Ethanol strikes again 2009 Mercury 115 Four Stroke

The 2008 pontoon purchased with a 2009 115 HP Mercury Four Stroke would not start. The starter would turn the motor over and not start. The second time you turn the key, it would not turn over. Full voltage to the starter. Jump the solenoid, no turn on the fly wheel. Next day, turn over with no start. try again and starter would not turn the fly wheel. Put a wrench on the fly wheel to see if I could get the motor to turn more. Could not budge the flywheel. Uh oh, major problem. Took back to Sportboat as the motor is under warranty. Ethanol had eaten through a component and allowed one of the cylinders to fill up with fuel. Now tell me how in 2009, Mercury would produce an engine that has a fuel component that isn't resistant to ethanol? Terribly dissapointed. BTW, the fuel shoots out about 10 ft when the spark plug is removed. Keep this in mind if you run into a similar situation.
Oh well, learned how to change a fuel pump on a 2007 Chevy last night so their are all sorts of new things I've been learning lately.

Its Duncans fault.

Sorry about that Greg. I hope the warranty covers the entire job! If I'm going to break something, I want it to be under warranty!

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Originally Posted by mduncan62

Sorry about that Greg. I hope the warranty covers the entire job! If I'm going to break something, I want it to be under warranty!

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No Warranty on Hog Coolers.LOL
Sorry to hear it Kit hope they fix it up for ya.

kit have you been around beagle. also 355,000 and still going no hitch pin big grade 8 bolt double nuted.

Hate 2 hear that about your motor did the samething blew 1 up last year my self. And did ya take bed loose from truck skoot it back easyiest way 2 change fuel pump

As I recall, when I lived up in NE Kansas a few years ago, Ethanol was about all you could get. Even then I searched out real gas and never put that in my boat or lawnmower. Down here we have a choice. I love Kansas corn but don't like corn oil in my boat motor. Is that all you can get up there now?

Did it the hard way. Still had 10 gallon left in it. If we'd know there'd be four guys total, we would have disconnected the lights and the filler nozzle and moved the bed.

sta-bil ethanol treatment in every tank. neutralizes the ethanol. put it in everything from lawnmowers to weedeaters boat or anything that might set for any amount of time

We'll Ran it about 9 hours and locked up again. Found out a 185lbs man can put a rope in his teeth and swim a pontoon 400 feet to the slip. Mercury POS. Still has the warranty, but if we have this issue one more time, gonna have to have Mercury anti up for a different unit.

g.

Yeap, Keep those warranty papers that the work has been done as well. If it keeps doing it each time at some point they are required to replace the whole unit. Its covered under the lemon law. But you need to keep the paper work to prove it.

sta bill ethanol treatment, run it year around and a fuel water separator filter inline-- cant protect enuf

Your motor manufacture can also suggest any alternative fuel treatment options, as some have specific requirements as well to prevent harm to the engine.

Bigger issue than just ethanol. There is water in the bottom two cylinders. Mercury Factory Rep. is being called in to take a look at it.

G>

I hope they get you fixed up Greg.

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Originally Posted by mduncan62

I hope they get you fixed up Greg.

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Me too. I hope we didn't inherit someone elses problem. Maintenance records do not show this engine having this issue before. So hopefully it's not a fix it in the short term until the warranty runs out.