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Filter on the fuel vent

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Olivier.hequet@neuf.fr

Joined: 21 Aug 2017
Posts: 40
Location: France

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 3:24 am Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

Hello,



Does anyone put a filter on the fuel vent circuit to avoid dust or insects in the fuel tank?



I recently clean my fuel filter, and I saw some lit tel insects in the filter



Many thanks for your responses.



Olivier

F-PAKV 564

Rick Moss

Joined: 21 Sep 2014
Posts: 96

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 5:40 am Post subject: Re: Filter on the fuel vent

I don't, but the bugs you are getting in the fuel filter could equally be building nests in an inlet filter, and unlike the fuel filter, you have no backup circuit for that.

Duncan McFadyean

Joined: 18 Jan 2011
Posts: 220

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 5:43 am Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

Yes. Plastic mesh-type inline fuel filter (not paper-type filter). This also helps to break air-locked spurts of fuel rising up the vent line during the later stages of fuelling.



Duncan McF.



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 30 May 2023 at 12:24 "Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr" <Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr> wrote:

 

 

 

 

 Hello,

 

 Does anyone put a filter on the fuel vent circuit to avoid dust or insects in the fuel tank?

 

 I recently clean my fuel filter, and I saw some lit tel insects in the filter

 

 Many thanks for your responses.

 

 Olivier

 F-PAKV 564

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=510875#510875

raimo.toivio(at)rwm.fi
Guest

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 5:56 am Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

Hello Olivier!

          

If you had a filter, do you remember or bother to check it every       preflight? If blocked during the flight, what to do but land.

          

I have used a modified Cessna pitot cover over fuel vents since       2007 when parked inside or out (its not covering those little       pressure holes).

          

Insects may cause accidents, but also if they happen to lay eggs       to your tubes - a hermit wasp´s nest is also a known killer.     



          

https://generalaviationnews.com/2019/05/10/insect-in-pitot-tube-causes-accident/     

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/aaib-report-various-aircraft-blockage-of-pitot-probes-by-insects-heathrow-airport     

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birgenair_Flight_301     



          

            allekirjoitus2       Cheers, Raimo Toivio 

       

       [img]cid:part1.tBeOauZV.B0a3wzeI(at)rwm.fi[/img] 

       

       Europa XS Monowheel OH-XRT #417 2007 

       Antonov AN-2 TDSRM AirCamper HA-MDO 1987 

       Beechcraft C18 Twin OH-BLL 1953 

       

       37500 Lempäälä 

       FINLAND 

       p. +358 3 3753 777 

       m. +358 40 590 1450 

       www.rwm.fi       

       raimo.toivio(at)rwm.fi (raimo.toivio(at)rwm.fi)     

     Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr (Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr) kirjoitti       30.5.2023 klo 14.24:

     

      	  Quote: 	
		          	  Quote: 	
		  --> Europa-List message posted by: "Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr" (Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr) <Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr> (Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr)



Hello,



Does anyone put a filter on the fuel vent circuit to avoid dust or insects in the fuel tank?



I recently clean my fuel filter, and I saw some lit tel insects in the filter



Many thanks for your responses.



Olivier

F-PAKV 564





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=510875#510875

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raimo.toivio(at)rwm.fi
Guest

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 5:59 am Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

Fuel vent cover

          

[img]cid:part1.mVUs4TOc.OFsl4ODb(at)rwm.fi[/img]     

Pitot cover, opens automatic when over 20 kts

          

[img]cid:part2.lmZFjF4H.RULjCyTP(at)rwm.fi[/img]     

Stall warning tube cover

          [img]cid:part3.lCc0PxtE.n7sBz6xV(at)rwm.fi[/img]

            allekirjoitus         

     Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr (Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr) kirjoitti       30.5.2023 klo 14.24:

     

      	  Quote: 	
		          	  Quote: 	
		  --> Europa-List message posted by: "Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr" (Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr) <Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr> (Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr)



Hello,



Does anyone put a filter on the fuel vent circuit to avoid dust or insects in the fuel tank?



I recently clean my fuel filter, and I saw some lit tel insects in the filter



Many thanks for your responses.



