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Fuel Tanks TestingIII

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japhillipsga(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:55 pm Post subject: Fuel Tanks TestingIII

Thanks Dan, as I indicted before we did the balloon test several years ago, but we also know of several fellows that were successful at that test and had leaks when gas went in the tank later.  Before I spend a bunch of money on painting and time and effort I want assurance the paint won't be ruined by a leak. So who knows can we expect Mogas to move through a leak as 100 LL ? Who knows? Bill

   

 

 

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carl.froehlich(at)verizon
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:50 am Post subject: Fuel Tanks TestingIII

The difference in viscosity between 100LL and auto fuel is insignificant for leak detection.  The dye in 100LL however may make leak detection easier.  

   

I did the air test on my tanks when building my 8A.  I used enough soapy water to clean a truck, no leaks.  A year into flying however I noted a green stain on the bottom of one tank, originating at a rivet on the rear baffle.  The fix was easy as I had not yet painted the plane.  

   

Bottom line – soap and water testing will find the big leaks, it will not find the weepers.  Having fuel sit in the tanks for a prolonged period will.  If you want to paint before flying, then some sort of fuel weepage testing will help mitigate the chance you screw up your paint job to fix a leak.  The other option is to fly the plane and then paint it.  The fly then paint option provides other advantages as well, as I for one made modifications that would have been detrimental to my final paint job.  

   

Taking wings off a flying plane to paint is a one hour or so evolution, especially if you do the standard practice of a thin coat of light grease on any steel to steal or steal to aluminum bolt/interface.   

   

Carl Froehlich  

RV-8A (550 hrs)  

RV-10 (systems install)  

     

From: owner-rv8-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv8-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of japhillipsga(at)aol.com

 Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 11:54 PM

 To: rv8-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Fuel Tanks TestingIII  

  

   

Thanks Dan, as I indicted before we did the balloon test several years ago, but we also know of several fellows that were successful at that test and had leaks when gas went in the tank later.  Before I spend a bunch of money on painting and time and effort I want assurance the paint won't be ruined by a leak. So who knows can we expect Mogas to move through a leak as 100 LL ? Who knows? Bill  

     

--

- The Matronics RV8-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List

captmikemm(at)earthlink.n
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 6:11 am Post subject: Fuel Tanks TestingIII

Just a note here, do not know if it has been said before, I put a balloon on a vent, pressurize the tank to fill the balloon about half way up (around 3 to 5 psi). and wait a few days. If the balloon stays up, no leaks. Works pretty good.  

   

Mike  

       

From: owner-rv8-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv8-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Carl Froehlich

 Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 9:50 AM

 To: rv8-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: RE: Fuel Tanks TestingIII  

  

  

   

The difference in viscosity between 100LL and auto fuel is insignificant for leak detection.  The dye in 100LL however may make leak detection easier.  

   

I did the air test on my tanks when building my 8A.  I used enough soapy water to clean a truck, no leaks.  A year into flying however I noted a green stain on the bottom of one tank, originating at a rivet on the rear baffle.  The fix was easy as I had not yet painted the plane.  

   

Bottom line – soap and water testing will find the big leaks, it will not find the weepers.  Having fuel sit in the tanks for a prolonged period will.  If you want to paint before flying, then some sort of fuel weepage testing will help mitigate the chance you screw up your paint job to fix a leak.  The other option is to fly the plane and then paint it.  The fly then paint option provides other advantages as well, as I for one made modifications that would have been detrimental to my final paint job.  

   

Taking wings off a flying plane to paint is a one hour or so evolution, especially if you do the standard practice of a thin coat of light grease on any steel to steal or steal to aluminum bolt/interface.   

   

Carl Froehlich  

RV-8A (550 hrs)  

RV-10 (systems install)  

     

From: owner-rv8-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv8-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of japhillipsga(at)aol.com

 Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 11:54 PM

 To: rv8-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Fuel Tanks TestingIII  

  

   

Thanks Dan, as I indicted before we did the balloon test several years ago, but we also know of several fellows that were successful at that test and had leaks when gas went in the tank later.  Before I spend a bunch of money on painting and time and effort I want assurance the paint won't be ruined by a leak. So who knows can we expect Mogas to move through a leak as 100 LL ? Who knows? Bill  

     

--

- The Matronics RV8-List Email Forum -

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List

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