Fuel Filters and Idiocy

[VoiceNinja]

Ok. I'm a smart guy. I'm mechanically inclined. I can change a FUEL FILTER, dagnabbit!

So, riddle me this. My 2008 Gulf Stream 40UL on a Freightliner XC Chassis has an MBE 906 engine.

There's no fuel shutoff valve prior to the frame-mounted, spin-on fuel filter and water separator (or after, for that matter). How do I stop 2 gallons of Diesel from pouring out of it while I frantically swap the water bowl to a new filter cartridge in a 60 second period?

This is hypothetical, of course. It's not like I just did this a couple of weeks ago and had to throw away the clothes that I was wearing because they were so covered in Diesel.

[joshuajim]

Vacuum cleaner suction on tank filler. Best to use a bypass vac. Don't do it on gas vehicles.

[Cliffy]

A really good mechanic could do it in half that time :-)

Any chance of sucking a slight vacuum on the tank neck with a small vacuum and a hole in the vacuum line so too much vacuum can't be pulled?
That might keep all the fuel in the tank next time.
Don't ask me how I had to go home once after changing a transfer valve on the wing tip aux tank on a Boeing 707 :-)

[Pigman1]

Do it with a just about empty fuel tank and drop the front end into a swale or a dry ditch. In a pinch you can also back the rear up a curb and fully extend the rear jacks on some 4x4 boosters placed under the jacks.

[VoiceNinja]

Cliffy, as a commercial pilot, I can only say, "Yikes!" At least it was jet fuel, not 100LL!

And, I'm feeling a bit better after reading your replies. Vacuum, low fuel, and some forward tilt next year...

Anyone know if I'd cause problems putting a shutoff valve in the line?

[Oldkarphart]

Originally Posted by VoiceNinja

Ok. I'm a smart guy. I'm mechanically inclined. I can change a FUEL FILTER, dagnabbit!

So, riddle me this. My 2008 Gulf Stream 40UL on a Freightliner XC Chassis has an MBE 906 engine.

There's no fuel shutoff valve prior to the frame-mounted, spin-on fuel filter and water separator (or after, for that matter). How do I stop 2 gallons of Diesel from pouring out of it while I frantically swap the water bowl to a new filter cartridge in a 60 second period?

This is hypothetical, of course. It's not like I just did this a couple of weeks ago and had to throw away the clothes that I was wearing because they were so covered in Diesel.

Just bite the bullet and next time, get some fittings and put a shut off valve for ease of R&R of the filter. I have them on mine (2 Filters).

[JNSNWT]

When you add the shut off valves be sure they are the "full port" or "full opening " style so you're not adding a restriction in the fuel flow.

Also a spare sediment bowl might not be a bad thing to have on hand...

[bigdog]

Originally Posted by VoiceNinja

Cliffy, as a commercial pilot, I can only say, "Yikes!" At least it was jet fuel, not 100LL!

And, I'm feeling a bit better after reading your replies. Vacuum, low fuel, and some forward tilt next year...

Anyone know if I'd cause problems putting a shutoff valve in the line?

How about as a boomer, doing an at altitude walk around on a KC-97G and finding JP-4 trickling out of one of the deck refueling tanks and dripping thru the floor next to the underwing heater. That baby got turned off in a hurry.

[chuckftboy]

I have done mine with a less than 1/2 tank of fuel and the rear jacks extended on 6" wood blocks without any issues but the vacuum idea sounds interesting. Might try that next time.

[Winepress]

Jack be nibble, Jack be quick!
Watched mine being changed, amazed at the speed of this task.

[Cliffy]

KC-97??? :-) :-) Learned to fly in the 60s while watching the CAlif ANG flying them out of KVNY. Amazing how many came back with 1 engine feathered. Also how many Honda 50 cc motor bikes came out of the deck after a Japan trip :-) :-)

[Fiesta48]

Just changed my primary fuel filter. 3/8 tank. Raised rear with jacks full extension. Let air out of suspension. No jacks down in front. Slight sloping driveway. Lost about a qt. Diesel stinks and gets on everything. Yeck. Use cardboard and lots of rags.

[Cat320]

On a previous coach with a Spartan chassis and everything within reach, I shut off the fuel on both sides of the filters by stuffing a #2 pencil down one line (perfect tight fit) and clamped the other line with a small set of vise grips...the fuel lines were rubber.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Never lost more than several ounces on mine. It's a spin-on filter. My genset fuel filter was a much larger problem, simply becauue it was hard to get at and required two wrenches on each of two connections.

I've heard people say they crimp a flex line with pliers or surgical clamp.