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| Re: [GMCnet] rookie errors. [message #323970 is a reply to message #323969] |
Sun, 17 September 2017 23:11   |
Richard Denney
Messages: 920
Registered: April 2010
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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I have the advantage that I was able to test my new senders and gauge at
the extremes, so I already know how they read. Before dropping my tanks,
they were no more than 10% full, and I didn't try to empty them all the
way. I was just careful not to let the fill opening point down. Both
senders registered at "E"--no movement above where they were when the wires
were connected (zero ohms = empty).
Then, I poured five gallons in, nearly all of which would go to the rear
(main) tank. So, it probably 7 or 8 gallons in it, and it registered about
a quarter tank, which is pretty close (each of my Cinnabar tanks holds 27
gallons). I poured in another 10 or 11 gallons, which mostly went to the
rear tank. That tank showed about half full, and the front tank showed very
close to empty. I figure with the slope of the coach at the time, it would
have taken over half a tank to flow back from the rear tank to the front.
On a test drive, the readings were everywhere, and that's the problem with
tanks that are only six inches tall. The senders on my tanks are forward of
center, so on braking they read higher than on acceleration. They will vary
a lot when in turns. Going downhill might cause fuel to flow from the rear
tank to the front, and going uphill the reverse. So, I only read the gauges
when the coach is not undergoing any lateral accelerations--either stopped
on at stable cruising speed on a flat highway. I can check each tank by
switching the dash tank switch momentarily.
When I filled the tanks, it took a bit for the second tank to read full
past its damping, and I thought at first the rear gauge was reading low.
But when I looked again (which was the next day, after having driven it
only a mile back to the shop), both were reading right on "F". I drove home
50 miles, which should have used about six gallons (a quarter of the main
tank). The gauge did not recede by nearly that much, and I suspect the
float doesn't make it to the top of the tank by the time it tops out.
It takes some real effort to learn how to get any useful information from
the fuel gauge, even when everything is tip-top. What I had before was so
unhelpful that I didn't depend on it for anything, but that means a lot of
fillups where only 20 gallons went in.
As to common rookie mistakes (the subject of this thread), this one is
related to the above fuel discussion: Don't drive a "new" coach without
replacing everything rubber (hoses--fuel and brake, tires, belts), unless
inspection of records reveals the rubber to be reasonably fresh. Rotted
fuel hoses are dangerous. Dropping the tanks is unpleasant, but it's part
of the gig. Leaking fuel is only slightly less bad than crappy brakes when
it comes to unhappy outcomes. Rotted tires come in a close third in terms
of risk. And rotted belts will allow you to enjoy part of your vacation
parked in some noisy, steeply sloping spot while you learn how to change
them. I've had to do that twice because of not paying attention to my belts.
Priorities for new owners:
1. Safety
2. Reliability
3. Convenience and usability.
4. Aesthetics.
I've done a lot of 1, a lot of 2, a good amount of 3, and not nearly enough
4. The temptation is to spend a lot of time on the paint and the house
stuff (4 and 3), and only work on 1 and 2 as things break.
Rick "who has had his tanks down three times during his ownership, and
hopefully not again for a looong time" Denney
On Sun, Sep 17, 2017 at 11:19 PM, Brian Krikorian wrote:
> Well, I think my problem is mostly mechanical and sender/tank related. I
> posted something about this a couple weeks ago (so it's already been
> "vetted"), but basically I'm running empty with about 10 to 12 gallons
> left, and one tank is often showing 1/4-1/2 full, while the other is empty.
> This will have to be a future project: Either pull the tanks and figure
> it out, or go the two fuel pump route. Until then, I just figure I'm
> running
> on about 30 to 35 gallons, and make sure I fill up by 200 miles or 1/4
> tank. It's the "I can get that 10 extra miles to the next exit" mentality
> that
> kills me every time!!!
> --
> Brian K
> 1977 Eleganza II, TZE167V100261
> Bellevue, WA
> Rebuilt 455, New brake system, a lot of Original Equipment ready to fall
> apart (discovering more as I go along....)
>
> _______________________________________________
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--
'73 X-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
Offlist email: rick at rickdenney dot com
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