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MElrod3732(at)aol.com
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 Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 7:41 pm Post subject: Discolored fuel |
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Hi fellow builders: A few days before starting my Rotax engine for the first
time, I put a couple gallons of premium auto gas in each wing tank to make
sure there were no leaks. Just before starting the engine, I drained some
fuel from the wing tanks and the gascolator to check for water-there was none.
The wing tanks were fine but the fuel sample from the gascolator was tinted
to the color of dark beer. I kept draining the gascolator until it was the
color of the wing tank fuel sample. The engine started and ran fine.
I checked the gascolator the next day and the fuel was still tinted although
not as much.
I am using the fuel lines supplied by Zenith in my 701 kit.
Question- Has anyone else had a similar experience with tinted fuel from the
gascolator?
Thanks in advance, Mike Elrod 701 99% complete
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doug kandle
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 33
Location: Boise ID
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| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject: Discolored fuel |
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I just installed my fuel tanks and washed them out with lacquer
thinner before installing them. I noticed that the solvent that I
drained out was tinted.
The tanks were part of my kit from ZAC.
At 08:39 PM 1/29/2006, you wrote:
| Quote: |
Hi fellow builders: A few days before starting my Rotax engine for the first
time, I put a couple gallons of premium auto gas in each wing tank to make
sure there were no leaks. Just before starting the engine, I drained some
fuel from the wing tanks and the gascolator to check for water-there
was none.
The wing tanks were fine but the fuel sample from the gascolator was tinted
to the color of dark beer. I kept draining the gascolator until it was the
color of the wing tank fuel sample. The engine started and ran fine.
I checked the gascolator the next day and the fuel was still tinted although
not as much.
I am using the fuel lines supplied by Zenith in my 701 kit.
Question- Has anyone else had a similar experience with tinted fuel from the
gascolator?
Thanks in advance, Mike Elrod 701 99% complete
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zsmith3rd(at)earthlink.ne
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| Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:17 am Post subject: Discolored fuel |
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do not archive
Had the same results on a previous installation of my 912. Putting clean fuel in and getting dirty-looking fuel out will get your attention in a hurry.
Had a clear plastic inline fuel filter which got really dark, but after draining all the fuel through this filter then replacing filter and repeating the process it got much better. The filter didn't take out the dark color, but new fuel run through the system didn't get nearly as dark second time.
Took the second filter off and replaced it with a third filter. After about 30 gallons the system cleaned up nicely.
Cut both used fiters open; no "trash", but definitely off-color.
Blamed the discoloration on internal surfaces of black fuel hoses, various forms of goop on fittings, etc.
The gasoline does have some of the qualities of a solvent.....apparently it played Mister Kleen on the system.
Am told that various additives to mogas, for seasonal and geographic reasons, contribute to this.
If you save the discolored gas you'll have plenty of fuel for the wife's lawnmower.
Regards,
Zed/701/R912/90+%/etc
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cgalley(at)qcbc.org
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| Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 5:56 am Post subject: Discolored fuel |
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Don't place the blame just on auto gas. One of the prime octane enhancers
in AVGAS is toluene. It is a very active solvent that will take paint off
the side of your plane. We had to repaint our Skyhawk due to a leaking
quick drain.
Cy Galley - Chair,
AirVenture Emergency Aircraft Repair
A Service Project of Chapter 75
EAA Safety Programs Editor - TC
EAA Sport Pilot
---
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daveaustin2(at)sprint.ca
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| Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:06 am Post subject: Discolored fuel |
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IMHO,
lacquer thinner is a bit harsh for tanks and lines. I used paraffin (stove
oil) to flush mine.
Dave Austin 601HDS - 912, Spitfire Mk VIII
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David X
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 154
Location: Princeton, NJ, USA
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| Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: Discolored fuel |
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The CH2000 has the same problem. The factory uses auto brake lines instead of aircraft quality lines. As a consequence, the lines must be replaced every 10 years.
At first, I thought it was the gascolator, but even after I drain all the brown gas out, it comes back if I switch the fuel selector and drain some more. It seems to happen only when the plane sits for a week or more.
The next time I had brown gas, I immediately cyphoned some from the fuel tank. It was blue, like it was supposed to be (AVGAS). This makes it pretty clear to me that the crud is coming from the lines.
I don't know if Zenith is using the same lines in the CH601 kits that they are using in the CH2000 ... but if I had to bet, I'd bet yes.
DO NOT ARCHIVE
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Zodiac 601 XL - CZAW Built - Rotax 912S
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