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andrew(at)nzactive.com
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 Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 2:42 pm Post subject: Clarification on fuel tank issue |
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Thx for all the input...much appreciated.
Yep, I'm in NZ. We work in litres, but I translated to US gallons (not imperial).
Yep, I'm probably being punished for flirting with a Rocket, but it's been a wicked flirtation  And my Rocket has given me >500 trouble free hours till first major problem -now AOG, hence dusting off RV-4.
On the other hand, I've had the RV4 for about 10 years, and have had more problems than I care to count, including TWO full, to-the-ground, engine failures. We're pretty sure the cause was carb icing, (plenty of fuel in tanks and carb bowl, mags OK, etc etc) and new carb heat system now installed. I mention this, in case it's relevant to current case.
Fuel gauges are U/S, so no reading available. Don't know about alternative tank yet - will be investigating shortly.
To be clear, I DID drain remaing fuel after the fuel starvation event, through fuel tank drain, and it was less than half a gallon at the very most - that tank was EMPTY. And it took 50 liters, taking several minutes cos of the aero baffles, which I guesstimated to 12.5 gallons. Just looked it up - 50 litres is actually a shade over US 13 gallons.
I guess I'll inspecting the interior of the tank, although this all seems inexplicable at the mo. And, NB, even with only taking 13 gallons, not 16, it sounds like she shouldn't have burned anything like that in an hour??
Will investigate all the suggestions given. Feel free to email me, on or off-list, if this cluster of symptoms lights up any sudden Eureka moments.
andrew
From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Doug Gray
Sent: Saturday, April 04, 2009 9:15 AM
To: rv-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: Fuel tank/burn questions
On Fri, 2009-04-03 at 20:57 +1300, ACTIVE NZ - Andrew wrote:
| Quote: | it only took 12.5 gallons.
|
Kevin's response covers the options. Key question is if you can drain fuel from the 'dry' tank.
If you have a fuel gauge, what does it read?
Does the alternate tank have the same issue?
Consider: (16 - 12.5) leaves 3.5 gallons in the tank. 3.5 gal is about 25% full scale on the Vans fuel gauge that is reasonably accurate at this level, so you are most likely sucking air when fuel is about 25% up the inboard tank rib. My money is on a loose/cracked/damaged fuel pickup.
Doug [quote]
href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List
href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com
href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/c
[b]
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jsflyrv(at)verizon.net
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| Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:48 pm Post subject: Clarification on fuel tank issue |
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Actually it is easy to put 13 gal through an O-360 per hour at WOT if
you are not leaned aggressively.
What RPM are you seeing at 5000 ft at WOT? My RV-6 with an O-360 fixed
pitch well easily burn 10
GPH (at) 2500 rpm if not leaned heavily. I have been flying it just a
couple months short of 20 years so
have a pretty good idea of fuel burn
ACTIVE NZ - Andrew wrote:
| Quote: | Thx for all the input...much appreciated.
Yep, I'm in NZ. We work in litres, but I translated to US gallons (not
imperial).
Yep, I'm probably being punished for flirting with a Rocket, but it's
been a wicked flirtation And my Rocket has given me >500 trouble
free hours till first major problem -now AOG, hence dusting off RV-4.
On the other hand, I've had the RV4 for about 10 years, and have had
more problems than I care to count, including TWO full, to-the-ground,
engine failures. We're pretty sure the cause was carb icing, (plenty
of fuel in tanks and carb bowl, mags OK, etc etc) and new carb heat
system now installed. I mention this, in case it's relevant to current
case.
Fuel gauges are U/S, so no reading available. Don't know about
alternative tank yet - will be investigating shortly.
To be clear, I DID drain remaing fuel after the fuel starvation event,
through fuel tank drain, and it was less than half a gallon at the
very most - that tank was EMPTY. And it took 50 liters, taking several
minutes cos of the aero baffles, which I guesstimated to 12.5 gallons.
Just looked it up - 50 litres is actually a shade over US 13 gallons.
I guess I'll inspecting the interior of the tank, although this
all seems inexplicable at the mo. And, NB, even with only taking 13
gallons, not 16, it sounds like she shouldn't have burned anything
like that in an hour??
Will investigate all the suggestions given. Feel free to email me, on
or off-list, if this cluster of symptoms lights up any sudden Eureka
moments.
andrew
**
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com
[mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] *On Behalf Of *Doug Gray
*Sent:* Saturday, April 04, 2009 9:15 AM
*To:* rv-list(at)matronics.com
*Subject:* Re: Fuel tank/burn questions
On Fri, 2009-04-03 at 20:57 +1300, ACTIVE NZ - Andrew wrote:
> it only took 12.5 gallons.
Kevin's response covers the options. Key question is if you can drain
fuel from the 'dry' tank.
If you have a fuel gauge, what does it read?
Does the alternate tank have the same issue?
Consider: (16 - 12.5) leaves 3.5 gallons in the tank. 3.5 gal is about
25% full scale on the Vans fuel gauge that is reasonably accurate at
this level, so you are most likely sucking air when fuel is about 25%
up the inboard tank rib. My money is on a loose/cracked/damaged fuel
pickup.
Doug
*
href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List
href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com
href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/c
*
*
*
|
| | - The Matronics RV-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?RV-List |
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