Olivier

F-PAKV 564





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=510875#510875

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Olivier.hequet@neuf.fr

Joined: 21 Aug 2017
Posts: 40
Location: France

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 7:21 am Post subject: Re: Filter on the fuel vent

thank you for responses and pictures...I have two vents on my tank, so I think will put 2 plastic filters and include a verification during each 50 hours check



Olivier

Burrilla

Joined: 25 Apr 2015
Posts: 185

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 8:08 am Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

I wonder if it’s worth adding an item to 6mon/50Hr/ Annual to reverse blow the vents to clear any crud collected?



Alan. 



Sent from my iPhone



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 30 May 2023, at 16:23, olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr wrote:

 

 

 

 thank you for responses and pictures...I have two vents on my tank, so I think will put 2 plastic filters and include a verification during each 50 hours check

 

 Olivier

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=510883#510883

budyerly@msn.com

Joined: 05 Oct 2019
Posts: 287
Location: Florida USA

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 9:36 am Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

Alan,

The POH annual Europa Inspection requiring draining and flushing of the tank should suffice per the POH checklist I would think.  The fuel tank vent tube operation and FOD clearance is an issue missed by many in their preflight and periodic maintenance.

I personally went to an under-fuselage vent tube with hole under the belly that is also drilled on the aft side as per the instructions to allow over-boarding of the fuel when topped off and prevent a direct hit of a bug from completely clogging the tube in flight.



IF gas pours out of the vent when topping off as I designed it,  it is therefore checked as clear if the fuel drains out.



When parked, I simply cover the vent with a "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT" banner cover when hangered.  This is a pain if the aircraft is left tied down on the ramp as the cover I have is not as tight as it should be and blows off easily.  It is my own fault for not installing a 1/4-inch vinyl hose in the sleeve of the cover for a firm grip.  Same problem with the pitot/static cover.  I must get around to that!



Those with vents on the top are well advised to use a loop of 1/4 inch fuel or vent line with a "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT" flag attached in the center.  This loop of fuel line simply caps both lines on the older by the book vent system preventing clogging.



See the articles on the Europa Club website for checklist ideas.  It is an experimental aircraft and frankly, as an experimental, some of us never stop experimenting or finding ways to do things differently and sometimes better.



Best Regards,

Bud Yerly



--

rparigoris

Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 796

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Filter on the fuel vent

Hi Group



A few notes on Fuel Vents:

** I owned a 170 that had the flippy pitot and fuel vent covers. I had a dapper wasp somehow get into the pitot and the airspeed was dead? Took a while to figure out just how. Then one day walking up to the bird when it was pretty darn windy, noticed both the pitot and fuel vent flippy covers were opened because of the wind! Again it was howling and they were both located on top of high wing. Anyway noticed a dapper wasp land and crawl into the fuel vent!! Just an amazing aerial feat.  Took a few hours to clean out a nest that she built. Even though there were 2 holes drilled on the aft side of the fuel vent, it would not have helped. I suspect with the Europa being a low wing and our fuel vent on the bottom of fuse, may need more wind outside than on a high wing to open

** Following in Bud footsteps, we mounted the fuel vent on our Mono on the bottom of the fuse. We too have 2 holes drilled on the aft side. We installed a flippy cover:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah1S270Nwg9VgoFrWgK4zHNaHsxwUg?e=gGz1pO

You need to copy and paste full URL into browser to view

**  Am not a big fan of an aeroplane engine (or any other engine as a matter of fact) that decides to play silent night when not commanded to do so. Have been around enough to know that if you don't let air into a fuel tank and a vacuum forms, fuel flow slows or stops. Thus we added a second fuel tank vent to our Mono that vents inside the cockpit. If one were to do such a thing and just have a opened tube, besides fumes getting into the cockpit, when you decide to land turtle and can't get out, fuel can spill into cockpit when you are upside down and chances are the cooling effect of fuel is not enough to keep you cool. We installed a fuel rated one way diaphragm valve (white with nipples) and in series a Brass fitting with ball check valve. If you go inverted, the white diaphragm valve should stop flow, but it's kind of important it doesn't leak, so if it were to leak, the check valve should stop flow. We also installed a screen filter to keep snakes out. Using a clear tube, you can blow into it and try sucking to verify the one way diaphragm valve is working. To verify the Brass ball check valve is working, by putting  a magnet near it and moving, if you hear the ball jiggling, chances are really really good it will function as designed. If the fuel vent were to get clogged, it's true that pressure could build in the tank, and I'm a lot happier to have some pressure in the tank, than a vacuum when low and just over the trees. Here's some pics:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah1S270Nwg9VgoFsZ5At3nvRBSpDOQ?e=FKXQw4



Ron P.

