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12iS Fuel Tank Finger Strainer

Bob Y

Well Known Member
One of the condition inspection tasks is “clean and inspect” fuel tank finger strainer. Because it’s a 45 degree fitting and very close to the fuel return line/fitting, it can’t be removed without removing the fuel return fitting. I’m going out on a limb and saying the practicality of removing those two fittings with the fuel tank installed is next to impossible. I’ve run a borescope into the tank and can see most of the strainer, but not what I’d consider a thorough inspection.

Question to you iS owners is how you accomplish this task?
 

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Good question. Officially it is 'fuel tank removal' time. See page 13-8 of the MM. But I must admit that removing the fuel tank every year for inspecting the finger strainer, sounds like overkill.

Looking with a scope might be an interesting alternative ..... unless there is a real chance for the tank to explode. How do you make sure that cannot happen?

I am also curious if anybody ever found things in the finger strainer, and what those things were.
 
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Page 13-10 covers finger strainer removal, but… I’m going to go out on a limb here and say I BELIEVE these instructions would work for the legacy ULS, but not as simply stated for the iS. This task is placed right in the middle of other ULS specific tasks, so think it should be labeled as such. I see no such task description for the iS. Scott, can you confirm my statements?

And based upon my inspection camera photos, I’m going to call this task complete with inspection only.
 

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I’m reluctant to mess with fuel tank fittings. Seems to me every unfastening/ fastening operation invites a leak, so the borescope option is what I do.. along with a sniff test for leaks. Reminiscent of my submarine days when we hated to take down hi pressure air because fixing one leak usually caused two more.
 
Is there any concern putting the borescope in the gas tank with fumes or gasoline?

Asking for a friend😂
 
Is there any concern putting the borescope in the gas tank with fumes or gasoline?

Asking for a friend��

My friend told me to fill the tank fully so that there are no fumes in the tank to explode. :)
 
Not obvious to me that there is an ignition hazard when using a CCD sensor with an LED light source powered by 3V battery.
 
Not obvious to me that there is an ignition hazard when using a CCD sensor with an LED light source powered by 3V battery.

Even so, just need “some” fuel in the tank to prevent fuel/air ratio from becoming explosive. An empty tank, with only wetted surfaces, is explosion hazard. Automobiles have electric fuel pump submerged in fuel tank.
 
On the legacy -12, considering the baffles in the tank is it even possible to snake a bore cam through the filler neck to see the strainer?
 
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