GMCforum
For enthusiast of the Classic GMC Motorhome built from 1973 to 1978. A web-based mirror of the GMCnet mailing list.

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! (Main first then Aux,Right?Maybe Not!!!!!)
Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199567] Sat, 23 February 2013 23:48 Go to next message
Cadillackeeper is currently offline  Cadillackeeper   United States
Messages: 464
Registered: October 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Karma: 1
Senior Member
We just made our first 500 some mile round trip.Dry camped for a few days at some sprint car races.we got a little over 10mpg on the way there,Dash AC 1/2 of the way till dark.Great run getting there and spending time with good friends.Well on the way back
halfway across alligator alley,My main tank was a little over a quarter and I am thinking
the aux is at least at half,Well its showing below empty!!!Panic starts to set in when I start running out of gas,I flip to aux to engage the electric pusher pump,even though it showing below empty it kicks it back to running good.I switch back to main and all is good for about a mile then I run out of gas again,switch and go and switch back.I flipped that switch back and forth Freaking out the whole time,for about 20 miles.We made it to the gas station but sheeze it was too close.Now standard is never let it go below half!!The manual says stay on the main till empty then go to Aux.It seems it fills both and draws both no matter what.


77 455 Elaganza II and 67 Animal, Built 500 Powered Eldo
Re: Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199570 is a reply to message #199567] Sat, 23 February 2013 23:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
Messages: 7111
Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.
Karma: 207
Senior Member
Oh yea, been there. I don't let mine run below half, both tanks, if I can help it. I flip the aux switch often to see what it says about each tank. That gas runs back and forth between tanks so much you need to check both if running below half full. I sucked fumes out in ND a few years back. No more.
You learned something good today.
Dan


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
Re: [GMCnet] Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199576 is a reply to message #199567] Sun, 24 February 2013 00:06 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
Antony,

This will help you understand the fuel tanks:

http://gmcmotorhome.info/tank.html

Regards,
Rob M.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: anthony ezzo

We just made our first 500 some mile round trip.Dry camped for a few days at some sprint car races.we got a little over 10mpg on the
way there,Dash AC 1/2 of the way till dark.Great run getting there and spending time with good friends.Well on the way back
halfway across alligator alley,My main tank was a little over a quarter and I am thinking
the aux is at least at half,Well its showing below empty!!!Panic starts to set in when I start running out of gas,I flip to aux to
engage the electric pusher pump,even though it showing below empty it kicks it back to running good.I switch back to main and all is
good for about a mile then I run out of gas again,switch and go and switch back.I flipped that switch back and forth Freaking out
the whole time,for about 20 miles.We made it to the gas station but sheeze it was too close.Now standard is never let it go below
half!!The manual says stay on the main till empty then go to Aux.It seems it fills both and draws both no matter what.

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist



Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199577 is a reply to message #199567] Sun, 24 February 2013 00:32 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Cadillackeeper is currently offline  Cadillackeeper   United States
Messages: 464
Registered: October 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Karma: 1
Senior Member
I do have to say,we did have some small issues that could have been Catosrophic.For example.Hit the water pump and I got a sprinkler under the stove.Not too,Too bad to fix,a few bucks and twisted back.Original Buzz box dies,unbeknownst to me,KILLS front and back batteries.I carry a charger,and jumper cables so....Hook up to a water hose,utilizing my pressure regulator and another sprinkler behind the closet,more twisted back but fixed.Brake pedal goes to the floor,Red Light no brakes!The cover was a little distorted and brake fluid was blowin out the side,Again no real big whoop!Try startin genny and short in one of the rockers and the starter Stays engaged after it fire up.Just replaced all the mounts and broke bracket.Sprayed contact cleaner at all locations,refire and ok.Then,Half hour later,gen starts surging and Dies! Totally clogged and Filthy in the bottom of the bowl and the air filter,I don't even want to say.

The very 1st Toll Plaza. I have to pay,pay,pay cause I got 2 extra f-ing wheels.

VAPOR LOCK.....Stalls right out whilst trying to blend in traffic.The coolest thing was
how actually far,far,far we coasted and how hard and firm the brakes were without the motor running.

