Can anybody suggest an inline filter suitable for use with windshield washer fluid? I think I should probably have a relatively coarse filter pre-pump and a finer filter post-pump. I was looking for stainless mesh filters but it's hard to find something that I'm sure would be compatible for reasonable pricing. I'd like 3/8" hose barbs on either end ideally. Would appreciate any help.

 

Wouldn't have guessed this was too tall an order for the AI experts. Does nobody have advice?

 

Well since nobody had any comments I figure I'll post up what I decided to use. I'll report back later if I have any comments on them. They're both McMaster parts and I checked that all the materials are compatible with methanol -

Pre-pump filter - McMaster 8991T34 - "Chemical-Resistant Mini Inline Filter for 3/8" Tube ID, 4" O'all Length, 150 Micron" with 3/8" hose barbs on either end, $6.58 apiece

Post-pump filter - McMaster 4795K21 - "Miniature High-Efficiency Inline Filter Nylon, Barbed End Conn, for 1/4" & 3/8" ID, 1" Dia", 25 micron, $27.49 apiece

I'd also be happy to hear if forum members have any comments for or against these parts.

 

Regarding your comment about use with windshield washer fluid, Richard from Aquamist says NOT to use windshield fluid in an AI system as the soap will ultimately clog up your filters. This happened to me with my AI system. The soap forms a gunk and it ruins the filters.

Methanol and water only!

Doesn't help with your filter question but will help down the line. FYI - Aquamist has tiny little filters inline with their systems and these are what clogged for me.

 

David, thanks a lot for the tips. I have read Richard's advice but I'm choosing not to heed it for the moment. I have read a lot about others' firsthand experience with washer fluid AI and it seems that the cheaper Walmart type washer fluid is basically about 40% methanol/60% water and works fine for years. I intend to test this system pretty rigorously before it goes on the car (I'm doing a number of things that are theoretically no-nos) so we'll see what I find out.

I saw the aquamist filters on their website when I was looking around and I would think you want a little more filtration area than that.

Thanks again

 

I don't intend to use washer fluid, but interested in any updates from the OP on those filters.

 

I never finished the system unfortunately but I still intend to. I ended up using two different versions of the first, cheaper part. During the several hours of testing I did the filters seemed to work fine and definitely didn't clog. Pretty much all the info I can offer at this point

 

Thanks.

On a related note, your thread also makes me wonder if using distilled water, there was any real advantage to filtering BEFORE the pump. I can understand the injectors plugging over time if not filtered... but how sensitive are the pumps? And if a filter restricted flow enough, could that make it run hot or otherwise damage the pump.

 

The main reason I was using a pre-pump filter was that at the time I was using a fuel pump as a pump and that was definitely going to be more sensitive to particles than a shurflo pump. If you have a shurflo pump I wouldn't worry about it. As far as straining the pump, it won't make much of a difference since the pre-pump filter is pretty coarse

 

Good info. Thanks again.