Tank cleaning, through vent and sender with borescope.

Ron,
I pull the vent line at the top and inspect with a borescope the fuel tank and its
condition. Replace the rubber hose and reinstall the vent.
I also can remove my sender (Princeton probe with 1/2 inch hole and use my
borescope. If it is clean, fine press on. If not then:
Empty the tank, remove the fuel fittings on the bottom. Install a 1 inch elbow
(with a plug) onto the tank boss and flush with fresh gas, pull the plug and let her
drain. It is about all you can do with your setup.

Bud




----- Original Message -----
From: rparigor@suffolk.lib.ny.us<mailto:rparigor@suffolk.lib.ny.us>
To: Bud Yerly<mailto:budyerly@msn.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:53 PM
Subject: Clean your tank annually


Hi Bud

I have a XS mono with 914. I do have a factory float style fuel gauge with reed
switches.

How can I clean my tank?

Ron P.

> Graham,
> How true. I don't think Mr Funnel is even 120 microns. Ultralight news
> tested it at .005, which is about 120 microns but who knows. We are not
> labs.
> I have not been a fan of gascolators as I am in Florida, and have never
> seen water in a Poly tank from sweating, but I am sure it is possible. My
> fuel drains seem to work, and the filters supplied catch the crap and the
> float bowls, have always been clean ((ish) except for in line debris post
> filter I failed to clean once) and the filters allow me to switch tanks
> when the filter begins to clog (noted from the fuel pressure warning using
> my FP-5).
>
> A single gascolator, as you know, is a single point of failure, and many
> have installed two. Why not have two filters and a tank drains as the
> manual indicates. I thought that was pretty sound.
>
> Andy from Andair at Sun n Fun last year told me the same thing about the
> gascolator screen and we shared how to inspect (you can't except to
> disassemble it) and clean them. Since then I don't even consider a
> gascolator. This is a personal preference. Filters are clear to see in,
> easy to change, cheap to buy and good enough for me. A quick disconnect
> makes it a breeze to pull out and take to the bench and service without
> dripping all over the place. If I had a Marvel Schebler Carburetor I'd
> use a gascolator. You can drive a truck through the orifice.
>
> As for old Jerry Cans, cleanliness is next to Godliness, pay attention to
> where you get your fuel, Mister Funnel only is a catch for big stuff and
> water when refueling in the rain. Keep an eye on your filters, clean your
> tank annually, inspect, inspect, inspect, and throw your filters out every
> 25 hours along with the old oil and filter...
>
> Ground your aircraft and your Jerry Can. Those wool sweaters and plastic
> bed liners can generate quite a spark. More on fueling at Rough River.
>
> Thanks for your insight as always.
>
> Bud.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
From: GRAHAM SINGLETON<mailto:grahamsingleton@btinternet.com>
> To: europa-list@matronics.com<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com>
> Sent: Saturday, June 26, 2010 3:35 AM
> Subject: Re: Europa-List: Firewall material vs Canada "fireproof
> material" airworthiness requirement
>
>
> Bud
> an English 914 tri gear had his Andair mini gascolator block. The rust
> from an old Jerry can passed thru the Mister Funnel he always uses. The
> mesh of the Andair is 70micron, Mister funnel 120 micron,(check that
> figure) Just one more obscure gotcha.
> Andair told me their problem was that Rotax specify 100micron and they
> can only source 70.
> Graham
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
From: Bud Yerly <budyerly@msn.com>
> To: europa-list@matronics.com
> Sent: Friday, 25 June, 2010 23:34:57
> Subject: Re: Europa-List: Firewall material vs Canada "fireproof
> material" airworthiness requirement
>
>
> Karl, Dave and Graham,
> I use a Mister Funnel and very clean Jerry Cans. Our local Florida
> stations have ethanol now, and as an experiment am running it full time
> without incident so far. Ethanol cleans the tank very well. After the
> third tank of gas run through preflight I filled the filter. After 1
> hour of flying time I noticed a slight fuel pressure drop and switched
> to the reserve and pressure returned. Clogged filter. Haven't had a
> problem since.
>
> The fuel filters stay clean, but I have noticed all but my post pump R9
> fuel lines (Goodyear) are smelling like a gas leak. Next oil change,
> all the fuel lines are coming out. It seems that the inside of the
> older fuel injection lines (Discount Auto Parts) are swelling a bit as
> well. I have noticed the inside of the drain lines sloughing off a
> whiteish material and am concerned. I flushed my lines with denatured
> alcohol before installation but did not run a small cleaning cotton
> through them. I have not seen water or growth in my tanks or my long
> sitting fuel cans.
>
> Bud
> ----- Original Message -----
>
From: Karl Heindl<mailto:kheindl@msn.com>
> To: europa-list@matronics.com<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com>
> Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 11:41 AM
> Subject: RE: Europa-List: Firewall material vs Canada "fireproof
> material" airworthiness requirement
>
>
>
> Dave and Graham,
>
> I am puzzled by all this fuss about fuel contamination. Why have I
> never heard about a car having this problem ?
> I have never noticed anything more than a spec of dust in the Andair
> gascolator. I also buy most fuel from new gas stations where the
> turnover is high, and pour it through a funnel with built-in sieve.
> And I keep a full tank through the winter months.
>
> Karl
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
From: loboloda@execulink.com
> Subject: Re: Europa-List: Firewall material vs Canada "fireproof
> material" airworthiness requirement
> Date: Fri, 25 Jun 2010 09:42:22 -0400
> To: europa-list@matronics.com
>
> Hi Graham,
>
>
> It was a 914.
> We have both tried using filter funnels while fueling, however the
> process is painfully slow, so we are back
> to using fuel straight from plastic jerry cans. We use Shell premium
> which has been very clean, and in Ontario
> there is no ethanol in it
>
>
> Dave
>
> On 25-Jun-10, at 3:29 AM, GRAHAM SINGLETON wrote:
>
>
> Hi Dave
> most contamination gets in when fuel is added. Rust from Jerry cans
> is not uncommon, also algae from old fuel. You really need separate
> filters so that if one blocks you have a get down safely reserve.
> 914s tend to be more of a problem because of the high flow rate.
> Graham