Registry of Ex Military Land Rovers
Land Rovers => Australian "Perentie " 110 & 6x6 Vehicles => Topic started by: Ford Blitz on April 30, 2016, 08:12:43 AM
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The fuel tanks of my RFSV has two water traps/fuel filters? near the tanks. Are these actually filters and how often should they be changed? I assume there is some sort of replacement element inside the metal canister?
Tom
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No, they are just Sedimenters. The fuel is fed in at an angle and swirls around the bowl, and is drawn out in the centre, the thinking being that any flakes of scale and droplets of water will be kept in the bowl. There is no element to clog, and no specific interval to drain them. Undo the plug on the bottom, and hopefully you will flush out bucketfuls of crud and water, or at worst lose about 250ml of fuel.
If yet another level of filtration is desirable, you can fit a standard Lucas/CV/Delphi fuel filter (same head bracket), with either a glass bowl (for visual inspection Example (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DELPHI-CAV-LUCAS-TYPE-AGGLOMERATOR-MARINE-AUTO-FUEL-FILTER-DIESEL-OR-PETROL-/190610866541)) or a steel bowl (for protection from flying gravel Example (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FFK2951-Single-CAV-Diesel-Fuel-Filter-w-Metal-Bowl-1-2in-UNF-Thread-HDF296-New-/380863395365)).
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thanks heaps :D
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Some photos.
Our local mechanic (Johnny from http://www.seriesworkshop.com.au ) provided photos of the sedimenter of 50-169 which was auctioned in late 2016. It now belongs to my son Steven.
I am tempted to think either the ADF buys filthy rusty second hand fuel from a third world hellhole OR the privatised fleet maintenance contractors could have been 'forgetting' to clean it during a major service. The amount of crud looks like over 50,000km' worth.
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Makes you wonder how the G Wagens will cope.
They're designed to run on a higher spec fuel (Euro5 I think) than is available here. Forget third world.
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I have access to a bio-fuel processor that I helped build with a friend. He is currently using the Biofuel in his MQ Patrol with no issues. (I have several hundreds of litres ready for use now but my RFSV is away being panel repairs due to a lady running into it so haven't used any yet)
I understand the 4BD1 in my RFSV will run fine on Bio, but I intend to put in some extra filters in-case any impurities get through the process and will also replace any rubber fuel hose with something more compatible with biofuel.
Would people recommend keeping the RFSV sedimenters and putting an extra filter inline after the sedimenter, or just swapping the sedimenter for a Lucas/CV/Delphi fuel filter. Also I would like to get filters with quick change elements so they are quick to change if they block up whilst on a run.
Initially (and maybe always) I will run Bio from just one of the two tanks and diesel from the other, I expect any fuel return lines will just go to the main tank which would keep the passenger tank for clean diesel.
Any thoughts comments would be appreciated
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Some photos.
Those filters certainly did their job - it is a wonder it functioned so well with all that crap and with the little gauze filter virtually blocked.
Have you attempted to flush or clean the tank?
KLR installed filters on the sedimenters on my RFSV.
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I have access to a bio-fuel processor.... I have several hundreds of litres ready for use.
One of the benefits of the Delphi/Ryco fuel filters are that replacement elements are only around $6ea. They are quick and easy to change, similar to a spin-on filter. Modern stock of the filter elements now have the replacement o-rings supplied made of Viton, instead of the butyl rubber used previously, so they will be Bio-compatible.
I'm not sure of the climate you have there, but Bio-Diesel has a higher melting point than Dino-Diesel and can begin to solidify as low as 4 degrees depending on the feedstock oil used. This means that the fuel begins to turn cloudy as partially solidified fuel floats in suspension, and can even become a waxy glug if cold enough. The issue with too many filters (ie: in place of the sedimenter plus the engine mounted one) is in cold weather is that the solidified matter can clog the filter, preventing even the liquified fuel from drawing the filter. The lift pump cannot draw enough vacuum to pull the fuel through the blocked filter. This can't happen in the sedimenter (unless well below zero temps completely solidfy the fuel), and the engine-mounted filter will receive enough radiant heat from the engine to re-melt the suspended solids to prevent a blockage. If you always intend to remain in the warmer parts of Aus where overnight temps don't drop much below 3 degwhile you're running Bio, then two filters is fine.
Hopefully your homebrew won't have any impurities to filter out! The typical solids found are bits of batter and crumb found in waste cooking oil. I really hope that your processes filter this out before your conversion process starts. The only other possible impurities come from improper batch quantities and are excesses of methanol or KOH, but these will be dissolved in the Bio and won't be removed by a filter.
That said, Bio can be a wonderful cleaner of the crud in your fuel system, and it is possible that the first 2 or 3 tankfuls will dislodge scale or gum/varnish from your fuel tanks and lines in a vehicle that has run on Dino-diesel for it's life. It is a good idea to have a spare filter or two on hand in that initial period to anticipate the crap that will fill your current filter. But once that first flush-out has occurred, you should have no need for more frequent filter changes than running on normal diesel.
The fuel change-over solenoid/motor changes over both the fuel supply AND return lines (as well as the electrical circuits to the senders/fuel gauge) , so any excess fuel will be returned to the tank it was drawn from.
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thanks 303gunner. we rarely get very low temperatures here, but that is why I will initially keep one tank on diesel, on cold days I can switch over to diesel 5km before home and wait till the motor is warm before returning to bio the next time used. I hadn't thought of the impact of cold bio on a filter so will look into it a bit more. I am not expecting any solids in the bio but expect sometimes the occasional solids might not sink out with the methanol/caustic. My current thought is to just swap the sedimenter for a Delphi/Ryco filter and carry spares.
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Some photos.
Our local mechanic (Johnny from http://www.seriesworkshop.com.au ) provided photos of the sedimenter of 50-169 which was auctioned in late 2016. It now belongs to my son Steven.
I am tempted to think either the ADF buys filthy rusty second hand fuel from a third world hellhole OR the privatised fleet maintenance contractors could have been 'forgetting' to clean it during a major service. The amount of crud looks like over 50,000km' worth.
That gunk is 'gladis', a diesel bug, and rust/paint from jerries.
As to why the sedimenter is full....the EMEI (G 109 & 209) state the sedimenter is to be checked/drained via the little bung each service.... In practice, this is bloody useless! Pulling the bung doesnt move the gunk. The centre bolt needs to be undone, and the sedimenter halves removed. Scrub all three sections (dont mix the o-rings as diff sizes). Re-fit. *note if tank is over 1/4, fuel will flow until sedimenter re-fitted/sealed.
The lift pump filter....half the tradies have nfi where its located, and the other half know its a biatch to R&R so dont touch it.
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What you have written Sixty is spot on, the only way to remove the debris is to take it apart, I generally do it with both tanks full, that way it sorta bleeds itself and with a few pumps on the lifter it is clear of any air, and I also agree that the filter under the lift pump is a sod of a thing, I have small fingers but it's still a sod, cheers Dennis :)
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I intend to put in some extra filters .... with quick change elements so they are quick to change if they block up whilst on a run.
There are filter heads available for spin-on filters that replace the Sedimenter and/or Delphi/Ryco filter head, but filter elements are 4 times the price of the Delphi/Ryco type. I guess that's the price of convenience.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FFK1221-Spin-On-Fuel-Filter-Water-Separator-Head-Kit-w-1-2-UNF-ports-Baldwin-/272475977709?hash=item3f70d577ed:g:aVUAAOSw1vlUr6Ky