I have several years now flying RC planes and have around ten flyable planes all of them have their own fuel filter. Because of the time I can tell you that this inexpensive part will not hurt your economy and can save a good reliable engine or carburetor from working at its top.
Depending on the usage of each plane I always clean the filter once in a year, sometimes they are quite clean, sometimes they are not, and I have found some particles that in my thoughts could cause an unexpected behavior of any engine. Some other people at the fields I use to go just do not seem to be worried about the use of this cheap part but as I said it is that cheap that there is no reason for not use it.
Actually our cars and trucks that we are driving have at least two filters, one at the pump and one more at the line that goes to the injection assembly, Why?
Well because of the fact that the performance of any engine is always related to the quality of the fuel.

Regards

Alfred

Fuel filters are very much like power panels, Just pointless stuff to sell to newbies!

Gunk that gets in the muffler has already been in the engine and the very tiny percentage that may actually recirculate throught the fuel tank will do nothing.

What you really don,t want to do is put a fuel filter in the muffler pressure line to the tank like one poster mentioned earlier in this thread. That will lead very quickly to lean running problems without a doubt.


John

John, you find power panels to be "pointless stuff to sell to newbies"? I use my power panel all the time and find it to be an organized way to connect to my main battery. Actually I find it to add another level of safety with its circuitry and fuse built in. Everybody has their opinion.

I not only find them pointless but also dangerous when used in the way that was intended as a single power source that must be routed close in front of the propellor for the starter and well as close behind for the glow driver. I have witnessned sufficient carnage over the years from this when being used in that way that I will not work with a student who uses that setup. And indeed that is my opinion.

John

OK. I wouldn't be without one. Wouldn't want you as trainer.

I have never had a filter on my engine, and now I can not get it running. I didn't even get it running long enough to break it in. And I still can not figure out why it won't start again.

shd3920, this belongs in another forum. But in short you need three things to get it running. Is it getting fuel, is the glowplug glowing, and do you have compression? Maybe I should include a fourth, a good spin of the prop. If you check those first three, you should be starting. Let me add, if you have too much fuel (flooded), that will give you problem starts, cold weather will diminish the effectiveness of your batteries, and if your backplate/head are loose or the gasket not good, that will give you problems. When I have a balky engine, I start checking things. Oh and one safety concern, keep all wires and hands and fingers away from the possibility of an engine firing up unexpectedly. Especially if you use a filter or power panel.

Personally, I filter twice. Once in the fuel jug and again on the plane before the carb.

I don't like filtered clunks in tanks, since I don't like pulling the tank out every few months to clean the filter however filtered clunks in jugs are a good idea. I do like in-line filters - they don't hurt any and might help. It doesn't matter which side of the firewall it is, what's more important is that it's easy to get to, so you're not discouraged from pulling it apart periodically to clean it, and that you're not filling the tank through the filter - hard to remove filtered gunk if you keep blowing it back into the tank.

I use (fairly unpopular) "quick fill" devices from dubro, and install the filter between the quick fill & the carb. If you don't use the quick fill you either need to remove the fuel line from the tank side of the filter to fill the tank, or install a 3rd unfiltered line with a fuel dot.

Got to agree with John, have not sued a power panel for 15 years. Cordless starter and cordless glow plug igniter are much safer and easier. Tired of charging motor cycle batteries that ahd to be replaced every 2 years. Also alot of self contained fuel pumps out there, or very good crank ones. Similar to cordless power tools, just easier with out all those cords and more portable.

After reading 34 posts with all kinds of answers, you still may have questions. Heck, I may have been doing everything wrong for the past 60+ years. [sm=cry_smile.gif]
Since I have been running glow engines, since about 1949, I have used filters in the feed line right up next to the needle valve/carb. inlet. Sometimes when I didn't, I usually developed sporadic engine running along the way, except for high pressure fuel in CL Speed and FF models.

So, I use filters in the feed line. I also use a filter in the fuel can and I use Dave Brown's Six Shooter Fuel pumps except for those models that contain bladder tanks where I use a syringe. The DBSS is by far the most fool-proof pump in the business. One for glow, and one for gas-burners.

I also use a Power Panel for glow plug illumination. It provides considerably stronger power than those skimpy 1.2 V batt. operated things. I do keep a 1.5V Dubro D Cell Clip in the tool box for stand-by use. The only problem with the Pwr. Pnl. is that so many guys need to borrow it when their little toy-things go belly up for need of a charge.

For years I used a starter using the wet battery. Now I use a 14V cordless starter for G-26 and lesser engines.

So wzak29, it ain't easy is it? I recommend fuel filters. BTW, I don't ski, and I never jumped out of a good airplane. Almost did once, but I got the fuel flowing again and one of two engines running so did not lose a good airplane. I would hate to see what would happen to my Diesel Truck if It did not have a fuel filter.

I like them and use them. Make sure they're good and tight, I did have one un-thread itself enough to leak and cause a little havic. I take two plyers and nudge the two halfs snug... and I don't have problems. Once every 3 or 4 years I take them apart, check and clean them.

I have a filter on my jug of fuel... and it's amaizing how some crud can still get to the plane. I found hair and dirt last year on one of my planes... so in my opinion, it doesn't hurt to have a fuel line filter in your plane. I have mine in between the glow tank and Kwick Fill. Another way is have it in your glow line between your glow tank and your High end needle.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...IMAG0007-1.jpg

If you put it between the quick fill & tank any nasties that get past the filter in your jug will get caught at the plane's filter, and as soon as you prime your engine & suck fuel out of the tank you'll wash the trapped nasties into your carb. Better to have the filter between the quick fill & carb, or run a 3rd line with a filter just for filling/emptying.

I do. " I have mine in between the glow tank and Kwick Fill" was written wrong. I ment what you said... and it was a typo error. In the picture you can see I have it set up correctly exactly Sanmann_AU has corrected me on. My apologies.

If you decide to use an inline filter, I think it should be accessible.

Something I learned from one of our club members is making simple line clamps for the connections that are rarely removed.