2001 Sea-Doo GTX Dirty fuel filter!

[sticknrudder]

Bought a 2001 GTX 951 carb last year. Ran it a handful of times at the end of the season. The last few times I took it out it became hard starting cold. Needed throttle to get it starred. Then it began acting like it was starved of fuel at higher RPM. It had the gray fuel lines so I figured that was the problem. Cleaned the internal carb filters, replaced fuel lines and just now got around to cleaning out and replacing the filter element in the water separator. Check out how bad it was. Caked with mud. Have you ever seen one this bad?

 

[artr]

For it to get that dirty I would also check the bottom of the fuel tank for sediment and if the fuel baffle has a screen on the bottom that may also be clogged. Because of the gray fuel lines you should probably completely clean and rebuild the carbs using genuine Mikuni parts according to the sticky post at the beginning of this forum.

 

[etemplet]

I haven't see anything that dirty in a long long time and that wasn't a jet ski. Wow !! I'd pull the fuel tank for sure on that one.

 

[sticknrudder]

I was proceeding to do just that this morning but to my surprise the screen on the bottom of the baffle doesn’t look bad at all. Wouldn’t that be much worse if that’s the source? Any other ideas?

 

[mikidymac]

You also need to replace the fuel selector and as said above rebuild the carbs with all new Genuine Mikuni parts. I would also replace the small 3/32" oil injection lines and be sure you are using the correct oil.

 

[sticknrudder]

Yes I do need to rebuild the carbs. I have the oil injection lines just need to replace them. I also thoroughly cleaned the fuel valve. But what about the tank? I’m thinking that isn’t the issue looking at the baffle screen. Is there even a way to remove the tank on an ‘01 GTX without removing the engine? I was looking in the service manual and it didn’t specify.

 

[sticknrudder]

Bottom of the tank surprisingly doesn’t look bad. I’m thinking that the mud must have come in another route. Perhaps the fuel vent?

 

[mikidymac]

You need to replace the selector, you can't "Clean" them.

Still looks like a lot of little debris in the bottom of the tank.

 

[etemplet]

The fuel can only come from the fuel tank. The strainer on the bottom is not a filter so the dirt goes right through it and into the water separator.

 

[Poormanracing]

You have it that far just clean the tank.and clean the baffle.i have seen them that bad.its just the fuel going g bad in the filter fro. Not being g full and air getting in there.i have cleaned those valves and never had a problem.the inlet and out let is so big not alot of crap stays in there.

 

[acooper]

Could SOME of also be the dusty, rusty, fine sand looking brown "corn" crap left over from ethanol fuel?

I have personally seen so much of that in older (mostly carbureted) boat, automobile and even lawn equipment fuel systems in the last several years.
That filter and housing in the pictures definitely looks (to me) like there was some degree of water/ moisture and "corn" residue involved in creating that sludge pile. Both will destroy any fuel system, especially on equipment that sits idle for long periods of time. Skis, boats, mowers and Classic cars and bikes for sure!

I bought a showroom condition 1999 Harley FXR2 last year with 8K miles. One of the first things I did was to go through the entire fuel system, from gas gap to a total carburetor rebuild, and also replaced the fuel lines with updated ethanol compatible hose. A perfectly typical scenario for this problem.

 

[Poormanracing]

Yes tgat is all from ethanol degrading the fuel system.its horrible but keeps us in business