1200GS okay with dirty fuel??
 

The 1200GS doesnot have a proper fuel filter, rather a pick-up screen inside the tank. Has anyone travelling through third world countries where clean gas is sometimes not available had any fuel problems, namely clogged fuel injectors? Please, no speculation. I'm researching this and looking for facts. If anyone has had this problem and has rigged a fuel filter onto the 1200GS, please contribute.
Thanx :)

Hi,

I don't have fuel problems because I use this
http://f650ridetheworld.com/Reports/MrFunnel.htm

Firstly I fill up my 5lt jerry can, then I put the fuel it into my tank using the funnel, it even sperates water and dirt from the mixture.

A Quick Simple Cheap preventative method, I'd rather fix the problem before it starts.

????

I though R12s had a fuel filter after the pump .. same as the R11, K11, K100, K12 .... except the fuel filter was not a service item on the R12s due to the CANBuss system not running the fuel pump flat chat all the time ..

And yes the R11, K11, K100, K12 have a 'pick-up screen' .. it is located on the fuel pump.

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As for the 'dirty fuel' issue .. my experience here is that water is the filter blocker .. if you get water in the fuel that will get into the paper fuel filter and bolck it up .. There needs to be a lot of dirt to do the same .. water swells the paper making it worse. I'd be carrying a spare .. no matter what bm says.

i just screen it and never had any problems, and replace my fuel filters regularly

I rode cape town to cairo on a 12gs 04 model.
Had no problem with fuel clogging and my mechanic told me the the design of whatever filter system is in the tank wont let it clog.

However, in Israel a bad knocking noise came in the engine and I lost power. I thought it was going to blow but it didnt and limped home. Turned out one of the rings had gone and the BMW mechanic reckoned it was because it was becasue of the poor quality ( as in low octane) fuel along the way.
You might want to keep and eye on that

Thanx for the input everyone. I do find it hsrd to believe that the 1200GS does not have a serviceable filter outside of the tank, but it{s true. I was planning on placing a filter on the return side of the pump, but in the end it might just be counter-productive?? I guess we just need to flush out tanks once and a while, eh?

Mr Ron,

Did you check out the Mr. Funnel site? as it also seperates water from your fuel.

Hey dude, sorry, i wasn´t ignoring you. The funnel does seem like the answer, but i feel it isn´t very packable. I would have to give up the space occupied by my twin-walled stainless steel coffee cup, not a chance! I suppose you could place it inside a bag of some sort and hang it off the back of the bike? Where do you carry yours?

Ski, could you please elaborate. What filter are you replacing on the 1200GS? Are you replacing the pick-up inside of the tank? My 2005 1200GS does not have a filter of any sort outside of the tank, and BMW confirmed this. Are there other years with external fuel filters? I believe the 1150 has an external fuel filter, right?

Err don't put it on the return side .. if it bolcks the pressure would rise over the entire system to 90 psi ... put it on teh outlet side of teh pump before the injectors/pressure limit valve ...

I'd put one on, and carry a spare (at least).

The MrFunnel thing - you'd want to keep it in a sealed bag to stop rain/road dirt getting to it. You 'd also want it easy to get at when you refuel .. maybe under the tank bag?

Yeh, that does sound like a better idea. I´ll play around with it when i return to Mexico.

Hi,

Well mine is either carried in my panniers with a pair of my socks inside it (it's that small) or Tied to the backside of my Pannier rack (as it's got a little lip with a hole in it) small extremely packable and you never need to worry about getting crap and water in your fuel again.

Chris Bones from Welcome to Moto-cross Africa Emailed me today as I've been wondering what's happened to him lately, he said 'Oh and I bought a Mr Funnel because of you.' Now Chris like me is out there doing it with lots of dirty fuel around, so I can't think of two better examples then these.

Seriously I wouldn't have pro actively asked Mr. Funnel to sponsor me with one, if it wasn't worth more then it's weight in gold. If I really had to choose between my iPod Classic 160GB and clean fuel for the bike what do you think I'd choose?
Lee