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Above is photo of screen from my gascolator after 20 hours of engine operation. I don't know if this is the cause of my engine power loss but I believe it qualifies as a "smoking gun." (That story was recounted in thread "Two Fuel Problems.") The accumulation is directly in front of the outlet to the engine-driven fuel pump. No other anomalies were found in a thorough inspection of fuel and electrical systems, including extensive ground running.
The spot seen on the screen consisted mostly of very short, very fine fibers, which appeared to be synthetic inasmuch as they were multi-colored. When examined under microscope, they were *exactly* like the fibers Pete found in his screen after over 100 hours and no power loss. (His posting has a much closer-up image.)
Every ounce of fuel used in this A/C has been run thru a Mr. Funnel. I was, frankly, surprised when I opened the gascolator to see how little filter surface there is with this "donut"-style screen, as compared to the woven brass cylinder screen with which I am familiar.
What is most peculiar is that the accumulation of "lint" was quite thick, 1/8" at the crown of the little hemisphere. It clung quite tightly and required a thumbnail to remove. And...there was no debris anywhere else in the screen. I will leave it to the hydraulic engineers among you to provide the answer, but my guess is that the design of this gascolator results in a direct pull in the immediate vicinity of the outlet port. If you have been inside the unit, you've seen the screen sits on a little ledge maybe 3/16" above the port.
I don't wish to start a controversy because there are perhaps thousands of planes flying--trouble-free-- with this gascolator...and this may have had nothing to do with my power loss on takeoff. But I will be inspecting that screen often, between oil changes, at least until I see a cessation of lint accumulation. (Shoot, I need the safety-wiring practice anyway.) Anybody got an easy retrofit of a conventional gascolator for the 12?
YMMV
Jim in South Texas
#120264
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