My wife and I just got out walked around in circles for a moment,got back in till we really ran totally out of gas!!!I feel we drove about 22 miles on absolute FUMES.I was switching that switch every time it stumbled, Everything about the whole trip was awesome...She said gee its kinda like your car,Nothing will stop it!!








77 455 Elaganza II and 67 Animal, Built 500 Powered Eldo
Re: [GMCnet] Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199596 is a reply to message #199577] Sun, 24 February 2013 07:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Sandra Price is currently offline  Sandra Price   United States
Messages: 709
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Anthony, never a dull moment with a GMC. Keep on keeping on!

Sandra and Bob Price

On Sun, Feb 24, 2013 at 12:32 AM, anthony ezzo <ezzo@earthlink.net> wrote:

>
>
> I do have to say,we did have some small issues that could have been
> Catosrophic.For example.Hit the water pump and I got a sprinkler under the
> stove.Not too,Too bad to fix,a few bucks and twisted back.Original Buzz box
> dies,unbeknownst to me,KILLS front and back batteries.I carry a charger,and
> jumper cables so....Hook up to a water hose,utilizing my pressure regulator
> and another sprinkler behind the closet,more twisted back but fixed.Brake
> pedal goes to the floor,Red Light no brakes!The cover was a little
> distorted and brake fluid was blowin out the side,Again no real big
> whoop!Try startin genny and short in one of the rockers and the starter
> Stays engaged after it fire up.Just replaced all the mounts and broke
> bracket.Sprayed contact cleaner at all locations,refire and ok.Then,Half
> hour later,gen starts surging and Dies! Totally clogged and Filthy in the
> bottom of the bowl and the air filter,I don't even want to say.
>
> The very 1st Toll Plaza. I have to pay,pay,pay cause I got 2 extra f-ing
> wheels.
>
> VAPOR LOCK.....Stalls right out whilst trying to blend in traffic.The
> coolest thing was
> how actually far,far,far we coasted and how hard and firm the brakes were
> without the motor running.
>
> My wife and I just got out walked around in circles for a moment,got back
> in till we really ran totally out of gas!!!I feel we drove about 22 miles
> on absolute FUMES.I was switching that switch every time it stumbled,
> Everything about the whole trip was awesome...She said gee its kinda like
> your car,Nothing will stop it!!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> 77 455 Elaganza II and 67 Animal, Built 500 Powered Eldo
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>



--
IN GOD WE TRUST!

Sandra and Bob in the 53rd Year of our State of Marriage
“Life’s a Trip” in “The Roadhouse”
’73 Painted Desert
Huntsville, TX

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love
as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or
insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so
that you may inherit a blessing. --1 Peter 3:8-9
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Re: [GMCnet] Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199597 is a reply to message #199596] Sun, 24 February 2013 08:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tphipps is currently offline  tphipps   United States
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
Senior Member
My driving rule for the GMC; Stop every 250 miles and fill up the tanks. I can empty mine and refill the GMC at one time.
Tom, MS II


2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552 KA4CSG
Re: [GMCnet] Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199601 is a reply to message #199597] Sun, 24 February 2013 08:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mjbourgon is currently offline  mjbourgon   United States
Messages: 259
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -1
Senior Member
Two years ago, we made the Alaska trip. Rule number one, never drive on
the bottom half of gas tank. These beast are too heavy to push.
Marcel in New Mexico
On 2/24/2013 07:07, Thomas Phipps wrote:
>
> My driving rule for the GMC; Stop every 250 miles and fill up the tanks. I can empty mine and refill the GMC at one time.
> Tom, MS II

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Re: Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199608 is a reply to message #199567] Sun, 24 February 2013 09:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Cadillackeeper wrote on Sun, 24 February 2013 00:48 and is not quoted.

Anthony,

First - Get to Know Your coach!
* Calculate the fuel rate (MPG) on every fill.
* Make notes as to weather, terrain and APU run time.
* It may take four or five fills for a fuel rate to stabilize.

The fuel tank setup in the TZEs is indeed strange, but it can be managed effectively with some thought.
Points to remember:
1 - Then tanks are joined at roughly half the volume. (The main tank easily spills into the auxiliary, but not the other way.)
2 - The APU (genset) fuel pickup is in the main (rear) tank and only works with that tank above one quarter.
3 - The gauges on the panel are nearly worthless. (They are trying to read the level in a six inch deep thank that is three feet by four feet in plan view. - Read No Way) And, the low fuel warning light reads the gauges.

