running out of gas?

[Speedman]

My enigne will be running fine at 40 mph but when I open her up, the motor just shut down, when I looked at the fuel filter it was empty? I checked for leaks and found none, could I have an E85 problem? maybe there is something floating around the bottom of the tank not letting the gas get sucked up?? any suggestions? how do I get to the bottom of the tank? I would think the fuel pump system is working as the in line filter was bone dry so wouldn't that mean it is trying to suck up fuel? Thankjs

 

[B HEBERT]

Check the primer bulb. It could have a check valve stuck closed.

 

[SLOmofo]

The tube that picks up fuel from the bottom of the tank had a screen on it in my 1994 XB2003. Stuff can block it off, then float around in the tank.
If your fuel system is a few years old I'd replace all the hose with new alcohol resistant stuff. The old will break down.

Running out of fuel can/will cause engine damage. Consider your self lucky you haven't seized it already.

 

[Speedman]

I think I will change all the lines and primer bulb first. on the fuel gauge sender there are 2 large bolts what are they?

 

[SLOmofo]

You could put an electric fuel pump on the line after the filter and run it's discharge into a gas container. Check for volume and if your lucky what is floating around in the tank will plug the pick up tube. When I put my fuel pump inside the gas tank, I pulled the fuel guage and then the rectangular piece that it was in. I also removed the pick up tube. I found a lot of small pieces of trash, one of those being the foil off an oil container.

I don't know what you mean by 2 bolts. Take a pic and post it.

 

[Hotprop]

If you have the grey mercury fuel line between boat and motor I would bet that its the problem . It has a liner in it that is delaminating from the hose itself and shutting off fuel flow to the engine . I have replaced four line this week with that issue. Ethanol is to blame . Have not had any issues yet with the new mercury low premetation fuel lines .