Mark Castle-Smith
Member
We have been flying our RV7 for less than a year and have out around 30 hours on her. Our RV is a 'quick build' with the fuel tanks pre built.
On our last flight the fuel pressure started to drop. When we reduced manifold pressure the fuel pressure increased. After landing we looked at the fuel injection fuel filter (in the fuel distribution block on top of the engine (she is a FADEC engine). The fuel filter was full of what appeared to be a grey sediment. We cleaned out the filter and noticed after checking the fuel drains that mainly in the left tank there was a very fine sediment on the sides of the fuel 'checking bowl'.
We drained the left tank. Looking through the fuel filler hole you could see very fine grey sediment on the bottom of the tank (the same colour as the tank sealant. It was also very obvious that around each rivet in the fuel tank that the sealant had disappeared in a ring around the rivet.
I can only conclude that the fuel tank sealant is breaking down into fine particles and blocking the fuel filter.
Has anyone else either had this problem or heard of it happening to anyone else? Next port of call is Vans on Monday.
Many thanks
Mark
On our last flight the fuel pressure started to drop. When we reduced manifold pressure the fuel pressure increased. After landing we looked at the fuel injection fuel filter (in the fuel distribution block on top of the engine (she is a FADEC engine). The fuel filter was full of what appeared to be a grey sediment. We cleaned out the filter and noticed after checking the fuel drains that mainly in the left tank there was a very fine sediment on the sides of the fuel 'checking bowl'.
We drained the left tank. Looking through the fuel filler hole you could see very fine grey sediment on the bottom of the tank (the same colour as the tank sealant. It was also very obvious that around each rivet in the fuel tank that the sealant had disappeared in a ring around the rivet.
I can only conclude that the fuel tank sealant is breaking down into fine particles and blocking the fuel filter.
Has anyone else either had this problem or heard of it happening to anyone else? Next port of call is Vans on Monday.
Many thanks
Mark