oil getting into the fuel?

[astaib]

I will tell you, in case I will rework the cover

[Steve]

Ahhhhh... I see now that you have a 2001 model! Apparently things have changed a bit since then... Still, since it IS the lowest point in the fuel system, you need to be able to sump it before every flight, so Diamond should have designed it so that you have easy access.

I have a 2001 (S/N 23 later than Arnaud's), and I have no problem sumping the gascolator. The panel on my aircraft is aluminum, like others, so maybe Arnaud's is different?

Steve

[astaib]

I will make a picture and send it to you guys.

[ahmebane]

The shop is telling me that its not oil, but a microbial growth. (Yeah, the plane is not being flown enough...) They are recommending adding Prist next time the plane is refueled to kill the growth. In my research on Prist, it does look like its OK to use with avgas. While Prist is primarily anti anti-icing additive for Jet-A, it does have anti-microbial properties as well.

[Steve]

An interesting reference:

https://www.skybrary.aero/index.php/Fuel_Contamination

Steve

[danno2000]

Is the gascolator as easy to access as the one of the wings on your plane?
Mine have a deflector that is blocking my little tool to drain.

Yes, my deflector is to the front of the gascolator sump. The design isn’t identical to the wing sumps but it’s very similar. I’ll take a pic next time I’m at the plane.

dan

[astaib]

As I was really surprised by this topic, I went quickly to inspect the belly of my plane and make some picture.
I confirm that I cannot access the drain of the gascolator.
I also noticed that I cannot push forward the cover plate.
I noticed that the cover is in aluminum painted and not in fiber as I wrote.

Strange.

[Steve]

Arnaud:

Your fairing is definitely different than mine:

The angle on the trailing edge of yours is more vertical than mine, which is more acute. Although the picture above is not optimum, you can see the angle, and the drain peeking out at the rear. Your fairing for the drain also appears to be a bit longer than mine, extending a few cm past the last rivet, while mine ends near the last rivet. I would suggest that you (or your mechanic) cut the fairing to match the angle on mine, which will allow you to access the drain.

Steve

[astaib]

Hi Steve. This is what I’m gonna do shortly.
Thanks.

[Steve]

Arnaud:

This one:

is for sale on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Diamond-DA40-1 ... Sw5eBcm7o6

Shows the angle a bit better. You could submit a low-ball offer on eBay and see if the seller would agree, then you could keep your original one as-is (although I don't know why you would want it that way). You would have to paint the one on eBay, though.

Steve