wirejock
Well Known Member
Just noticed a new advertiser with a neat product.
Any PIREPS on the new gascolator?
http://www.aerolab.it/accessories/
Any PIREPS on the new gascolator?
http://www.aerolab.it/accessories/
I searched "gascolator" here and found several good arguments why a gascolator is not needed or useful in an rv. Basically the lowest point in the fuel system is the drains in the wings. I am installing a fuel injected engine and Van's doesn't even include one in their firewall fwd kit since the boost pump has a huge and very fine filter to install before the pump. Even with a carb engine, you could probably do just as well with a good filter.
I would certainly like to replace the inline filter with a gascolator that can be checked during pre-flight.
There is no opportunity to fit this in the -14 tunnel with a firewall forward the only real option.
Has anyone installed one on the firewall and is there a bracket available to do so.
Obviously the cowl would need an access hole just big enough for a drain check.
Thanks
The Aerolab gascolator/fuel filter system is designed to perform several functions. There seems to be several misleading opinions in this thread that need to be discussed:
1) It is primarily a fuel filter. No question about it. The 75 mesh pleated stainless filter provides good filtration and a generous surface area to do it. 75 mesh gives about a 0.008" opening for a particle to pass, or about 194 microns. Pretty small.
2) it provides a gascolator function regardless of whether it is mounted at the lowest point on the aircraft, or on top of the vertical fin. The amount of water that it is capable of holding in its bowl is about 150ml or about 5 ounces (estimated). It will hold this water until you drain the sump, or fly inverted... just like every other gascolator.
3) the integral fuel sump allows for easy removal any water that accumulates in the bowl.
Given that it is serviceable without getting a drop of fuel inside your airplane, we feel that it has a great combination of attributes.
I hope this helps clear up any misleading comments made about these units.
I would certainly like to replace the inline filter with a gascolator that can be checked during pre-flight.
There is no opportunity to fit this in the -14 tunnel with a firewall forward the only real option.
Has anyone installed one on the firewall and is there a bracket available to do so.
Obviously the cowl would need an access hole just big enough for a drain check.
Thanks
Very interesting product. I am planning my fuel system and thought of getting by with just an inline filter upstream of the boost pump. This gascolator looks to be an intersting alternative. I have two reservations, however. One is that I am not sure if this gascolator would be an adequate replacement for a filter. I understand it is recommended to have a filter with around 60 micron filtration rating for a fuel injected engine and this gascolator appears to have has a courser filter than that. Second, it’s a new product/design and I was wondering about possible failure modes. Are there any more pireps?
One well known fuel filtration unit has the following specs, taken from their website:
This a maintainable filter incorporating a 125 micron pleated stainless steel filter element...
Update 12-10-17: Interestingly, I received an email from the manufacturer yesterday. I was incorrect in the previously posted filter pore size (which I edited to be correct in those posts).
The Aerolab filtering gascolator has a 50 micron filter pore size, which converts to 0.002" size.
Interesting, you might get them to check their website which says it is a 50 mesh screen - which converts to 297 micron!
The only thing I am not really happy with is the plunger fuel cut off (the red button) which also serves to lock and retain the gascolator cap/filter, whilst it is all very well made, accurate and clicks into place nicely it is quite a small indent and groove that retains it in place. If for any remote reason it pops out there will be no fuel... I am thinking about removing the plunger as the gascolator (my installation) is after the fuel selector anyway.
Hi all,
I would like to install the Aerolab Gascolator in my new build RV9. Does anyone have pictures of an install in a RV7 or RV9?
I plan an injected engine, so would not use the standrad filter, and place this between the selector and pump.
Thoughts?
I have been waiting several months now for the gascolators to become available again. My last communication with the distributor is that they had to return the last batch for O ring replacement.