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View Full Version : Electric Boost Pump on a 2+2 inline 4



sschefer
09-18-2009, 02:12 PM
Here's a problem that needs a solution:

Merc and Mariner made a inline 4, 2+2 engine. There are two enrichening injectors fed by an accellerator pump that opens with the throttle. These injectors are mechanical and should not open until they get about 5 lbs of fuel pressure. If they do, the cylinders will flood with fuel. Normally, the injectors start working and the cylinders begin to fire at around 1800 rpms. Up until then the carbs give enough fuel for lubrication but not combustion.

Problem -

Today's fuel additives demand that we use a fuel/water separator but these little pulse fuel pumps don't have the umpf to pull adequate volume through a 10 micron filter and the carb bowls go dry at around 3/4 throttle after around 3-5 minutes. It's usually the #4 (last in line) that goes dry.

Placing an electric fuel pump in line as a puller or pusher overpowers the injectors at the first throttle crack (starting) and floods the cylinders.
Placing a fuel pressure regulator also reduces volume and puts your right back where you started.

A couple of ideas I've had include running a second voltage regulator and giving the pump it's power from that. This would make it so the engine has to be running for the fuel pump to work.

The other idea I had was to use a surge tank with a 1 lb pressure relief valve that returned to the main tank. The electric pump would fill the tank after the filter but never allow pressure to exceed 1 lb letting the pulse pump produce the required pressure as designed.

If I could calibrate the electric to produce pressure and volume on a curve it wouldnt need anything more but that would be a pretty expensive proposition for an old but trusty engine. Unless, someone knows of an ECU type system that would adapt?

Thoughts ? I bet there's more than one of us that's run into this problem.

mackeral5
09-18-2009, 02:48 PM
honestly I've never seen this problem with the 2+2 motors, have several customers running 10micron fuel water separators, no probs.

are you sure there's no fuel restriction?? bad antisiphon valve? clogged screen in the fuel pickup??

sschefer
09-18-2009, 02:57 PM
Absolutely sure, also, the engine has been completely rebuilt and is to specs in all areas. Tjhere's no problem with the E-Tec that's on it right now but I plan on putting it on another boat and will probably sell this boat with the Mariner on it.

mackeral5
09-18-2009, 03:02 PM
it's been a while, but I seem to recall a restrictor installed somewhere in the accellerator pump line. it was in the merc manual and on the merc part schematic.

what's the sn of this motor?? you've got me curious....in the electric pump scenario, a quality regulator won't effect volume.....IMHO, there's another problem unrelated to the fuel/water separator...

Capt.Insane-o
09-18-2009, 03:26 PM
Never had a problem with running a seperate filter in that situation.

sschefer
09-18-2009, 04:40 PM
it's been a while, but I seem to recall a restrictor installed somewhere in the accellerator pump line. it was in the merc manual and on the merc part schematic.

what's the sn of this motor?? you've got me curious....in the electric pump scenario, a quality regulator won't effect volume.....IMHO, there's another problem unrelated to the fuel/water separator...

SN 09655784 It's a Belgium. Had this problem before and after it was rebuilt. Take the filter out of the equation and the problem goes away.

Fuel pressure at the inline filter is 8-9 lbs at 4500 RPM without the seperator. With it, I only get 4-5lbs but enough with the accelerator pump to kick the injectors open.

With the electric kicking on at key-on, the minute I crack the throttle to start and engage the accelerator pump it dumps 6lbs of pressure into the injectors and they open and flood 3 and 4. I put a holley low pressure regulator on it last night. Once it's running it will handle the pressure no problem which is why I'm thinking that a second rectifier witout battery reference would be a better way of setting it up. That would also solve a safety issue since the pump would shut down if the engine died. Can't very well use a oil pressure sensor like you can on a 4 stroke.

FYI the filter is a Raycor rated at 90gph with a 1" spin on. The tank is clean and well vented, the pickup tube and screen are new and clear. The line from the tank to the filter is 14' long, 3/8 id. Tank is approx 12" below the top of the filter, Filter is 6" below inlet to engine. Fuel lines have been setup straight and looped, makes no difference, fuel does not siphon in either direction.