2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Artifacts in fuel tank

[jchapin]

Hi All,



While adding some FI cleaner in fuel tank this am, I noticed [too late to prevent] a dime-sized piece of the aluminum foil, that's used to seal top of dispenser, drop into the fuel tube and flush down into the tank. So now it sits somewhere in my fuel tank.



I'm pretty sure there's got to be some sort of screen in or before fuel tank to prevent artifacts like above from lodging in the line that feeds to fuel pump/filter, but todays incident brought up a couple questions:



1. ) How much junk (and what type of junk) is tolerable?



2. ) What kind of artifacts are intolerable (ie: sand, etc. . )?



3. ) What kind of preventive measures, and where, are built into the fuel delivery line (from fuel cap to fuel filter) for bonehead mistakes as above?



4. ) How to remove bad artifacts or clean a build up of many years of "tolerable" artifacts?



Sorry for all the questions, but I'm hoping I'm not the only dude who this happened to or is curious about... .



Thanks!

-Jack

 

[The patriot]

Fueltank archeology

I wouldnt want much in there myself. I know some stuff will inevitably will work it's way in there.

The only real way to get it out is to remove the tank.

Eric

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

There's a very fine screen at the bottom of the tank in front of the fuel pickup - it's pretty good-sized, and other than abundant algae growth, not easily clogged - it's also fine enough to provide excellent filtering - you have nothing to worry about...

 

[WestTN]

Just make sure you remove the foil completely from now on. If this had happened when adding engine oil, you could be losing your engine!

 

[John - K5AWO]

The engine oil supply tube should have a screen on it too. I have never seen a CTD opened up, but all the oil pumps I ever worked on in past decades had screens on the supply tube.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Not a WHOLE lot of danger in the crankcase - the oil pump screen should get the most of the bigger stuff, and the oil filter would get the rest - I think the above poster was referring to the potential danger some have voiced in pre-filling a new oil filter prior to installation, then random crud has a direct path into the oil galleries...

 

[jchapin]

Thanks for all the replies, guys.



Truck hasn't flipped over on it's back and expired yet, so I don't think it'll be a problem...



However, do take the time and get all that foil off if you can. I was in a hurry and learned my lesson well.



As far as artifacts getting into the crankcase from the oil-fill opening, doesn't that just fill into the overhead cam area and seep down through tiny holes? If so, if it's gonna raise hell with anything it'll be contained at the top.



And yes, it is a good idea to be carefull when filling new O/F... . that's unfiltered oil when first starting.



Cheers.