Fuel filter
 

Hi everyone,
I'm finishing to "build" my Hobbistar 60 MKIII and hooked up the engine (OS 61FX) yesterday. Do I have to use a fuel filter ?
Thanks.

RE: Fuel filter
 

Nope.

I use a fuel filter on my pump and don't bother with them on the planes.

Of course, some people do both (And some do neither)

RE: Fuel filter
 

As Mike said, some people do and some don't. You're going to get the views from both sides of the coin, so the final choice really is up to you. I don't use a filter on my planes as I have filter in in my fuel jugs. In my opinion it's just one more point where something can go wrong. I've never had any problems with my setup, but your milage may vary.

Ken

RE: Fuel filter
 

Thanks for your advices.
As I already have a fuel filter that I bought for another plane (a TF Spitfire which is in building status for 1 year), I'll plug it to my pump.

RE: Fuel filter
 

Yeah, just remember that it's there because, eventually, it will get clogged.

CGr.

RE: Fuel filter
 

I used to use a fuel filter on the aircraft but changed to just using one on the re-fueling jug. I started this about twenty years ago and never have had any problems, As CGr. previously said, it will get clogged, so part of my spring pre-check is to replace the filter on the re-fueling jug.

RE: Fuel filter
 

I just maidened one of these for a new member. His engine mount to the firewall screws all loosened up on the 7 minute flight. My advise is to remove them and locktite them. Awesome flying trainer.

RE: Fuel filter
 

Ok, thanks,
I'll follow your recommendation. It probably worth it and it won't hurt my plane.

RE: Fuel filter
 

I use filters on all my planes. Two of my engines are pumped, and it is imperitive that junk not get into the pumping mechanisms and damage the diaphragms and other delicate parts. One one, the filter works as a place to disconnect the lines for fueling/defueling/running the engine dry.

Last week I gave one of my planes (my precious Venus II) a little overhaul and checked everything out. This included the fuel tank, which I removed and disassembled. Inside I found the stopper was deteriorating and there were little black bits inside the fuel tank. This tank was new last fall and had only been used for maybe 2 gallons of fuel. Filtering fuel from my fueling jug would not have stopped this from entering the engine, or any other junk that finds it's way into the system.

Filters like the Great Planes and Dubro filters have room for small bits of stuff to get trapped and still allow fuel to pass. They also seem to help with small amounts of bubbles that may end up in the system.

I recently started using the Sullivan Crap Traps. They have a dual sized filtration system, and are clear so you can see if anything is stuck inside without having to disassemble them.

RE: Fuel filter
 

I use a fuel filter inside the fuel can , and another one called a Final Filter inline with the fueling tubing after the fuel pump. This final filter is supposed to be a much finer filter than the others. Made my Dubro I think. It's about 1" long and about 1/4 in wide. I don't use a filter on the engine, just asking for another problem IMO.

RE: Fuel filter
 

I use filters on my fuel jug as well as every single one of my airplanes...if you are skeptical as whether or not you need a fuel filter, splurge on a sullivan "Crap Trap" for one of your planes and it will show you all the junk that it stops. You'll be amazed!

RE: Fuel filter
 

always use a fuel filter on your plane in my opinion.

RE: Fuel filter
 

I did exactly that, and it made me a believer!

All of my planes now have filters, and I filter the glow fuel at the jug and during fueling too.

RE: Fuel filter
 

Been flying 30+ years, Never used one on a plane.

RE: Fuel filter
 

I hear that all the time... put a craptrap filter on your plane, and you'll change your mind.

RE: Fuel filter
 

Kind of makes one wonder if we should filter the pressure line from the muffler to the tank. If the fuel starts out clear; then.....people add a filter onto that line to filter it on its way to the tank..where does the crap come from???

...Ah haaa...maybe the pressure line from the muffler??? Rich

RE: Fuel filter
 

Not just from there.

I was amazed at the debris accumulating in the Crap-Trap (TM) filter, so I did exactly as you say, putting another filter between the muffler and the tank.

This only marginally reduced the accumulation in the filter going from the tank to the carb.

It seems that particulates are picked up in doing such things as changing the lid on the jug, putting the fueling tubing into the jug, sloth off from the fuel tank materials, etc. etc. etc.

Individually these may seem like an infinitesimily small amount, but once you let the Crap-Trap (TM) reveal what it manages to pick up, you'll never want this stuff entering your carb.

One little particle can foul up a needle valve.

RE: Fuel filter
 

Interestingly enough, we have an RC pilot that has years of experience telling us that he does not use filters on his plane. I've heard that from several experienced pilots, that they filter their supply. Some fly pattern, which is very demanding, and have been doing so for many years, more than I've been flying, that's for sure. And, they have had no.. zero.. none.. accidents caused by 'dirty' fuel. Demandng fuel pumps? If the fuel is clean, then what?

I took that advice and filter my fuel supply, fuel up my planes, and fly. So far, I've had no problems, and I can say that i've burned quite a few gallons of fuel over the past several years.

I would recommend that you are far better off listening to those pilots with many years of experience and are offering their help to those that ask for it. Isn't that what we are looknig for in the Beginners Forum?

CGr

RE: Fuel filter
 

Sometimes even the "oldsters" need to learn a new trick or two.


The Crap-Trap experiment is worth doing. Check it out sometime. Put one on, and report back what you find at the end of the season.

I'll bet you'll become a convert too, and start wondering about those claims of no problems.

After all with ALL of those years of flying, SOME deadsticks must have occurred!

Erring on the side of safety on this is not going to hurt.

RE: Fuel filter
 

Just my 2 cents. I have one filter on the pick-up line in my fuel jug and one on each engine.

RE: Fuel filter
 

I'm more of a hit and miss guy when it comes to filters, when I have the room for them I use them. When I use them they are the crap trap filters. My fuel jug line is also filtered by a crap trap. So far I have never had any fuel flow problems with an engine but I have found some mystery floaters inside the YS diaphrams, no problems but there was nasty crap in there. A filter doesn't hurt anything so it's one of those up to the pilot things. I find a carb filter is needed more on my planes then a fuel filter, I have found some real nasty inside the engine during cleaning, I fly mostly off of a dirt runway so I can suck up sone very odd stuff.

RE: Fuel filter
 

I'll go along with the crap trap filters too but be aware they only fit one way because they use two different sized meshes as the photo below shows. Rubbish can get into the fuel from lots of different places like through the muffler pressure line or from new clunk tanks that sometimes have a very fine fuzz of plastic fibres from the moulding process. A couple of dollars for a filter is very good insurance for that multi hundred dollar model and engine. For the engine I always use the [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LX9160]Bru Line[/link] fine filter which also helps keep the outside of the engine clean by trapping any fuel that might spit back out of the carb.

RE: Fuel filter
 

If it ain't broke, Don't Fix It.