Last edited by rparigoris on Tue May 30, 2023 12:25 pm; edited 1 time in total

rparigoris

Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 796

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: Filter on the fuel vent

Hi Group

We also are going to install a flippy cover on pitot.



Here's the one we are using on the fuel vent:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah1S270Nwg9VgoFtxk4Og4XUO2b8sA?e=lgcn7d



Ron P.

Burrilla

Joined: 25 Apr 2015
Posts: 185

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 12:32 pm Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

I have made pitot and fuel vent covers from clear plastic tube. The tube is bent double and slips over the fuel vents and also Pitot:static and has the red remove before flight tags attached. 



Alan



Sent from my iPhone



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 30 May 2023, at 21:11, rparigoris <rparigor(at)hotmail.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 Hi Group

 

 A few notes on Fuel Vents:

 ** I owned a 170 that had the flippy pitot and fuel vent covers. I had a dapper wasp somehow get into the pitot and the airspeed was dead? Took a while to figure out just how. Then one day walking up to the bird when it was pretty darn windy, noticed both the pitot and fuel vent flippy covers were opened because of the wind! Again it was howling and it both were on top of high wing. Anyway noticed a dapper wasp land and crawl into the fuel vent!! Took a few hours to clean out a nest that she built. Even though there were 2 holes drilled on the aft side of the fuel vent, it would not have helped. I suspect with the Europa being a low wing and my fuel vent on the bottom of fuse, may need more wind that on a high wing to open

 ** As Bud has, we mounted the fuel vent on our Mono on the bottom of the fuse. we too have 2 holes drilled aft. We installed a flippy cover:

 https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah1S270Nwg9VgoFrWgK4zHNaHsxwUg?e=gGz1pO

 You need to copy and paste full URL into browser to view

 **  Am not a big fan of an aeroplane engine (or any other engine as a matter of fact) that decides to play silent night when not commanded to do so. Have been around enough to know that if you don't let air into a fuel tank and a vacuum forms, fuel flow slows or stops. Thus we added a second fuel tank vent to our Mono that vents inside the cockpit. If one were to do such a thing and just have a opened tube, besides fumes getting into the cockpit, when you decide to land turtle and can't get out, fuel can spill into cockpit. We installed a fuel rated one way diaphragm valve (white with nipples) and in series a Brass fitting with ball check valve. If you go inverted, the white diaphragm valve should stop flow, but it's kind of important it doesn't leak, so if it were to leak, the check valve should stop flow. We also installed a screen filter to keep snakes out. Using a clear tube, you can blow into it and try sucking to verify the one way diaphragm valve is working. To verify!

  the Brass ball check valve is working, by putting  a magnet near it and moving, if you hear the ball jiggling, chances are really really good it will function as designed. If the fuel vent were to get clogged, it's true that pressure could build in the tank, and I'm a lot happier to have some pressure in the tank, than a vacuum, just over the trees. Here's some pics:

 https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah1S270Nwg9VgoFsZ5At3nvRBSpDOQ?e=FKXQw4

 

 Ron P.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=510886#510886

wdaniell.longport(at)gmai
Guest

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 3:18 pm Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

I had a flippy vent cover on my savannah.  Accidentally hit it with my shoulder on pre flight and didn't notice.  Since it took off at about 30mph by the time I noticed the lack of airspeed we were almost in the air so I decided to deal with the problem in the air.  I was surprised how easy it was to fly without airspeed.  Uneventful circuit to land.