So, if you run down the fuel to about half and then switch to the auxiliary tank, you will still have about 10~12 gallons in the main. That gives you six hours of APU run and still about 50(+/-) miles of range.

Can the fuel inventory be effectively managed?
Yes, but it takes conscientious and careful doing. I always write the mileage on the fuel receipt and the Eoh content. (My coach does about 9+ on craphol and 10+ on real gas.) Several times I have pulled into a fuel stop and put 53 gallons on. And, yes, that was intentional.

Matt


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199611 is a reply to message #199608] Sun, 24 February 2013 09:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mr ERFisher is currently offline  Mr ERFisher   United States
Messages: 7117
Registered: August 2005
Karma: 2
Senior Member
>
> So, if you run down the fuel to about half and then switch to the
> auxiliary tank, you will still have about 10~12 gallons in the main. That
> gives you six hours of APU run and still about 50(+/-) miles of range.
>

good input
what I do is:

when either sender gets to 1/2, I stop and put in 27 gallons
- senders cannot be calibrated
- only need one to watch fuel in both tanks
- best not to "fill up" at station
-- all the lines on the top of the tank leak
-- when you put too much in the tank you will smell gas
-senders can be repaired "from the top", if you do not want to drop the
tanks
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/23-gas-tank-sender-repair/p37203-gas-tank-sender-repair.html

even new senders will not help this situation, it is a fact of life.

stop every 4 hours, and let out the slack , and fill up
gene


Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Re: [GMCnet] Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199653 is a reply to message #199597] Sun, 24 February 2013 16:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
Senior Member
G'day,

Downunder we still have quite a few sections of two lane highways running between the major cities and during the holiday periods
they broadcast ads to STOP - REVIVE - SURVIVE which note to stop every couple of hours.

They discuss the dangers of micro-sleeps on those kind of roads and that's correct as we have a number of head on's caused when
people nod off for a few seconds.

I find I have a problem just after lunch and quite often I'll pull over and head down the back for quick nap. I wake refreshed and
off we go.

Regards,
Rob M.

-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas Phipps

My driving rule for the GMC; Stop every 250 miles and fill up the tanks. I can empty mine and refill the GMC at one time.

Tom

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist



Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199664 is a reply to message #199567] Sun, 24 February 2013 17:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Cadillackeeper is currently offline  Cadillackeeper   United States
Messages: 464
Registered: October 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Karma: 1
Senior Member
I spent $225.00 and we drove 514 miles and I ran the genny after I got it running good for AC for about 4 hours.Then another $50 to get home.$3.81 per gallon on the fill to get there $100.then 3.89 for the $125.That last $50 was emergency rest stop price of $4.11.I figure about 10 mpg.I did have dash AC at Max 1/2 way there and 1/2 way home.I am ready to go out again next weekend,maybe to Key Largo?

77 455 Elaganza II and 67 Animal, Built 500 Powered Eldo
Re: Almost Ran out of Gas!!!! [message #199666 is a reply to message #199664] Sun, 24 February 2013 17:31 Go to previous message
WD0AFQ is currently offline  WD0AFQ   United States
Messages: 7111
Registered: November 2004
Location: Dexter, Mo.
Karma: 207
Senior Member
Cadillackeeper wrote on Sun, 24 February 2013 17:26

I spent $225.00 and we drove 514 miles and I ran the genny after I got it running good for AC for about 4 hours.Then another $50 to get home.$3.81 per gallon on the fill to get there $100.then 3.89 for the $125.That last $50 was emergency rest stop price of $4.11.I figure about 10 mpg.I did have dash AC at Max 1/2 way there and 1/2 way home.I am ready to go out again next weekend,maybe to Key Largo?

Well, lets see how much gas it takes to get up to Dothan.
dan


3 In Stainless Exhaust Headers One Ton All Discs/Reaction Arm 355 FD/Quad Bag/Alum Radiator Manny Tran/New eng. Holley EFI/10 Tire Air Monitoring System Solarized Coach/Upgraded Windows Satelite TV/On Demand Hot Water/3Way Refer
Previous Topic: Tow Dolly
Next Topic: trailer towing question
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Thu Oct 10 13:20:46 CDT 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.09119 seconds