In-line fuel filter? Is it needed?
 

Apologies if this question should go in the Technical help section, but given that I'm in the middle of trying to prep my bike for the big trip (UK-Oz) I felt it might be more appropriate here.

I've just been reading through the Adventure Motorcycle Handbook (my bed time reading these days!!) and it mentioned that it might be worth thinking about an in-line fuel filter for riding in more dusty/sandy parts of the world.

To be honest I'd thought about Air filters and oil filters, but don't really know what an in-line filter is, where it goes or whether i need one?

Any advice, particularly from those in the more dusty/sandy parts of the world would be greatly appreciated....

thanks in advance

Hi there, i had this enquiry a year or 2 ago as well.
Inline fuel filters for fual will help alot especially in rural places where there is so much sand and dirt in the fuel it will clog up your fuel system fast.
I had a look at the fuel line of the bike, and there is no easy way to just cut a pipe and install a inline filter, you will have to extend one of the lines leading from the tank and then install inline filter.
GB

Hey there Bob - a fuel filter can/will protect you against dirt in the fuel (such as debris found in the bottom of a Jerry can for example) - but to be honest, unless you are filling up from a hut at the side of a remote trail, you are unlikely to need one. It won't protect from airborne dust etc, unless you're filling up in a sandstorm!

Also, the fuel injected XT has a fuel filter inside the tank that should stop the worst of it - most in-line filters are used on bikes with Carbs and a regular fuel tap.

As Gerhard suggests, you might have a problem cutting the fuel line of an fuel injected bike, as the fuel is pressurized from the pump - so you'd need to make sure the hose ends were secured to any filter with jubilee clips...

Personally I'd not bother - my bike has covered over 36,000 miles now, including a rally to Dakar (where we filled the tanks from oil drums) with no problems at all...

J xx

and how do we replace that filter that is in the tank if you suspect foul play from the guy at the hut....Is it in the manual?
GB

It's a bit of task that's for sure... I took the fuel pump out of my tank when I had it painted (the tank not the pump of course!) and there was no obvious filter assembly or anything that looked 'removable'... it is not even listed as a service item (like some other EFi bikes) so to be honest, it's a mystery?!

However, the dealer assured me that the pump 'must' contain some sort of filter... I wouldn't like to have to replace the whole pump mind you, that would be ���s I imagine!

J xx

and you trust yor dealer?
I would like to see that filter to belive it....

I am sure that you can not go wrong with an easily access able, and easy cleanable inline fuel filter.

Ask Kev...i'm sure he'll point you in the right direction.

The other option staying away from a in line fuel filter would be to have a filter and a funnel so you clean the fuel before it goes into the tank rather than clean it after its been through the fuel pump and is at pressure. It would mean having to carry around a funnel+filter. But then again the XTR/Tenere are design to run on lower grade fuels so a bit of dirt/sand isnt going to harm them really? is it?

I think i read somewhere that inline fuel filters are only ever used on carbed bikes as its mostly gravity feed to a pump, because if you put pressure on the fuel filter the dirt will at some point be pushed through and into your engine.

I agree with Maxwell. Don't just put any filter in there....

As far as filtering the fuel as you put it in, especially in Africa, Maxwell is right. Another consideration is a Shamois cloth/leather to filter the fuel while refueling. Wont take a lot off space either.

If you want to fit a inline filter it has to be a metal pressurized filter with a min of 3 bars pressure capability.

I would not recommend you to cut the fuel hose in half, I would buy a second hand fuel pipe off Ebay & fit a clip on type filter that is compatible with the XT660 hoses, it should not be to hard to find a 3 bar filter that will fit the hoses from your local Auto shop.

The best preventive is not to full the bike with dirty contaminated fuel, I have used one of these before & they work a treat.

http://www.proquip.com.au/ProductPages/Funnels/Mr%20Funnel.pdf

http://www.proquip.com.au/ProductPages/Funnels/MrFunnel.html

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Funnel-Fuel-Filter-F3C/dp/B000SOIRCG