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budyerly(at)msn.com
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 Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:00 am Post subject: The Factory Fuel Sight Gauge/tank leaks |
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<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]--> Sight gauge woe's.
In my experience, the reason for the empty reading in flight is that the sight gauge is typically hooked to the feed line. Picture those large coffee pots with the sight gauge on the tap. As soon as you open the tap, the sight gauge drops. You are getting the same effect. The fix is to install the Mod 33 and use the drain line as your lower sight gauge hookup point. The static fuel at the rear of the tank allows the site gauge to be quite stable in flight. For those of you who put the sight gauge in the seat back like I have, it works fine (tri-gear). The longer tube lengths for those of you with the sight gauge near the foot well, acceleration does cause the fuel to move. Remember to use the FSO2 to help stabilize the readings.
As for venting of the sight gauge, I put my fuel vents on the bottom of the aircraft. From the fuel vent fitting (I use a F09C and hook the sight gauge vent line to the molded fitting, although I have clients with the standard fitting and the other end of the sight gauge tee'd to the main vent line), I loop the fuel vent line up to the fill neck, put a T in the neck (so the gas doen't burp during fueling) and continue up over the plastic fuel neck, down the back side to a vent tube on the bottom of the aircraft. I am supplying this info only because it is different than the stock fuel vent system, and although the low pressure area on the top of the fuselage is a possible fuel suction point, and or a ram air point, it shouldn't cause sight gauge accuracy problems, but it does. The only reason for putting the vent on the bottom initially, was cosmetics and the nasty fuel streaks down the fuselage when making low power right turns and getting fuel venting out of the tank in some aircraft (especially the gliders). Hooking the vent side of the sight gauge to the vent fitting at the top of the tank was to eliminate the possibility of suction/pressure influences from the vent to the small area of the sight tube. The idea was to ensure the top of the tank air pressure and the bottom of the tank fitting were as stable as far as flow of air and fuel as possible. It seems to work just fine.
As for the tank leak woes, I have a used fuel tank in the shop which hasn't had fuel in it for 4 years maybe 5 and am going to fill it to check for cracks / leaks. I'll post the results if I don’t blow up.
Bud Yerly
[quote] ---
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DanBish
Joined: 24 May 2006
Posts: 29
Location: TUCSON, AZ
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| Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 9:43 am Post subject: The Factory Fuel Sight Gauge/tank leaks |
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Hi Bud,
This is similar to what Graham supplied with his special fittings. I was thinking about doing away with the sight tube altogether as I've installed one of the electric float type gauges in my main tank and will also have a fuel flow sensor hooked to my Dynon. With this, do you think the sight tube is overkill?
If not and you think it's prudent to go ahead and install, do you have any photos, or a diagrahm of what your setup looks like, particularly where you put the vents on the bottom of the A/C?
Thanks,
Dan
Visit - www.EuropaOwners.org
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ami(at)mcfadyean.freeserv
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| Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 11:36 am Post subject: The Factory Fuel Sight Gauge/tank leaks |
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<<As for the tank leak woes, I have a used fuel tank in the shop which hasn't had fuel in it for 4 years maybe 5 and am going to fill it to check for cracks / leaks.>>
Something to consider in the fuel tank debate is that the (pre "fluoride-treated") tanks expanded slowly by about 3% when first filled. But they also shrink back when left for long periods (months rather than days or weeks) without fuel.
If a tank shrinks back, it is likely to shift and be no longer in such intimate contact with the supports that were moulded to it, possibly resulting in pressure points, particularly on edges and inflexions formed at the sides of support brackets.
It's only a big polythene bay after all!
Duncan McF.
[quote] ---
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ptag.dev(at)tiscali.co.uk
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| Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 2:03 pm Post subject: The Factory Fuel Sight Gauge/tank leaks |
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Hi! Duncan/all
I recall that early build requirements were to have the tank well supported /clamped and allowed to stand full of fuel for about 6 months to initiate the expansion prior to putting it into the cockpit module……..presumably to ensure that when it was built in, allowance was included for the same expansion. If this instruction wasn’t complied I could imagine that considerable stresses would ensue when the tank did expand resulting in much greater stresses when added to the fuel weight pressure from inside.
