The position of the water drain points is such that they are at the lowest
point of the
tank and most definately do gather water from the tank. The gascolator is
there to act as a filter and also catch the last bits of water that may not
have been drained.
The reason for putting the gascolator at the lowest point is that the
regulations state that the gascolator should be placed at the lowest point
of the fuel system! Actually it's so that any water that is in the pipes
will traverse to the lowest point under gravity.
As to having drains as well as gascolator - ever pre flighted an aircraft
and discovered that you have a litre of water in there? If you are unlucky
you have enough fuel in the lines to get to takeoff before the big cooling
fan at the front stops due to the fact that internal combustion engines
don't run too well on water. Happened to a friend of mine who ommitted (one
time!) to drain the tanks on a C172.
Tony
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa@aztec.houxou.com
Subject: Re: An afterthought - fuel
>...
> Now, am I right that nearly all this water is the result of
> condensation (mostly tankside) somewhere along the way (we cache fuel in
> the North and used to use felt hat crowns to filter it from the
> barrels). If that's so, then nearly all the water settles when the a/c
> is stored (ie: tail up on the trailer. If THAT is so, then the
> gascolator may be sited for its lowest point WHEN fuselage is horizontal
> (stored or flying).
I am not sure about this "lowest point" requirement. Condensed water will
collect on the bottom of the fuel tank, but since we can't put a gascolator
there, the water will not be captured until it flows though the lines to
where ever the gascolator is. Why does it matter that the gascolator is at
the lowest point in the system? The fuel will flow through it and it will
capture the water even if it is put up high.
By the way, do people recommend putting in both the gascolator and the fuel
drain kit? I don't see a need for the fuel drain kit, unless so much water
can collect in the tank that the gascolator could be overwelmed.
Brian
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