Gascolator

itisgood · Post by **itisgood** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 8:10 pm

Question I have about Gascolators.
With the lower cowling attaching using piano hinges, and the opening of the lower cowling being used for exhaust pipes.
How does one go about installing a gascolator so that one might drain it before a flight?
I am in the process of installing the fuel system and that concern entered my mind, that is if I had a mind.
It seems to me also the fuel filter that came with my Boost pump said that it was a 175 microns. Automobile filters are 10 microns. So why even have a filter on the airplane. I guess it might filter out bugs or pieces of trash or something big.
My I-360 is fuel injected and I would think the filter to be least as good as a car.
thanks for listening
Dave

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:15 pm

Are you building a tailwheel or nose wheel airplane? If it's a TW, you don't need to drain it prior to each flight as it's not the lowest part of the fuel system on the ground. I only drain mine when I have my cowl off, but do drain check the tanks prior to each flight.

I know several folks with NW airplanes that don't have a drain on the gascolator either...

I don't have a fuel filter on mine.

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:52 pm

On my RV-6A I have the gascolator mounted to the fire wall and low enough that I can slip a fuel probe in it and take a sample. You have to cut a hole in the lower cowl tat will allow this. I made one mistake on should have had mine slightly higher so that I could take the bottown off the gascolator for cleaning.

I do it at the condition inspection but it is a pain in the posterior

Some people have made or obtained a narrower fuel sampler that is desighed to go in 1/2" ID hole for sampling.

Lycosaurus · Post by **Lycosaurus** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:16 pm

I have an rv9a and left the gascolator in its intended position. Used a brass extension tube ... don't remember the length but got it from the aircraft isle of Home Depot. Just a small hole in the cowl and the drain is just below the bottom of the cowl. Easy to drain daily. Wish I had photos on hand to show you.

itisgood · Post by **itisgood** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 5:02 am

Thanks for the good ideas about the mounting position.
I am building a 7A.
If anyone has pictures it would be nice.

flywulf · Post by **flywulf** » Wed May 04, 2011 11:03 pm

I am at the same point, does anybody have any pictures to share?

It would be a real setback to do this wrong....

thanks in advance,

cheers,

Ed

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Thu May 05, 2011 7:51 am

Here's a pic of mine...it is a TW airplane, and I don't have the extension tube, but they are mounted in the same spot on both TW and NW airplanes...

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Thu May 05, 2011 5:53 pm

On a nosewheel RV you need to make sure the gascolator clears the engine mount

Also if you have to have enough clearance that you can lower the bottom of the gascolator when the engine mount is on! I have to disconnect mine from the inside and unbolt it to take the bottom of the gascolator off. It is a real pain when you do the condition inspection

flywulf · Post by **flywulf** » Fri May 06, 2011 11:22 pm

Thanks for sharing guys, I really appreciate it. I have the same unit as in the picture and my concerns were exactly the same. Motor mount and exhaust interference as well as being able to sump it during preflight. It seems that the best way is to follow the van-man instructions for placement of the unit. Also appears impossible to engineer a better solution unless the entire aircraft is assembled and the gascolator is the last part to be installed.

Oh yeah, mine is a 7A.

Cheers,

Ed

Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Sat May 07, 2011 7:42 pm

Idealling you want to make the holes and mount everything possible on the firewall before you permantly install the engine mount and hang the engine. That leads to the problem I have with my gascolator

I also had my Brake fluid resivor one inch to high

I have a couple of other holes that I wish were in a different place but it is sure the pits to make holes in the firewall after the engine is hung and install bigh items, Clearly I was not smart enough to avoid all the pitfalls but at least I didn't any pitbulls

newtech · Post by **newtech** » Sun May 08, 2011 9:11 pm

I will get a picture of my installation as soon as I get back from a breakfast fly-out tomorrow. My gascolator caught a lot of aluminum shavings from a fuel tank repair. I had to install access holes and covers in the back of my tanks so I could get in and replace several leaking rivets. I wasn't able to clean out all of the smaller aluminum shavings. Since there are no signs of any shavings, or anything else for that mater, on the carburetor finger strainer the gascolator has more than paid for itself.

newtech · Post by **newtech** » Mon May 09, 2011 10:28 am

Two 45 degree fittings posiioned the drain so that it can easily be accessed from the bottom.

The somewhat larger hole lets the body of the fuel sampling tube be inserted

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Bob Barrett · Post by **Bob Barrett** » Mon May 09, 2011 1:31 pm

My Gascolator is somewhat different and has a removable section on the bottom. There are four long screws that hold the bottom with the screen in it to the top of the gascolator which is flush with the firewall. The fuel line runs from the electric fuel pump to a connection of the gascolator which protrudes through the firewall. I sure wish I has the type of gascolator Chad and the guy with the 45 degree angles have

itisgood · Post by **itisgood** » Mon May 09, 2011 7:33 pm

Thanks Steve for the pictures. Your setup looks really neat! Great idea.
Dave
7A in the making

flywulf · Post by **flywulf** » Mon May 09, 2011 9:35 pm

That will sort all my issues with this gascolator install. A simple solution.

Thank you sharing!

Cheers,

Ed

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