2004 STX12F - Phase Seperation - Water Separator?

jetfukr · 08-31-2009, 12:57 AM

I have a 2004 STX-12F and every couple months I have to take the fuel pump out and siphon a thin layer of brown crap out of the bottom of my gas tank. From what I read online, I believe this what is referred to as "phase seperation".

I usually keep my tank about 1/2 full of fuel. Usually I top off my tank before I go out on the water. I think I am going to start topping my tank off right AFTER I get out of the water. I believe the phase seperation is occuring because the 1/2 tank of air creates condensation in the tank, which is then absorbed by the ethanol in the fuel. (Our fuel has the 10% ethanol. They have 100% real fuel at the harbor, but it's a pain in in the butt to go there every time I need gas.) I guess the best way would be to get a 55 gallon drum of REAL fuel, and keep it at my house but I don't know if my landlord will go for that.

For now, I think I'm going to stick to cleaning out my fuel tank every other week. Yesterday I was out on the water and after about 2 hours of pretty hard riding I noticed the ski didn't have as much power as it should. As soon as I noticed I hearded straight for the boat ramp at 4,000 RPMs and it tried to bog down a couple times on the way back in. I checked the plugs and they were fine. I looked in the gas tank, and the layer of crap had accumulated again. I cleaned the fuel pump screen with brake cleaner because it was caked with brown crap. I then cleaned all the crap out of the bottom of the tank and topped it off with premium ($3.91 per gallon here).

My question is: Is it possible to get a water/fuel separator for these things, similiar to what is found on boats?

I just had to replace the valves and bunch of other crap in my other ski because of water corrosion so I'm trying to eliminate that in the future.

Mahalo.

faster7581 · 08-31-2009, 08:53 AM

are you sure the vent for your tank isnt laying in the bilge sucking up water? every 2 weeks seems excessive.

hilomikey · 08-31-2009, 01:56 PM

Yep Live in Hawaii too E10 sucks. When removing the crap did you get all the stuff from the bottom of tank? I would like to tell you that certain fuels in the Islands I would not use. Tesoro, Aloha Gas And all Costco and cheap gas places. I had the same problem here in Hilo, now changed to only Cheveron or Shell Gas and no issues. I know gas prices here sucks, but what are we going to do?

jetfukr · 08-31-2009, 03:26 PM

I do it ever 2-3 weeks because if I wait a month or more, it WILL for sure have some crap in it. Better to get it before it happens. The vent hose is fine, just checked that yesterday.

When it bogged down I had just got gas at ABC store. That was the first (and last) time I get gas there. Their premium was probably stagnant because who the hell puts anything but regular unleaded in a rental car? Only dumb haolies get gas at ABC store. From now on I'm only filling up at Minute Stop since they're one of the busiest in the area and probably get fresh gas more often than most. I always see a tanker truck at their place.

So, without a doubt, filling the tank AFTER a trip is a better way to go than leaving it half full. Right?

hilomikey · 08-31-2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetfukr

I do it ever 2-3 weeks because if I wait a month or more, it WILL for sure have some crap in it. Better to get it before it happens. The vent hose is fine, just checked that yesterday.

When it bogged down I had just got gas at ABC store. That was the first (and last) time I get gas there. Their premium was probably stagnant because who the hell puts anything but regular unleaded in a rental car? Only dumb haolies get gas at ABC store. From now on I'm only filling up at Minute Stop since they're one of the busiest in the area and probably get fresh gas more often than most. I always see a tanker truck at their place.

So, without a doubt, filling the tank AFTER a trip is a better way to go than leaving it half full. Right?

Right always keep fuel full. Less condensation.

jetfukr · 08-31-2009, 06:03 PM

Tried to take it out this morning but it was doing the same thing as before even after the fuel tank cleaning. I hope everything is ok in the engine.

Whenever it gets over 3k RPMs it loses power and seems to "bogg" down. It starts and idles fine, you can give it gas but once the RPMs go over 3k it loses power. It sounds like it wants to stall, but it hasn't actually stalled yet. I only ran it about 5 minutes today. Don't want to run the hell out of it when it's acting up. Yesterday I couldn't get it to go over 30 MPH on the speedometer. I checked the exaust coupling and it's tight and looks ok. All the fuel lines look ok. Possible impeller cavitaton? or something in the engine?

These things sure break a lot from my experience.

Just dropped it off for service and it's going to be $185 to diagnose. Incredible.

Damn, might have been the fuel filter. Just replaced it 2 months ago but if there was crap in the gas...

We will see.

shuswap · 09-01-2009, 01:40 PM

Filter? Good guess, I think.

puckoach · 09-01-2009, 02:08 PM

Strike out cavitation. You would notice it at the hole shot. Sort of like spinning you tires.

Keep us advised.

I've been adding Seafoam if it's going to sit for more than a couple of days.

My yami XLT had a water separator. Was right below the glove box and in full sight when you had the seat off.

X2Kid · 09-01-2009, 04:37 PM

I'm just glad I live in a country where E10 is still optional. I let the tree huggers and the fiscally challenged use that pump!

X2Kid · 09-01-2009, 04:45 PM

And why don't you fill the tank with "real" fuel at the harbour before you leave? If you're riding every week or so you shouldn't have to worry about stale fuel.

That's what I'd do if I was in your situation...