Fuel pick-up screen?

[John T1594]

I have read several posts over the past few years about problems with a screen at the bottom of the fuel pick-up tube in fuel tanks - the litle devil that clogs at the worst time. Does Hunter still use such screens in their tanks, and if not when did they discontinue them? I have a 2000 H340 with no fuel problems (yet). I would like to avoid tearing into my fuel tank to remove such a screen as a preventive measure unless necessary. To anticipate some responses - yes, I do what I can to keep water out of the fuel, I filter it and add Biocide. I have a 10 micron primary and a 2 micron secondary fuel filter.

 

[Terry Cox]

John, I cannot speak for your model...

but on our 1991 P42 both fuel pickup tubes (main propulsion & Genset engines) do not have screens. I've pulled both in the past and checked.Terry

 

[Paul Akers]

Why make work?

Why make unnecessary work for yourself? If you take care of your fuel (as you do), then you should go years without worry. Check the job and just keep the necessary tools aboard in case it ever happens. (It's a quick fix). The percentage of people that run into this problem is very low. Remember (as the very first thing that my diesel instructor said), treat ALL fuel as suspect, and you will be fine.

 

[chuckwayne]

fuel pickup screens

Paul's points are good-clean fuel should be paramount, and you can have the fuel in your tank polished if you have any doubts. Check with Hunter about your pickup-I know they used them in some mid 90's boats, and later recommended to dealers that they remove the screens

 

[Don12364]

Diesel Bug

I have been the recipient of diesel bug twice in the last ten seasons.In each case it was from buying fuel from sources far away from my usual haunts. Both were reputable diesel outlets, one was in a large marina. Both sources had their tanks floating in the harbour and these had just been refilled by their fuel supplier - though I did not know this at the time. In both instances it took exactly 3 days for the water contaminated fuel I bought to clog the system solid, including the supply pipe from tank to filter.My point is that one cannot tell when dodgy fuel goes into your tank.

 

[Del Wiese]

easy to remove

I have an 89 Legend 37 and had screen clogging problems when I bought the boat 5 years ago. Removing the screen was easy (at least on my boat), the fuel pickup line from the top of the tank, I removed the screen and screwed the filler back in place. I installed a 2 micron filter and after several years, and multiple tank fillings, have had no further problems. I installed a vacuum guage on the fuel filter and when it approaches the red zone, I change the filter.