How do you keep the tank and fuel line clean?

Hello,

My question is how do you keep the tank and fuel line clean?
I cleand my tank and fuel line about 6months ago and two days ago suddenly my MK1 stoped on the road, but after a few starting attempts it started again and I was on my way, and this happend at least three times taht day. I was thinking this shoud be the needle valve because I just replaced the carb and it had the original solex needle vale so I replaced it, but it wasn't the problem. So today I went down to a petrol station and bought a new fuel filter and when a pulled the old out I was shocked, it lloked like this: http://sdrv.ms/1bRVhox
Maybe I did a mistake because I didn't replaced the fuel filler tubing when I cleaned the system, but can that be so dirty? Or is petrol really so dirty?

Hi, it is possible that you still had dirt still in your fuel lines before fitting the filter.

If the new filter gets dirty very quickly, I would check the fuel tank filler pipe down to the tank to make sure that you do not have internal corrosion contaminating the tank.

If you are able, use one of those magnets on a stick to clean your tank through the top fuel gauge sender. You might be surprised again.

Also if you have one of those metal fuel vapour traps between the fuel pump and the carb, check that out as well, there can be a source of internal corrosion.

Temporarily I would put another filter there until you can determine where the contamination is coming from.

Hope this helps

Thanks for replay.
I will check the tank again and I think I will change the whole tank filler. If i'm right there is a bolt on top part (Fuel filler neck, if the part still exsists) and from that normal rubber tube.
But I don't think that the metal fuel vapour trap can corrode, or can it? I thought it was made of the same material as the carb, or brass or something like that.

I previously owned a Mk2 for 17 years from new.

My carb got contaminated with rust causing the car to cut out and kangaroo. The culprit was the vapour trap, I took it off and shook it and all sorts of stuff came out of it, so I got a new one.

It is another source of contamination. But I would start from the back and come forward, leaving nothing out.

If the carb is contaminated you may also have to strip the carb down as well. Get a service kit before trying.