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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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 Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 9:48 am Post subject: My fuel turns yellow then orange. |
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Below are photos of a glass fuel filter and a sediment bowl.
I used the glass filter for several years without problems. It has never leaked and I inspected it and changed the fuel lines regularly. The fuel in both the sediment bowl and the filter have always been clear. Recently I changed the element in the filter and since then the sediment bowl fuel remains clear and the fuel in the filter changes to yellow in a day or two and eventually turns orange.
I suspect that the replacement element was not of the same quality as the original and is dissolving and/or discoloring the fuel. I have removed the filter and replaced the fuel line without a filter.
I had an experience with bad fuel at a gas station in Mojave. Possibly their underground gas tank was partially filled with diesel. I discovered the bad fuel by swirling fuel from my filled tank in a glass jar. (aircraft preflight 101) I installed the sediment bowl thinking that it had a filter. When I found out the sediment bowl did not have a filter I installed the glass filter. I like the idea of being able to see fuel from the fuel pump to the carburetor.
What protection does my carburetor have, other than the sediment bowl, from fuel tank debris? Does my replacement Brazilian fuel pump have a inlet filter? Is there an inlet filter in my carburetor? Perhaps it is time to install a filter at/from the fuel tank.
Aloha
tp |
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pioneer1
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2008
Posts: 2069
Location: Ontario Canada
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 11:28 am Post subject: |
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take a sample from the tank.Examine it for discolor in a glass jar. Is the engine running okay?
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telford dorr
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Joined: March 11, 2009
Posts: 3555
Location: San Diego (Encinitas)
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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I suspect that color from the filter element itself is coloring the fuel (probably dissolved in the fuel alcohol [thank you, dumbassed government]). This will likely go away in a few hundred gallons. If it's just a tint (no particles), then it should likely do no harm.
You could install a standard aviation fuel sample tap somewhere under the bus, and check the fuel with a standard sample cup during "preflight"... The fuel sample won't be blue, however. (unless you're running 100LL)...
{What do they get for 100LL in Hawaii? Probably scary...]
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archemitis
Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2012
Posts: 229
Location: minneapolis mn
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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LOL 
Modern vehicles dont have a problem with this because you cant see through any hoses. |
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Desertbusman
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2005
Posts: 14655
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: My fuel turns yellow then orange. |
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| Tom Powell wrote: |
| What protection does my carburetor have, other than the sediment bowl, from fuel tank debris? |
It has the in tank filter screen at the outlet unless you have removed it. It wouldn't remove yellow or orange micro particles but it would remove hunkies. It depends on the size of your definition of debris.
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Lionhart94010
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2005
Posts: 1417
Location: SF Bay Area / Silicon Valley / So Cal
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| Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Tom Powell wrote: |
| I used the glass filter for several years without problems. It has never leaked and I inspected it and changed the fuel lines regularly. |
Just an FYI,
Apart from the fire risk of having any filter in the engine compartment near the distributor; the heavier glass filter is more likely to pull the brass fitting out of the carb, unless you have converted it to the threaded type or have it safety wired in…
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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:33 am Post subject: |
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| pioneer1 wrote: |
| take a sample from the tank.Examine it for discolor in a glass jar. Is the engine running okay? |
The fuel in the sediment bowl is clear. The engine runs well. The fuel in the glass filter is clear after the engine is shut down. The fuel in the glass filter turns yellow in a day or two and then orange in a few days. The fuel in the sediment bowl remains clear.
Aloha
tp |
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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:39 am Post subject: Re: My fuel turns yellow then orange. |
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| Desertbusman wrote: |
| Tom Powell wrote: |
| What protection does my carburetor have, other than the sediment bowl, from fuel tank debris? |
It has the in tank filter screen at the outlet unless you have removed it. It wouldn't remove yellow or orange micro particles but it would remove hunkies. It depends on the size of your definition of debris. |
My definition of debris is:
Anything that would cause problems with the carburetor.
I have not seen anything of significance in the sediment bowl or the glass filter.
Aloha
tp |
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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 9:43 am Post subject: |
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| Lionhart94010 wrote: |
| Tom Powell wrote: |
| I used the glass filter for several years without problems. It has never leaked and I inspected it and changed the fuel lines regularly. |
Just an FYI,
Apart from the fire risk of having any filter in the engine compartment near the distributor; the heavier glass filter is more likely to pull the brass fitting out of the carb, unless you have converted it to the threaded type or have it safety wired in… |
I have to agree with this. It has not been a problem in the past/yet. I have replaced the filter with a solid rubber line, but I would like to see the fuel from the pump to the carburetor.
Aloha
tp |
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Jody '71
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005
Posts: 2842
Location: Manassas VA
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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Tom, let me ask you this:
You mentioned buying fuel that may have had diesel in it. Was this at a local gas station? I assume you're on one of the islands out there. I would think you'd be able to fill your tank up with non-ethanol gas at a local marina.
If you're preconceived to eliminate the color of your fuel in the filters visible in the engine compartment, then drain everything out (tank inclusive), put new filter elements in and fill the tank up with non-ethanol gas. See what happens.
But the only filters you really need for an early Bay is the tank strainer, and a filter after that before the front firewall tin. Fuel filters inside the engine compartment as you are aware of is a topic here on Samba that is addressed often.
You can maintain the visible clear fuel filter inside the engine compartment if you want. That's up to you.
Hope this helps 
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Busdriver79
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2011
Posts: 1655
Location: The Peoples' Republic of "No" Jersey
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| Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Stop looking at the filters...when it starts to run crappy, clean or change them. |
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Tom Powell
Samba Member
Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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| Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Jody '71 wrote: |
| ... You mentioned buying fuel that may have had diesel in it. Was this at a local gas station? I assume you're on one of the islands out there. ... |
I keep my '69 camper in SoCal and use it for ski trips in the winter. On a trip North I stopped at a gas station in Mojave and filled the tank. I got about half a mile from the station and the engine started running poorly. Probably used up the good fuel in the carburetor bowl. After sitting for awhile the engine would start and run, but only at high RPM. Made it to a FLAPS parking lot and started fuel and ignition troubleshooting. Fuel pump and ignition were working OK and timing was correct, WTF. Then got the glass pee jar from the glove compartment and did some swirls with some of the fuel from the pump. (Aircraft Preflight 101) No water in the fuel, but the fuel separated into two distinct liquids, one clear and the other a bit yellow. Bought two 5 gallon and a one gallon gas can. Walked back to the station and saw a fuel delivery truck pumping fuel out of the under ground tank. The driver wouldn't say why he was removing fuel from the tank. Bought a gallon of premium fuel from another pump/tank and walked back to the camper. Two miles each way and both uphill and into a cold wind. Drained ten gallons of bad fuel from the camper and put in the good gallon. After getting the bad fuel out of the carburetor bowl the engine ran well. Went inside the FLAPS and told them my story. They said they had been getting many phone calls from people with poor running engines. Went back to the original gas station and they took the ten gallons of bad fuel and promised me a refund. Went to another station and filled the tank and continued North without incident. Total wasted time, 2+ hours.
This is why I installed a glass sediment bowl and want to see the fuel in a glass filter between the fuel pump and carburetor. But, I have a solid hose from pump to carburetor for safety. I am considering installing a filter attached to the sediment bowl, but haven't gotten into that project yet.
Aloha
tp |
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