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Fuel filter material vs. gas / alcohol blend? #204939
01/26/09 03:50 PM
01/26/09 03:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
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BradH Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Val-haul-ass... eventually
I've been running a Fram GPH-1 fuel filter before my Mallory 140 pump and have decided to upgrade the filter because its 90 GPH rating appears too restrictive compared to the pump's 120 GPH @ 6 psi. However, in addition to looking for a "bigger" filter, I'm also seeing warnings that the typical paper & cellulose filter media aren't recommended for use w/ alcohol. Since all the local pump gas in my area has been converted to a 10% ethanol blend, I'm thinking I need to switch to a metal screen-type filter element, too.

Also, how small a particle does a filter need to extract for an electric pump to operate w/o problems? Most of the metal screens are rated at 100 microns, although a few capture as small as 40. Mallory's own filters use a paper element that's rated at 40 microns, so I'm thinking I should use something at least as efficient as the pump manufacturer's own filters. However, the selection of filter size & flow ratings is much better for the 100-micron filters.

Am I being paranoid, or are these legit concerns?

Re: Fuel filter material vs. gas / alcohol blend? [Re: BradH] #204940
01/26/09 06:07 PM
01/26/09 06:07 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY Offline
Master
MR_P_BODY  Offline
Master

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
I use the metal screen type in prior to my pumps
and they are rated 100, never had a problem with
something getting past that and hurting the pumps.
The alcohol that they are talking is methonal, the
10-15% alky fuel you are getting on the street is
ethonal, it wont cause you any issues other than you
will burn a little more fuel based on the % of ethonal.

Re: Fuel filter material vs. gas / alcohol blend? [Re: BradH] #204941
01/26/09 10:17 PM
01/26/09 10:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,917
NC
440Jim Offline
I Live Here
440Jim  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,917
NC
I have had the Fram HPG-1 filter in my Dart ever since I put it together (2001?). I ran all 2008 on E85 and I have checked it a couple times and it still looks great.

The HPG-1 is rated 90 gal/hr, but that is at 0.5 psi pressure drop. At free flow, my pump may do 140 gal/hr, but under pressure (6-7 psi) my engine at 700 hp or so only pulls 50-60 gal/hr on gas. So the pressure drop is tiny, IMO.

Don't worry about it. Check it now, and replace it every few years if you see anything. I don't think you will.


1993 Daytona, 5.50 at 130mph (1/8) 1.19 sixty ft (PG). Link to 572 B1 - Part 1
Re: Fuel filter material vs. gas / alcohol blend? [Re: 440Jim] #204942
01/27/09 03:11 PM
01/27/09 03:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
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BradH Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
BradH  Offline OP
Taking time off to work on my car
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,439
Val-haul-ass... eventually
I'm glad to hear the E85 didn't cause any harm to the Fram's filter element. That was definitely one of my concerns.

Re: the Fram's flow capability, Mallory claims the 140 pump flows 140 w/ zero restriction, but pushes 120 gph at 6 psi. That still makes it sound like (on paper, at least) the Fram filter is lagging behind the pump's capacity by a good bit. I don't have a mechanical fuel pressure gauge to see if the pressure is dropping anywhere down track which could indicate the filter being a restriction, though.

I've also been reading how an electric pump's pre-filter media shouldn't be made of paper or cellulose, because they can shred / decompose and cause the pump to clog up. That's why I was leaning towards switching to a screen-type media along w/ a filter w/ a higher flow rating. However, when I replaced the Fram's element before putting the Challenger back on the road last year, I did not see anything that indicated I was experiencing that sort of problem w/ my fuel system.







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