.

I’ve run Techron doses before but will try something new. Maybe the BG?

I never noticed a difference with Techron using it at least 2x per year, others have different experiences. I thought I was just maintaining clean. I tried the BG44k and did notice a documented difference. I use that at least 1x per year now. I used some Gumout Multisystem that according to tests also has a good dose of PEA to clean. The new Valvoline Fuel System Cleaner does not have a lot of feedback yet but so far positive.

For the water if it is in your fuel tank it would be BG Fuel System Drier. Most of the videos are older.
BG Drier 1
BG Drier 2
BG Drier 3

Gasoila Water indicating paste if you can get a stick to bottom of tank. I have seen people use a hose/siphon to very bottom of tanks and pump out water until they get to fuel.