Member Article

Parker filters fit the bill for 12,000-mile Help for Heroes extreme expedition

Fuel, oil and air filtration specialist Parker Racor has supplied heavy-duty filters for the Vivaro Siberia Challenge – a two-month expedition that aims to raise £10,000 for military charity Help for Heroes.

The challenge, spearheaded by Vauxhall and managed by expedition experts Max Adventure, involves a 12,000-mile journey across Europe, Turkey, the ‘Stans’, Mongolia and Siberia. The route’s varied terrain ranges from dual carriageways, graded dirt and broken tarmac to the Steppe of Mongolia; so the team and its three new front wheel drive Vivaro vans will be tested to the limits.

Dirt and water are practically unavoidable in stored fuel, causing microbial growth, corrosive acids, electrolysis and rust. These contaminants can plug filters, corrode components and cause engine shutdown or system failure. And in extreme environments, the risk of fuel being contaminated is even higher due to supply, storage and transportation challenges.

Parker’s RFF Series fuel filter funnel family separates damaging free water and contaminates from gasoline, diesel, kerosene and heating oil. The funnels are capable of removing free water and solids down to 50 micron, and allow users to visually inspect the integrity of fuel supply whilst refueling. This will assist the high-tech fuel systems in the new vehicles to continue operating correctly and reliably, even in the toughest conditions.

Commenting on Parker’s support, expedition leader Mac MacKenney - a former Royal Air Force pilot who also supported Sir Ranulph Fiennes in his last North Pole expedition – said: “To keep our 1.6 litre bi-turbo engines running on rough diesel, it’s vital that any water or impurities don’t enter the fuel tank.

“The vehicles we’re using for the expedition are unmodified, but by using a Racor filter, we can keep the tank clean and protect the engine.”

The team is set to arrive in the remote Siberian city of Magadan at the end of August.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Parker Hannifin .