Dan Heath wrote: >>So, what is the advantage of using a gascolator over a fuel filter that filters out water. I eliminated my gascolator. Have I set myself up for some real trouble?<<
I put two different filters on N56ML, one coarse on the way into the fuel pump and a much finer one on the way to the carb. I didn't have a gascolator either because I just didn't have room for it and they didn't make a high pressure version back then (that I know of). In 1130 hours of flying, the only thing I ever found on the outside of the filter were a few "hairs" of outer fuel hose insulation. I did have a water drain on my main fuel tank, but (and I shouldn't admit this out loud), the first time I used it was the last, because it got stuck open, I'd epoxied it directly into the tank rather than into a fitting, and I was forced to seal it forever if I wanted to keep any fuel in the tank. That's one of those things that I would "fix later", and never did. Having said that, I never found a single drop of water in my fuel filters, nor ever had other water related issues. BUT, that's because I was very lucky, and always bought my fuel at the same store, and fortunately they are good about keeping their tanks free of water and clean filters on the pumps. My wife pulled into a gas station 25 years ago driving her fuel injected Rabbit, and after filling up she only made it about a mile before the engine quit. The fuel filter was soaked with water and trash, and was clogged to the point that the engine got no fuel. That's where gascolators come in very handy...by separating that stuff out, letting it collect on the bottom, and you can easily drain it and sample what's going on every time you preflight (assuming your drain is conveniently located near the lower cowl opening). You can do it either way, but there's luck involved in the "filter-only" method. The gascolator is a great first line of defense, with the filter as a secondary. I agree that "regular" bail type gascolators can be prone to leaking, but the high pressure ACS gascolator should be a much better bet. >From my experience, small town airports pump more water and sediment than you'll ever see in the automotive world. I guess they figure we all have gascolators and will catch it before we fly. See enclosed photo for N891JF gascolator installation. It's easily drained with a fuel tube with the cowling installed. This is far easily than disassembling the filter to check for debris and water, which I only bothered to do at condition inspection time, once per year! I'll fly more confidently with this installation. Hose will be firesleeved as soon as the totalizer is added. Having said all of this, I put a lot of hours on N56ML with nothing but filters, and it worked out OK. I do suspect some good karma was involved, however. Trying my best to get the panel installed in the plane this weekend, and then on to sensor installation on the engine. Still probably two months away from flying this thing though... Mark Langford ML at N56ML.com website at http://www.N56ML.com -------------------------------------------------------- -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ACS_gascolator.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 78353 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://list.krnet.org/mailman/private/krnet_list.krnet.org/attachments/20131116/3cbb1dcb/attachment.jpg>
