Infamous Tempo 8710 fuel lines...

[Tiger]

I own a 99 GSXL with the infamous bad fuel lines. I really don't want to go through the hassle of replacing the lines. The engine has 140 hours on it and is still running strong. I know this is cheating, but could I just put an inline fuel filter right before the carbs, and replace about 6" of line directly from the filter to the carbs? I would just be certain to change the filter every season or more frequently.

I've posted this question in other forums. I don't mean any disrespect to those who did respond, I'd just like to have as much information as possible before I do anything. Thanks.

[Bryan Glynn]

You *can* do that, but you still run thte risk of getting things clogged up - instead of one filter, you will just clog another. You won't fix the problem at all.

[Tiger]

I just had the carbs rebuilt, and they were exceptionally clean. No orange goo or crap anywhere. However, the existing filter is orange and someone said that is the breakdown of the lines. I figured that was just the reaction of the plastic with the fuel (like the fuel baffle turns orange after a while). I know I'm gonna have to do this, I just know it's going to be such a pain in the a$$. Anyone living around New Orleans want to drink a few beers, make a little money, and tackle this with me?

[Bill O'Neal]

You know, I read about these fuel lines all the time, but I never see this problem on my customers' boats. I am beginning to think that our gasoline formula in California differs from some of the other places in America. I wonder if the problem only exists in states that allow acohol in their gas ?

[97GP1200]

Those Bombardier gas lines are the weirdest gas lines I have seen. I'd change them over to automotive grade lines if I were you. All 8mm except for a 6mm piece I believe. You need an (old style carb) automotive plastic fuel filter which is 8mm on both ends and you can install it right after the Sea-doo white unit. Those motors absolutely need an extra paper filter. Although you need to change it frequently. For me the season is only 3 months or a little more so I get by with one per season. 2 bucks or so.

I had the same lines on a 99xpl but I got rid of them. They have a liner of some kind. Maybe thats what breaks down. Knowing Bombardier, maybe it's glue, har har!

[Tiger]

Bill,
You bring up a very interesting question. I wonder if the way this ski made it to 140 hours is because of alcohol free gas. I live in South Louisiana, and a lot of our fuel comes just a few hundred miles away in the Gulf of Mexico. I have seen stations around here that advertise their fuel as being alcohol free.

I've heard horror stories of these bad lines causing engine seizures in as little as 30 hours. People say the carbs are so gummed up with the residue from the fuel lines that their engine runs lean and seizes. I bought the ski from someone around here when it had 125 hours on it. I'm almost positive he's never changed the fuel filter because when I pulled the RAVEs in front of him to view the piston skirts, he had no idea what I was doing, or that you're even supposed to clean them. 125 hours and he also had never had the head retorqued. Still the ski is in pristine condition, and as mentioned, the carbs were squeaky clean.

Have you ever noticed the stock fuel filter having that orange crap on it? A very reputable person in the PWC world is the one who pointed this out to me, and I noticed it on my filter.

Thanks,
Clint

[John Kubiak]

The "infamous" fuel line has several indicators for you to look for.

#1 and foremost ie the clogged water separating fuel filter element. The filter will be clogged with a sticky brownish-red goo that is difficult to clean.

The second thing is that if this stuff clogged the water separator, then you will also find it in the small filters in each carburetor.

And a third item would be that the exterior of the fuel lines will be discolred and sticky to the touch.

Tempo also supplied this hose to the marine industry, and many motorboats have also been plagued by the same problem.

Up until about a year ago, Sea-Doo would pay for the replacement of the suspected fuel lines. The last job I personally remember, they provided the parts for free, and the customer paid for the labor.

A call to customer service would be in order, make sure that you are patient and explain what has happened to your ski, and what you would like them to do. Provide them with the ski's ID number, model number, and any information you may have regarding the repairs that have been done to the ski so far. You may be fortunate, fuind someone who will sympathize with you.

[ April 19, 2002, 07:07 AM: Message edited by: John Kubiak ]

[Bill O'Neal]

We race sprintcars that use methonol as the fuel. Anything that is made of rubber in the fuel system is special for methonol use.

My old VW powered dunebuggy used methonol for fuel too. Once a year I had to change the diaphrams in the carbs and the fuel pump because the methonol ate them up. Little bits of black rubber from the rubber parts and fuel lines in the filters. I eventually went to braided stainless lines.

I service many Sea Doo watercraft each year at my shop. We do not see any red goo in the foward filter, nor in the carbs internal filters.

In 1996-1997, many Sea Doo watercraft got clogged up filters from a white fiberous material. I assumed that the tank manufactor left the shavings in the tanks when they cut the hole for the sending units. That problem stopped sometime during the 1997 model year. I saw many units that would not run over around 4-5000 rpm after just 30 hours or so. Cleaning the water seperator and internal filters was the key to making them run out at high rpm again.

I believe the goo is caused from the achocol in the gas in some areas of the country. That's my story and I'm sticking to it, until someone proves it wrong.

[krolens]

Hey Bill just a note that I live in N.California and my 99 GTXL had to have a carb rebuild because of the mysterious goo with less than 15 hours on it. It was an inventory left over that I bought in Concord, CA mid 2000. Maybe from sitting so long???
Thanks for the great thinktank.

[Bill O'Neal]

Krolens,
When I drove to Oregon, the pumps said the gas had acohol in it. We don't get that down here in L.A.