When well mixed with the fuel, water does not create a problem.  It is only when the water separates out and displaces the fuel that there is a problem.  With the high flow fuel systems we have (unless you are using a returnless system), there is no need to drain the fuel on preflight.  Any accumulated water will get sent back to the tank and mixed with the fuel.

I never drain my fuel.  I even took out the drain plugs.

JMHO,
Dave Leonard
 


 

Fine, but what kind of filters are you using and where are they in the system?  Gascolator is NOT a suitable substitute for a filter.
I have a "flat bottomed" sump on my Velocity, and water DOES accumulate in it.  My fuel line to the pumps is cheated up off the bottom of the tank half an inch and there's a test drain in the bottom of the sump to check for water.  One of these days I'm going to make a little "blister" in the bottom of the sump where water will accumulate so I can get it ALL out without removing the sump and shaking it for twenty minutes.
It all counts, and some of it counts /against /us ... Jim S.

Paul wrote:

   

Hi, Wendell....I use the gascolator for a couple of reasons. I cannot check my aluminum sump tank.  It is sealed. Since the EFI pumps are located lower than the sump tank, it would be more logical to check for water at the lowest point in the fuel system.  The fuel goes from the sump tank to the gascolator, which is the lowest point in the fuel system. I like the gascolator because it has a screen to catch debris that might have found it's way to the EFI pumps, and the gascolator has a fuel drain on the bottom of it so that I can check for water at the lowest point in the system.  I don't think the sump would catch the water, as the outlet from the sump is on the bottom of the sump, and water should go right on through the sump tank to the gascolator and EFI pumps, which are the lowest point in the fuel system. I thought this was the best way to design a gravity fed fuel system....everything downhill and a fuel drain at the lowest point.  Please correct me if I am in error.  Paul looking for a Cessna Conner    ----- Original Message -----
   *From:* Wendell Voto <mailto:jwvoto@itlnet.net>
   *To:* Rotary motors in aircraft <mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
   *Sent:* Thursday, February 17, 2005 10:59 AM
   *Subject:* [FlyRotary] Re: Vapor Lock

   Paul,
   Why use a gasolator if you have a sump tank with the outlet a
   couple inches off the bottom of the sump? Won't the sump tank
   catch the water and a strainer stop the big stuff. The sump is
   checked before each flight and a gasolator isn't. Go straight to
   the FP then thru a fuel filter and then the fuel rail. Eliminates
   the restriction, weight and connections to leak. I am beginning to
   lean towards in-tank pumps with built in strainer since all this
   has come to light.
   Wendell

       Hi, Kelly....the efi pumps are the last item before the fuel
       rail and fuel pressure regulator. Here is the basic system...        The fuel in the main tanks goes downhill to the fuel selector.
       Fuel then goes downhill again through the Facet pump into the
       top of the sump tank. Fuel then comes out of the bottom of the
       sump tank through the gascolator into the EFI pump(s), then to
       the fuel rail with fuel pressure regulator attached, then that
       returned fuel goes back into the top of the sump tank.  That
       is the complete system. Take care. Paul Conner

                        
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