Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jimmy Young on November 7, 2011 at 3:03pm

My comment about not liking the idea of the exposed gascolator was referring to the factory location. Yours is no problem, mine's in the same spot. 

I don't think the 120 micron screen in the gascolator has anything to do with seperating water from fuel. That should happen with the water settling to the bottom of the bowl and the fuel flows through the outlet which is mounted higher in the gascolator bowl, similar to how a grease trap works. I may be wrong on this, maybe someone else can confirm or reject the concept. 

The way I see it is like this: Lets say you had not flown in a few weeks and happen to have water in your fuel tanks. The water, being heavier than fuel, is going to settle in the lines between the baggage floor bottom and where your lines turn up towards your fuel selector. You start the engine, the water moves forward. Is the gascolator going to get it out? Only if the amount of water is less than the capacity of the bowl. That is why I see a need for another fuel drain somewhere in that lowest area where water can settle. 

Permalink Reply by Matt Miller on May 10, 2017 at 8:28pm

John, I saw this old posting of yours. My gascolator is mounted exactly like yours. Are you happy with the clearance between it and the exhaust stack ?  I have about 3.5 inches of clearance.  Matt Miller

Permalink Reply by Dr. Edward L. Olds III on February 29, 2012 at 11:38pm

Jimmy,

What did you end up doing with your gascolator?  I ordered mine from Andair this morning and then talked with Caleb, who said I needed to put the gascolator where it showed on the Zenith drawings!@#$%  I can see the low point issue, but that system makes it impossible to use a left, right, both, off valve and I think that is the way I'd like to go?  I could buy another gascolator and use two, but the darn things aren't cheap!  

Ed

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Permalink Reply by Michael Chesney on December 12, 2016 at 2:13pm

Hi John. I purchased the firewall bulkhead mount for the gascolator and I am wondering how you routed your line on the output side? I would like to get fuel line back to the firewall for my facet fuel pump to mount. Like you, I'm using the flex seal lines and fittings. Do you think a 180 fitting back to firewall and a 90 fitting to go up would work?

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Permalink Reply by John Austin on December 12, 2016 at 2:32pm

I think that would work.  Is it too heavy to just mount directly to the gascolator rather than having to route a line back to the firewall? It probably could be stabilized with a standoff from an engine mount tube if necessary.

John

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Permalink Reply by Michael Chesney on December 12, 2016 at 2:37pm

hmm...that might work. Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Dr. Edward L. Olds III on February 15, 2012 at 5:11pm

John,

I'm having issues with Aircraft Spruce and they say they don't have any stainless fittings to go through the firewall?  Where did you get the one pictured above?

Ed

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Permalink Reply by John Austin on February 15, 2012 at 5:16pm

Ed,

Look on this page at Spruce!

John

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Edward L. Olds III on February 15, 2012 at 5:27pm

John,

Thanks so much for the quick reply.  I don't know why the Spruce people had such trouble?  I'm installing cables now and having fits with Nicopress sleeves!

Ed

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Permalink Reply by John Austin on January 13, 2012 at 3:38pm

Gary,

I put grommeted holes in the extreme left and right lower corners of the support at the front of the tunnel and went straight-through with the fuel lines. I've got 2 more grommeted holes above that on each side for brake lines and wiring - didn't seem any more difficult or "tight" to me than many other things we do building - pretty straightforward installation ... pun intended! LOL!

John

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Permalink Reply by John Austin on January 14, 2012 at 9:46pm

I agree that there's a second low point (actually two additional since I have independent lines from each tank), but I think of a gascolator as mostly an effective filter that also gives me a sample for color, odor, and lastly, detection of water.

Think of this scenario - you get fueled somewhere and as it turns out, the very last gallon you pump is heavily contaminated with water, and you happen to park on a slight incline with the affected wing/tank pointed downhill. Next day, you dutifully sump your tanks and check your gascolator/gascolators - all clear. Where's the water? In the low end of the tank! After taxi and about the time you rotate, THEN is when that slug of water comes down the line!

Unlikely, sure, but possible. Now personally, my present plane is 100% hangared, fuel is double-filtered and stored above ground and under cover, and I have had zero problems in 20+ years/2500 hrs, so I can probably be a little more relaxed about the gascolator, If I was either a camper or third-world flyer, I'd probably have more gascolators. I guess we each have to analyze our personal situation. I did, however, get an A&P and an A&P AI to check out my system and they both thought it was fine.

Regards,

John

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Permalink Reply by Joe McGough on November 5, 2011 at 11:50pm

Has anyone found a fuel selector valve with "left, right, both, and off" that has a flow divider return line when using  a fuel injected engine on "both" tanks.  I have seen equal flow dividers for hydraulic systems but have not been able to find one for fuel. 

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