# Boat question

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/boat-question/35377>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mercury\
**Created:** [August 21, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/boat-question/35377 "2009-08-21T17:00:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elvis1464](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/22d042/32.png) [@elvis1464](https://community.cartalk.com/u/elvis1464)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/boat-question/35377/1 "2009-08-21T17:00:53Z")

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I have a 1990 omc cobra 4-cyl 3.0 i/o motor. It runs great for 5 minutes then it sputters. I changed the plugs and the fuel filter.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/boat-question/35377/2 "2009-08-21T18:38:26Z")

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How old is the fuel?

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/boat-question/35377/3 "2009-08-21T21:56:53Z")

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Check for water in the fuel.

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**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\
**Post date:** [August 21, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/boat-question/35377/4 "2009-08-21T22:12:44Z")

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the addition of ethanol to gasoline is causing problems in marine engines…check out web sites re: problem with ethanol gasoline