Hello fly people,
I did not like the looks of the small fuel filters that Europa supplies nor
their
way of checking or replacing them. Tony Bingelis in his book "Firewall Forward"
recommends putting in a modern fuel filter such as used in racing autos. He
suggests a Fram HPG-1 and then placing a drain in the bottom. It is well made
and has a large area pleated paper filter than will filter down to ? very small
micron size and is easily replaceable and available. I have the fuel tank
drains
mod but also can drain the filter easily. It is also about 1/2 the cost of the
Andair gascolator!
Tom Friedland A 079
Tim Ward wrote:
> Hi all,
> Has anyone had any problems with the Andair Mini Gascolator as the only
> filter within their fuel system?
> Cheers,
> Tim
>
> Graham Singleton wrote:
>
> > Hi folks, still scratching my head about fuel systems <{{:-)>
> >
> > Having read the factory description of their ACS gascolator blockage, I
> > have been asking around about gascolator design, if only to reinforce my
> > own experience and opinions.
> > There is a relatively cheap unit on the market, which has its bowl retained
> > by a bent wire spring. This is prone to allow leaks (embarassing to a
> > suction system) if not correctly tightened and prone to falling off if over
> > tightened. I had one on my Long EZ, we used to wire it so that the spring
> > couldn't let go, as recommended by our local certified engineers.
> >
> > The strainer is brass wire gauze, quite fine and a bit flexible. I am told
> > that if it is subjected to debris this tends to form a ball of felt like
> > material just below the suction outlet of the unit which increases the
> > pressure drop across the gauze and causes distortion so that the gauze now
> > pushes up against the outlet hole causing even more blockage.
> > The size of the holes in the mesh allows bits of fibre, swarf or whatever
> > to get jammed in as described by Andy in the newsletter.
> >
> > There are better things around. The Andair mini gascolator for the Rotax
> > 912 series engines uses Teflon coated stainless steel mesh with pore size
> > of 70 microns. It will not allow water to pass if wet with fuel. The flow
> > through the filter slows at the face of the mesh which helps rubbish to
> > fall away. If there is any sign of water or dirt at the daily drain check
> > it is easy to drop the bowl and check. IMHO the daily preflight drain check
> > is the best way of avoiding the filter blockages that have caught out too
> > many Europa people already. Having a second filter and a second
> > (questionable ) chance also adds the chance of other trouble and since most
> > of the dirt that is put in with the fuel will go into the reserve side,
> > which we rarely use, if the main side blocks then the reserve will quite
> > likely block very soon after.
> >
> > Tell me if I'm wrong, I like to learn something every day. Helps to replace
> > the many things I forget.
> >
> > Graham
> >
>
> --
> Timothy P Ward
> 12 Waiwetu Street,
> Fendalton,
> Christchurch,
> NEW ZEALAND
>
> Ph. 0064 03 3515166
> email ward.t@xtra.co.nz
> Mobile 025 2649325
>
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