So flippy covers not for me after that

William Daniell



LONGPORT



+1 786 878 0246

On Tue, May 30, 2023 at 4:11 PM rparigoris <rparigor(at)hotmail.com (rparigor(at)hotmail.com)> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  --> Europa-List message posted by: "rparigoris" <rparigor(at)hotmail.com (rparigor(at)hotmail.com)>

 

 Hi Group

 

 A few notes on Fuel Vents:

 ** I owned a 170 that had the flippy pitot and fuel vent covers. I had a dapper wasp somehow get into the pitot and the airspeed was dead? Took a while to figure out just how. Then one day walking up to the bird when it was pretty darn windy, noticed both the pitot and fuel vent flippy covers were opened because of the wind! Again it was howling and it both were on top of high wing. Anyway noticed a dapper wasp land and crawl into the fuel vent!! Took a few hours to clean out a nest that she built. Even though there were 2 holes drilled on the aft side of the fuel vent, it would not have helped. I suspect with the Europa being a low wing and my fuel vent on the bottom of fuse, may need more wind that on a high wing to open

 ** As Bud has, we mounted the fuel vent on our Mono on the bottom of the fuse. we too have 2 holes drilled aft. We installed a flippy cover:

 [url=https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah1S270Nwg9VgoFrWgK4zHNaHsxwUg?e=gGz1pO]https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah1S270Nwg9VgoFrWgK4zHNaHsxwUg?e=gGz1pO[/url]

 You need to copy and paste full URL into browser to view

 **  Am not a big fan of an aeroplane engine (or any other engine as a matter of fact) that decides to play silent night when not commanded to do so. Have been around enough to know that if you don't let air into a fuel tank and a vacuum forms, fuel flow slows or stops. Thus we added a second fuel tank vent to our Mono that vents inside the cockpit. If one were to do such a thing and just have a opened tube, besides fumes getting into the cockpit, when you decide to land turtle and can't get out, fuel can spill into cockpit. We installed a fuel rated one way diaphragm valve (white with nipples) and in series a Brass fitting with ball check valve. If you go inverted, the white diaphragm valve should stop flow, but it's kind of important it doesn't leak, so if it were to leak, the check valve should stop flow. We also installed a screen filter to keep snakes out. Using a clear tube, you can blow into it and try sucking to verify the one way diaphragm valve is working. To verify!

   the Brass ball check valve is working, by putting  a magnet near it and moving, if you hear the ball jiggling, chances are really really good it will function as designed. If the fuel vent were to get clogged, it's true that pressure could build in the tank, and I'm a lot happier to have some pressure in the tank, than a vacuum, just over the trees. Here's some pics:

 [url=https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah1S270Nwg9VgoFsZ5At3nvRBSpDOQ?e=FKXQw4]https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ah1S270Nwg9VgoFsZ5At3nvRBSpDOQ?e=FKXQw4[/url]

 

 Ron P.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=510886#510886

 

 

 

 

 

 

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wdaniell.longport(at)gmai
Guest

Posted: Tue May 30, 2023 3:19 pm Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

I always blow the vent with a piece of tube on preflight

William Daniell



LONGPORT



+1 786 878 0246

On Tue, May 30, 2023 at 12:10 PM Alan Burrill <alanb(at)dpy01.co.uk (alanb(at)dpy01.co.uk)> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  --> Europa-List message posted by: Alan Burrill <alanb(at)dpy01.co.uk (alanb(at)dpy01.co.uk)>

 

 I wonder if it’s worth adding an item to 6mon/50Hr/ Annual to reverse blow the vents to clear any crud collected?

 

 Alan. 

 

 Sent from my iPhone

 

 > On 30 May 2023, at 16:23, olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr (olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr) wrote:

 > 

 > --> Europa-List message posted by: "Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr (Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr)" <Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr (Olivier.hequet(at)neuf.fr)>

 > 

 > thank you for responses and pictures...I have two vents on my tank, so I think will put 2 plastic filters and include a verification during each 50 hours check

 > 

 > Olivier

 > 

 > 

 > 

 > 

 > Read this topic online here:

 > 

 > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=510883#510883

 > 

 > 

 > 

 > 

 > 

 > 

 > 

 > 

 > 

 

 

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Duncan McFadyean

Joined: 18 Jan 2011
Posts: 220

Posted: Wed May 31, 2023 12:21 am Post subject: Filter on the fuel vent

The backup circuit is the fuel sight-gauge vent (if you have one fitted). Which comes with a warning system (i.e. fuel gauge contents will read zero if the tank vent blocks up!).



Duncan McF.



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 30 May 2023 at 14:40 Rick Moss <Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 

 I don't, but the bugs you are getting in the fuel filter could equally be building nests in an inlet filter, and unlike the fuel filter, you have no backup circuit for that.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=510878#510878

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