inline fuel filter

[bobnoffs]

i have a 10 micron filter just before my engine and a coarse finger strainer in my sump.
after building my tank i am sure there are going to be pieces of aluminum between flanges and tank wall etc. that i will never get out. i am sure pieces will go thru my finger strainer. i want to put an inline filter 100 microns between my sump and my pumps. at first i thought i should use a $130 aeromotive filter that has 60 inches of pleated stainless steel filter. after thinking about it i am wondering about a $40 filter that probably uses [ i don't know for sure] a filter disc, 1 inch diameter like in a gascolator. i am looking at the cheaper filter as i will probably ground the engine 10-20 hrs before i ever fly. a couple filter checks in that period should catch most of the pieces and give me an indication of what to expect in the future.
opinions?

[rv7charlie]

Disregarding the fineness of the filter element, ponder how much (little) it would take to block that overall filter area. Then ponder the pressure drop (as in vapor lock) if that filter area is even partially blocked. Not just now, but at any time in the future.

Not saying to spend $140 on a filter; just consider the type of product.

[airguy]

I've got Summit Racing inline filters between my sump and pump, and yes there is a surprising amount of "stuff" that gets dumped out of them on each annual. Most of it appears to be just atmospheric dust with an occasional piece of insect and the odd small aluminum shaving.

[bill v]

I have been thinking about adding two in line filters after the tanks but before the fuel selector is this a common place? and if people have this do you run the tank empty before taking the filter out to clean?

[Carl Froehlich]

No matter what fuel filter set up you use, you should flush the tanks.

Take the tanks off the wings, cap off the fuel line connections, add a few inches of 1/4? tubing to the vent attachment, then add 5 - 10 galllons of 100LL. Slosh the fuel around and drain via the sump fitting using a 1/8? pipe nipple, some plastic tubing and a cheap see through inline filter. Drain to clean gas jugs. Use the filtered gas to repeat until satisfied the fuel is running clean.

With the tanks off you can now let 5-10 gallons of gas sit in them (tank vented) for a couple of weeks to find out if you have any weeping rivets. Rotate the tank on the bench in various positions to check all rivets. Weeping rivets will not be found doing standard tank leak checks.

Carl

[rapid_ascent]

I bought some of the Floweze 3000 series filters for both pre-pump and post pump filters. Do a search, they were recommended by others here on the site. They end up being about $90/each. They are available with alcohol safe prints too. You can buy them direct from Floweze and they are a little cheaper than the aeromotive filters. Still not cheap though.

[DennisRhodes]

I also have the Summit Inline racing filters , one on each before the selector valve. They are mounted forward of the spar behind the cover plate. Have found brown/ tan textile material in both at different times. I'm assuming its accumulation of filter element lint found in the 100LL pump distribution systems. I have seen Lo alarm( 1 PSI) on the fuel press. Was on one side and the boost pump restored it. Since then has been annual thing to just replace the thimble ceramic element. 0 320 D2J (carb)

[snopercod]

Originally Posted by bobnoffs

i have a 10 micron filter just before my engine..

I'm not familiar with RV-12 engines but, just offhand, that seems like overkill to me. The purpose of that filter is to keep particles from clogging up fine passages in your carburetor(?) and I really doubt that any passages are as small as .00039". I would recommend "defense in depth". On my Lancair, I have the usual finger strainers in the tanks to catch the big chunks, a clear WIX automotive paper fuel filter between my wing tanks and header tank (the engine runs off the header tank), a brass screen in my gascolator, a finer screen in my Facet boost pump, and a really fine finger screen at the carburetor inlet. After the initial flight test period, I never see any debris in any of them during annual inspections. You can also install a temporary filter for the initial flight testing to catch the inevitable "junk".

[RV7 To Go]

Originally Posted by airguy

I've got Summit Racing inline filters between my sump and pump, and yes there is a surprising amount of "stuff" that gets dumped out of them on each annual. Most of it appears to be just atmospheric dust with an occasional piece of insect and the odd small aluminum shaving.

+1.

I also have a 10 micron filter after the gascolator to keep really fine stuff out of the Rotec TBI. So far after 90 hrs and 2 inspection haven't found anything in it and always have steady fuel pressures and flows.

Al

[bobnoffs]

sorry, didn't mention this is for a viking engine with e.f.i.