ORIGINAL: Tom Nied

gaRCfield parallels my thinking. I always use a filter between the firewall and carb. Usually no problems. But, I recently had two deadsticks right in a row. Shame on me for not checking my filter after the first dead stick. An aging fuel syringe (that I had to use because my electric pump stopped working) with a deteriorated rubber seal had clogged my filter and shut my engine off. Kind of scary when I was just getting comfortable bringing an inverted model closer to the ground. WHEN IN DOUBT, ROLL OUT! I had just read that saying that very morning. Saved me twice. Once I cleaned the filter, I was good to go and didn't have anymore problems. So I guess what I learned and can pass on is that a filter will help, but can get clogged as well. It's easier to clean most filters than trying to back flush crud out of a carb. For me the benefit of having an onboard filter out ways the liability. I always fly with one, and was shocked when I did have the deadsticks.