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MG TD TF 1500 - Fuel Filter Contents After 18,000 miles

Finally drained Lazarus' fuel tank and had a look at the in-tank fuel filter. Last time I saw the filter was when I cleaned the tank about 18,000 miles ago. You can see the small rust flakes that didn't make it into the fuel line. I opted not to coat the inside of the tank. I just don't let it get too empty and drive Lazarus at least once a month year 'round.

Next message shows the powdery rust that was captured by the filter in the fuel pump.


Bud Krueger

And, from the fuel pump screen:
Won't let me upload another image. Maybe I need to wait a bit and try again. Back shortly.
Bud Krueger

Try it again:



Bud Krueger

Bud - That is the sort of pictures that I sent to my clients, encouraging them to take preventative action with their tank. That sort of rust problem will only get worse and will ultimately clog the filter completely, which results in damage to the fuel pump. I had one client (a friend) who chose to ignore the situation. He was back in about a year with the pump I had restored for him, complaining that it had quit on him. Since we both had time, I took the pump, and him to the basement and opened the pump up. He was horrified to see the inside of his pump packed so full of those fine rust particles that it looked like an coffee holder espresso machine. He too care of the tank after that. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Hi Dave --- pump's still going strong after 13 years and 18,000 miles. Only service it's received is an annual swipe across the points with a burnishing strip. Too many horror stories of imperfect tank coatings clogging the system led me to decide not to coat the tank. Maybe I'll open up the pump this winter and see how it looks inside. It needs a coat of paint anyway. The fine particles at the second filter remind me of Sanka. Bud.
Bud Krueger

I too, may have some rust in my fuel tank and may want to tend to this thru the winter. What's the process for eliminating existing rust and protecting against future rust in the tank? Thanks.
Phil Atrill

I restored and epoxy lined the inside of my TD fuel tank this spring. The work was completed without damaging the exterior paint on the tank. By using an epoxy product and careful surface preparation I am hopeful the finish will not deteriorate over time. Look in the archives for the following thread:

Gas tank sealing products

or contact me via e-mail and I will send you the information.

Good luck!

Larry
Larry Shoer

Phil,
The best method that I know of is to use a gas tank sealer on the inside.
>remove the tank
>when dry, shake the tank with nuts and bolts inside to loosen any rust
>pour in sealer, and move tank around to seal all inside walls

It works quite well,,, Also, installing an in line filter at the outlet of the tank is a good safety measure.
SPW
Steve Wincze

Larry, we must hqave been typing at the same time!!
Steve Wincze

Bud: Is that fuel tank filter inside the tank attached to the fuel line that goes to the carbs? Other words, I unscrew the brass nut that attaches to the bottom of the gas tank, and I will find the filter?
Thanks, Louis
L.M. Levin

Bud - "The fine particles at the second filter remind me of Sanka." That's the stuff and it passes right through the filters.

"Too many horror stories of imperfect tank coatings clogging the system led me to decide not to coat the tank." I had 25 year old aircraft slushing compound in the tank of our TD start dissolving in today's fuel and it glued the needle valves in the carburetor float bowls and the check valves in the fuel pump shut. I had to have the tank dip stripped to get all of the compound out, which of course removed all of the paint. The stripper treated the tank with a zinc phosphate treatment, which supposedly will keep the interior of the tank from rusting and won't slough off like coatings will. You may want to check around and see if that treatment can be done without harming the paint on the tank. The main thing is to get the interior of the tank treated to stop the rust, which left untreated will just continue to get worse, clog the rest of the fuel system and eventually go though the walls of the tank. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Folks,
If you are having problems with FINE particles, you need to have proper FILTER(S) in your system. Those bronze screens in the tank, the fuel pump0 & carb. bowls are more properly called STRAINERS!! They're only good for catching the coarse stuff.

BTW, we complain that the ethanol being added to today's fuels is raising hell with the tank coatings, but it's also the same stuff we used to buy separately and add to the tank to clear the water out of the fuel. It kept us from having quite so much trouble from frozen fuel lines and carburettor icing in winter!(In the US, one brand was sold as "DriGas", or something similar) You win some, and lose some!
Carl

Louis, the in-tank filter is attached to the fuel line fitting.

The gauze mesh of the filter in the fuel pump seems to be fine enough to keep the fine particles on the tank side of the pump.
Bud Krueger

This thread was discussed between 20/10/2008 and 22/10/2008

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.