Accurate fuel mileage readings

[khalilsc]

Thanks Geoff!

[etbadger]

Originally Posted by khalilsc

....Old topic, same issue...
I have the 46 gal T-flow tank on my 6.0 and I am going to drop my tank to fix the vent tube. Can anyone (badger?) give me an idea of what the vent tube looks like and where to drill the hole? It may be self explanatory once its in front of me, but it would be nice to have a head start on the plan. Also, what is the disadvantage,if any to not keeping the expansion room? Is there anything to be catious of when topping off?

The second reason for the drop is that I am going to install a fuel pickup for the Espar airtronic d2 diesel heater. Not sure what this will entail yet on the 46 Tflow tank. Anyone? thanks everyone!

The vent that matters is the one welded into the tank, not the one in the pickup/sending unit (I capped that one off, though SMB had it T'd into the other vent for some reason). Its a bit hard to reach in to get to it through the sending unit hole, but can be done with some pain, and then sweep out any drillings from the tank with a magnet. Also suggest tossing a magnet into the tank afterwards to stay permanently and pick up any stuff you may have missed as the fuel sloshes everything around.

To extend the accessory pickup we originally used submersible fuel-line, which worked, but after 7 years has swelled up a fair bit. I just replaced it with a few inches of 1/4 inch steel brake line joined to the stock accessory pickup with a 1/4 to 1/4 compression union.

-e

[geoffff]

Originally Posted by etbadger

Also suggest tossing a magnet into the tank afterwards to stay permanently and pick up any stuff you may have missed as the fuel sloshes everything around.

That's a good tip. In fact, my fuel pump mysteriously failed not too long after I had a mechanic drill a new hole for tank fill venting.

-- Geoff

[BroncoHauler]

In the tank?

Aren't magnets ferrous metals? Don't ferrous metals rust?

If you have a steel tank, put the metal on the outside of the tank. For an aluminum tank , epoxy the magnet on the outside.


Herb

[Greggd]

Herb ,
Is correct about Neodymium (Rare Earth Magnets) are just as subject to corrosion as a piece of iron
and as stated be epoxied to the exterior of your Fuel Cell or Tank . A very good source of powerful inexpensive magnets is any of your local automotive stereo shops , just remove from discarded speakers 6x9 work well . Or for a fun source of Magnetic supplies go to the following web site
http://www.kjmagnetics.com
Greggd

[etbadger]

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

In the tank?

Aren't magnets ferrous metals? Don't ferrous metals rust?

If you have a steel tank, put the metal on the outside of the tank. For an aluminum tank , epoxy the magnet on the outside.


Herb

Well, many magnets are ceramic or chrome plated (the one I used was a chrome plated 1"x1" rare-earth), but my whole tank is just mild steel, and uncoated on the inside. You may get some rust above the fuel-line if it sits in a cold humid environment from condensation, but under-the fuel level it should be fine, and the magnet would have nothing to do with it. It is very common for oil-pans and differential covers to have magnets inside them, as do the gearboxes on most of my machine-tools.

I doubt a magnet on the outside would have sufficient magnetic flux passing through the tank to collect much, but perhaps. Just be aware that the moment the magnet falls off, you have all that stuff free to float about again.

-e