A new gadget for fuel sampling

[Rick Junkin]

Sometimes I just can’t help myself - I see a product that I really don’t need but I like the design/engineering that went into it and I make a contribution to the designer/engineer by buying their product. Such is the case with this fuel sampler available at Sporty’s. Actually they’re now out of stock until 7/20/23 but I got mine last week. My airplane is in the avionics shop for another ??? weeks so I haven’t had a chance to try it out but it looks pretty good. The business end parts are 3D printed, including the flexible splash guard, and appear very well designed. 

https://www.sportys.com/no-splash-fuel-tester.html

Sporty’s puts these kinds of small business products in their shop, usually created by some young aspiring pilot, and I think that’s cool. Another example was the first 3D printed cockpit holder for the Bose A20 control module. Anyway, wanted to share so my fellow gadget geeks could take a look.

Cheers,
Rick

UPDATE: I played with this thing for a bit and discovered that it does NOT filter water like a GATS jar. It has a stainless screen that will catch solid contaminants, which is stated in the product description. I made the mental leap that it had the same filter medium - not so. 

Also, I'll need to be very careful to slowly pour the fuel back into the tank when using the filter and spout. The drain/filter outlet is on the side of the black cap directly behind the pour spout, which means if you pour too quickly the fuel will flow past the spout opening, out the top and onto your wing. I think the only time I'll use the spout is if I observe any contaminants I want to filter out, otherwise I'll turn it around and pour the fuel out through the top without using the spout.

Great Idea, still needs some work.

Cheers,
Rick

[Greg Ellis]

Interesting.  They kind of modified the Gats Jar( GATS FUEL TESTER JAR 12OZ | Aircraft Spruce ) and made it a little smaller and splash resistant.  Same idea of the mesh filter to filter contaminants and water just in a different design.  Nice.

[Rick Junkin]

UPDATE: I played with this thing for a bit and discovered that it does NOT filter water like a GATS jar. It has a stainless screen that will catch solid contaminants, which is stated in the product description. I made the mental leap that it had the same filter medium - not so. 

Also, I'll need to be very careful to slowly pour the fuel back into the tank when using the filter and spout. The drain/filter outlet is on the side of the black cap directly behind the pour spout, which means if you pour too quickly the fuel will flow past the spout opening, out the top and onto your wing. I think the only time I'll use the spout is if I observe any contaminants I want to filter out, otherwise I'll turn it around and pour the fuel out through the top without using the spout.

Great Idea, still needs some work.

Cheers,
Rick

[Greg Ellis]

Thanks for the PIREP.  When they explained in the Sporty's ad that it filtered contaminants, I assumed they also meant water since water in the fuel, in my humble opinion, is a contaminant.  Oh well...  I'll stick to my Gats jar.  

[GeeBee]

4 ounces is not enough fuel out of a sump IMHO.

[Rick Junkin]

3 minutes ago, GeeBee said:

4 ounces is not enough fuel out of a sump IMHO.

Well don’t leave us hanging, what IS your humble opinion of enough fuel to sump?!! 

[GeeBee]

At least 8 preferably 12. You need a strong and lengthy stream to clear the sump, IOW creating a current in the tank around the valve to suck in contaminants and clear the valve O-rings of debris. Most sump O-rings wear and fail because they get crud under them from in-adequate flushing.

[Joshua Blackh4t]

But if you don't get fuel spashed on your hands, how do you clean the oil off your fingers that got there from checking the oil?