What is inside a Fuel Filter?

[DrSebWilkes]

Are you curious to find out?

I know I was after changing it last weekend. Actually, is it just me or is it a TOTAL PHAFF? Seriously took me 4 hours to replace it; and it was the putting on that took the darn time!

Anyway, I got my DT teacher to slice the 13 year old one in half to have a look at. Surprisingly simple but also quite cool. The short (1 minute) video is below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXu-aiL8GK0

[andypryce]

Interesting, thanks Seb!

[J44EAG]

Identical technology also in oil filters which trend at generally filtering out contaminate larger than 18-25 microns. A human hair generally measures at around 100 microns in cross section. So as you can deduce, the filter media exposed does its job pretty well. The only thing that really kills them is when fuel or oil has a water content. The media can become water sodden and expand to totally fill the filter canister. Its filtration capability then plummets. The filter Seb had cut open displays age, severe water and other contamination issues. I`d be using an electric (isolated and sealed external pump) pump and a length of tube, put right to the bottom of the tank to extract any possible water that has accumulated. I believe the XJS also has a swirl pot in the fuel system so that would be worth investigation to ensure it is internally clean. Others will be better able to advise on this.

Use of a dry fuel additive in the fuel tank helps the issue. It won`t mop up huge quantities of water, merely the odd blob or two of water that might be down to tank condensation issues. Adding a fuel dryer additive to the tank once a year is good maintenance procedure and helps protect components from corrosion.

Mike K

[DrSebWilkes]

...

Oh right! Charming lol ...

To be honest I was thinking perhaps removing the fuel tank one day and giving it a clean somehow but I'm not sure how. The 4.0 doesn't have a swirlpot but I believe the 3.6 shares one with the HE V12

I was thinking of trying something I must admit, even to just get rid of crappy old fuel really. I saw in halfords an attachment to put on a drill that acts a pump. Maybe worth investigating?

[PaulGover]

I'd rate a drill-powered pump on petrol very dangerous.

The ones I've seen are made of plastic, and probably dissolve in petrol; a spray of petrol from a leaking gland plus sparks from the drill's brushes makes for a rapid trip to hospital.

I'd say either take it to a garage with the proper equipment (whatever that is) or uncouple a joint and let gravity do the work. Still taking all those precautions the handbook tells you. We tend to forget how dangerous loose petrol is; familiarity breeds contempt, and all that.

[DrSebWilkes]

I'd rate a drill-powered pump on petrol very dangerous.

The ones I've seen are made of plastic, and probably dissolve in petrol; a spray of petrol from a leaking gland plus sparks from the drill's brushes makes for a rapid trip to hospital.

I'd say either take it to a garage with the proper equipment (whatever that is) or uncouple a joint and let gravity do the work. Still taking all those precautions the handbook tells you. We tend to forget how dangerous loose petrol is; familiarity breeds contempt, and all that.

Well when you put it like that ... yeah ... seems a bit obvious now *eek*

Hmm well sadly I'm off back to the grind, however important, that is A-level studies so I'll have to once again leave it sadly but when I get back probably is a task worth doing is overhauling the fuel tank, certainly.

I'm guessing taking the entire system out would be a good start on that, right? Should be fairly DIY-doable after that?

[steve_m]

The drill powered pump that I purchased specifically said; do not use on volatile liquids.
Obviously leaving it up to the consumer to decide what a volatile liquid is.
I remember my dearly departed Dad telling me a tale from when he was a kid in World War 2; he was living in Gloucester at the time but on the run up to The Normandy Invasion there were, apparently, a couple or three American troops 'visiting' the UK.
One American GI (General Infantry for the youngsters amongst us) was showing off a bit and shoved a lit cigarette down the fuel filler pipe of an Army truck and extinguished it.
Of course, boys will be boys, and one kid tried it when no one was looking and, unfortunately, was a bit hesitant.
In nearly 3 score years of life, and over 2 score years at sea, I have never seen anybody disprove the Fire Triangle.
Anyway, The Normandy Invasion happened with one truck missing.