REFLECTOR: Fuel Filters

[Gary Stull]

I use a Marine fuel filter with a water seperator. It has a spin on replaceable cartridge with a transparent bowl on the bottom with a quick drain to remove water. ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: KMis178813 at aol.com 
  To: reflector at tvbf.org 
  Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 10:43 PM
  Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Fuel Filters


  Collective
      For the new builders (or the old builders with new engine install) be careful not to save money on fuel filters!! Automotive filters are typically paper elements and when introduced to fuel with water trace's clog with a gel substance. Aircraft filters are usually metal screens and will pass water but not debris. At least this gives you a fighting chance if you have some water.
      The Factory vent line that Brian referred to went up the firewall to the roof and then a foot forward before returning to the firewall and then out the belly. The reason for this was from another factory plane with full tanks and a much increased angle of attack (with high output engine) the front of the strakes were higher than the vent line. Normally the fuel would have just come out the vent but in the configuration that it was installed the fuel came out the vent directly into the induction air stream and went to way rich on the mixture. After the engine lost power the angle of attack lessoned the mixture went correct and then repeated. Moving the vent forward on the roof increases the vent height when the nose is high. FWIW
       Ken 

  In a message dated 4/6/2009 1:12:45 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, nmflyer1 at aol.com writes:
    I have several fuel filters. I have one of those glass jobs on each line that goes from the tank into the sump. Once I run enough fuel through this thing, those will come out. I also have another filter just before the pumps. This one is cleanable and will stay in. 

    Kurt 


    -----Original Message-----
    From: aminetech at bluefrog.com
    To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
    Sent: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 11:04 am
    Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Engine failure causes




    --- michalk at awpi.com wrote:

    From: Brian Michalk <michalk at awpi.com>
    To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
    Subject: REFLECTOR: Engine failure causes
    Date: Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:10:59 -0500

    I've been going through the possible theories as to why my engine failure occurred.  I didn't want to post rampant speculation, but a week has passed, and I need to bounce some ideas off the collective.



    More unlikely theory #4: Water in fuel
    Even though I did not check the sump before first flight, the tanks with caps on are very tight, and the plane kept in a hangar.  Again, the high angle from takeoff might have injested the water.  There should be evidence of water in the main tanks if this theory is correct.  The dry fuel return hose begins to rule this scenario out as a candidate.

    I believe I had water in my fuel once.  I recieved fuel at a class C airport after I had done my preflight and did not sample the gas after fueling.  At about 300 ft agl the engine cut out and regained power about 3 times in rapid succession.  It's basically the same way a car runs with water in the fuel.  I then reduced climb to 500 ft/min and the engine ran fine.  The control tower must have noticed as they instructed me to maintain a good rate of climb.  At 3000 ft I increased the climb to 1000 ft/min and experienced a few mild hesitations, so I went back to 500 ft/min and proceeded with caution without further incident during my 3 hour flight.  After landing I checked the carburator bowl and found no water.  However avgas in the South is aromatic based and can dissolve 500 ppm of water, so I wasn't too surprised not to find any.

    More unlikely theory #5: excessive vacuum on vent line
    It might be possible that the vent line exiting the plane is in a high vacuum area.  I'll try to simulate with a leaf blower.

    Not sure this matters.  I have my fuel filter before both fuel pumps and neither pump has any problem sucking the fuel through the filter.

    John
_______________________________________________
To change your email address, visit http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector

Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Save money by eating out! Find great dining coupons in your area. 


    _______________________________________________
    To change your email address, visit http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector

    Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
    user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
    Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
    Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html


------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make dinner for $10 or less.


------------------------------------------------------------------------------


  _______________________________________________
  To change your email address, visit http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector

  Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
  user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
  Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
  Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/private/reflector/attachments/20090407/52158afe/attachment.htm>