Regards
Bob H G-PTAG
Robt.C.Harrison
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Duncan & Ami McFadyean
Sent: 01 January 1988 11:02
To: europa-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: The Factory Fuel Sight Gauge/tank leaks
<<As for the tank leak woes, I have a used fuel tank in the shop which hasn't had fuel in it for 4 years maybe 5 and am going to fill it to check for cracks / leaks.>>
Something to consider in the fuel tank debate is that the (pre "fluoride-treated") tanks expanded slowly by about 3% when first filled. But they also shrink back when left for long periods (months rather than days or weeks) without fuel.
If a tank shrinks back, it is likely to shift and be no longer in such intimate contact with the supports that were moulded to it, possibly resulting in pressure points, particularly on edges and inflexions formed at the sides of support brackets.
It's only a big polythene bay after all!
Duncan McF.
[quote]
----- Original Message -----
From: ALAN YERLY (budyerly(at)msn.com)
To: europa-list(at)matronics.com (europa-list(at)matronics.com)
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 2:58 PM
Subject: Re: The Factory Fuel Sight Gauge/tank leaks
Sight gauge woe's.
In my experience, the reason for the empty reading in flight is that the sight gauge is typically hooked to the feed line. Picture those large coffee pots with the sight gauge on the tap. As soon as you open the tap, the sight gauge drops. You are getting the same effect. The fix is to install the Mod 33 and use the drain line as your lower sight gauge hookup point. The static fuel at the rear of the tank allows the site gauge to be quite stable in flight. For those of you who put the sight gauge in the seat back like I have, it works fine (tri-gear). The longer tube lengths for those of you with the sight gauge near the foot well, acceleration does cause the fuel to move. Remember to use the FSO2 to help stabilize the readings.
As for venting of the sight gauge, I put my fuel vents on the bottom of the aircraft. From the fuel vent fitting (I use a F09C and hook the sight gauge vent line to the molded fitting, although I have clients with the standard fitting and the other end of the sight gauge tee'd to the main vent line), I loop the fuel vent line up to the fill neck, put a T in the neck (so the gas doen't burp during fueling) and continue up over the plastic fuel neck, down the back side to a vent tube on the bottom of the aircraft. I am supplying this info only because it is different than the stock fuel vent system, and although the low pressure area on the top of the fuselage is a possible fuel suction point, and or a ram air point, it shouldn't cause sight gauge accuracy problems, but it does. The only reason for putting the vent on the bottom initially, was cosmetics and the nasty fuel streaks down the fuselage when making low power right turns and getting fuel venting out of the tank in some aircraft (especially the gliders). Hooking the vent side of the sight gauge to the vent fitting at the top of the tank was to eliminate the possibility of suction/pressure influences from the vent to the small area of the sight tube. The idea was to ensure the top of the tank air pressure and the bottom of the tank fitting were as stable as far as flow of air and fuel as possible. It seems to work just fine.
As for the tank leak woes, I have a used fuel tank in the shop which hasn't had fuel in it for 4 years maybe 5 and am going to fill it to check for cracks / leaks. I'll post the results if I don’t blow up.
Bud Yerly
| Quote: |
----- Original Message -----
From: steve v (s.vestuti(at)virgin.net)
To: europa-list(at)matronics.com (europa-list(at)matronics.com)
Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2007 5:55 PM
Subject: Re: The Factory Fuel Sight Gauge
--> Europa-List message posted by: "steve v " <s.vestuti(at)virgin.net (s.vestuti(at)virgin.net)>
Just Thought i would add my "short" experience with the standard
sight gauge here,
i have a tri gear with a compleatly standard text book
intallation with the tube visable in the port footwell, on the
ground the gauge reads fine, airbourne it reads empty - it has done this
from day one. i intend shortly to dissconnect it and fit a stop end to the tank as my fuel flow meter is accurate to within half a litre.
could the empty reading in flight be due to acceleration as the tube runs forward B4 running verticaly?
Steve vestuti G-CEBV #573.
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