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oldjagman(at)yahoo.com
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 Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:07 am Post subject: LeftRight Fuel Systems? |
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For those unaware....
Never trust fuel gauges! Never trust fuel gauges! Never trust fuel gauges!
There are all sorts of aluminum assemblies, in burnt piles on the ground for
those that have.
1) KNOW your fuel consumption rate at various altitudes.
One way, to find out is :
Know what the tank capacity is. (If the tank is not a standard,
fill it with a gallon milk jug the first time...)
Fill the tanks full.
Fly the various altitudes for a specific time, say for one hour,
land, and refill to same mark, noting the amount added.
Do the math.. if....one hour at 2000 feet takes 5.4 gals.
Therefore the fuel burn rate for 2000' is 5.4 gals.hr. for that altitude.
2)Do the same for differing altitudes, on different days, at different temps.
noting throttle settings so you can repeat the exercise with certainty.
You will develop a chart you can refer to.
average the numbers, and that will be your average fuel burn rate
3) Add to that two gallons for taxi, run-up and climb.
4) Keep track of hours flown multiply hours flown by burn rate to get fuel used.
use an E6B flight computer, or even pad and pencil.
You have to keep track of these items (alt, throttle, & mixture settings) on every flight.
This should be part of the first 40 hours of "Phase One" testing.
It is also part, of the "pilot workload" we often hear so much about, that is never really explained...
With Certified aircraft, this is done by the manufacturer, and noted in the POH
(Pilots Operating Handbook)
Alternatively, if that is too much work,
check out :
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/in/fuelinstrumentation_fuelcomputers.html
But even then, practice the pad and pencil method. Even double check the
flow meter itself.
You may one day fly an aircraft without a fuel flow meter..
Your runway might be closed for an emergency and you'd need to divert to another airport. Then what? Would you have fuel for the extra distance?
You need to know these things. The life you save may be your own.
Fly Safe, Don't become a bad experimental aircraft statistic.
Thanks for reading my rant...
Charlie NJ
[quote] From: ronlee <rlee468(at)comcast.net>
To: zenith701801-list(at)matronics.com
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: LeftRight Fuel Systems?
--> Zenith701801-List message posted by: "ronlee" <rlee468(at)comcast.net (rlee468(at)comcast.net)>
I have snorkel tubes on each gas cap and they still feed uneven . My guess is that the one that produces the most pressure feeds the fastest. The only way to have even pressure on each tank is to have only one snorkel cap, the other non vented and have an equalizer tube between the tanks as some GA have. It is an issue as I really don't know when one or the other tank is completly empty so I can't use all my fuel safely. I don't have enough balls to test while in flight if fuel will still flow once one side is empty. I have actually had fuel transfer from one tank to fill the other one time when a fuel cap was left off one side. The side with the snorkel forced it to the tank with the cap off. I thought my fuel gages were going crazy as one gage was going up and the other down. I do have a valve to feed each side separate or both at once. I now always use only one side at a time so I know about where I am with fuel. The fact is I just don't have the guts to burn one side til!
l I run out so I never know for sure how much is left when I switch to the other side. As I said, I do believe if there was an equalizer tube between the tanks they would feed even unless one tends to fly with one wing low.
Someone should be able to figure this problem out as it has been ongoing for a long time now, years actually.
--------
Ron Lee
Tucson, Arizona
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=383823#383823
nith701801-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith701801-Lista href="http://forums.matronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.mat &nbs//www.matronics.com/contribution" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.co==================
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randy(at)rjhebertassoc.co
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:50 am Post subject: LeftRight Fuel Systems? |
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Zenith’s plans give accurate dimensions for the tanks
I developed an Excel spreadsheet that provides gallons per inch of depth and/or gallons per numbered mark on a glass measuring gage from Sporty’s. I had the Cessna 152 but got the generic one anyway.
The marks can then be charted on the spreadsheet chart.
Anyone with Excel can do this.
I have it attached in pdf format.
I hope it goes thru
Randall J. Hebert
Plans Building N7701P
From: owner-zenith701801-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-zenith701801-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Skyraider
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 11:07 AM
To: zenith701801-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: Re: LeftRight Fuel Systems?
For those unaware.....
Never trust fuel gauges! Never trust fuel gauges! Never trust fuel gauges!
There are all sorts of aluminum assemblies, in burnt piles on the ground for
those that have.
1) KNOW your fuel consumption rate at various altitudes.
One way, to find out is :
Know what the tank capacity is. (If the tank is not a standard,
fill it with a gallon milk jug the first time...)
Fill the tanks full.
Fly the various altitudes for a specific time, say for one hour,
land, and refill to same mark, noting the amount added.
Do the math.. if....one hour at 2000 feet takes 5.4 gals.
Therefore the fuel burn rate for 2000' is 5.4 gals.hr. for that altitude.
2)Do the same for differing altitudes, on different days, at different temps.
noting throttle settings so you can repeat the exercise with certainty.
You will develop a chart you can refer to.
average the numbers, and that will be your average fuel burn rate
3) Add to that two gallons for taxi, run-up and climb.
4) Keep track of hours flown multiply hours flown by burn rate to get fuel used.
use an E6B flight computer, or even pad and pencil.
You have to keep track of these items (alt, throttle, & mixture settings) on every flight.
This should be part of the first 40 hours of "Phase One" testing.
It is also part, of the "pilot workload" we often hear so much about, that is never really explained...
With Certified aircraft, this is done by the manufacturer, and noted in the POH
(Pilots Operating Handbook)
Alternatively, if that is too much work,
check out :
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/menus/in/fuelinstrumentation_fuelcomputers.html
But even then, practice the pad and pencil method. Even double check the
flow meter itself.
You may one day fly an aircraft without a fuel flow meter..
Your runway might be closed for an emergency and you'd need to divert to another airport. Then what? Would you have fuel for the extra distance?
You need to know these things. The life you save may be your own.
Fly Safe, Don't become a bad experimental aircraft statistic.
Thanks for reading my rant...
Charlie NJ
From: ronlee <rlee468(at)comcast.net (rlee468(at)comcast.net)>
To: zenith701801-list(at)matronics.com (zenith701801-list(at)matronics.com)
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: LeftRight Fuel Systems?
--> Zenith701801-List message posted by: "ronlee" <rlee468(at)comcast.net (rlee468(at)comcast.net)>
I have snorkel tubes on each gas cap and they still feed uneven . My guess is that the one that produces the most pressure feeds the fastest. The only way to have even pressure on each tank is to have only one snorkel cap, the other non vented and have an equalizer tube between the tanks as some GA have. It is an issue as I really don't know when one or the other tank is completly empty so I can't use all my fuel safely. I don't have enough balls to test while in flight if fuel will still flow once one side is empty. I have actually had fuel transfer from one tank to fill the other one time when a fuel cap was left off one side. The side with the snorkel forced it to the tank with the cap off. I thought my fuel gages were going crazy as one gage was going up and the other down. I do have a valve to feed each side separate or both at once. I now always use only one side at a time so I know about where I am with fuel. The fact is I just don't have the guts to burn one side til!
l I run out so I never know for sure how much is left when I switch to the other side. As I said, I do believe if there was an equalizer tube between the tanks they would feed even unless one tends to fly with one wing low.
Someone should be able to figure this problem out as it has been ongoing for a long time now, years actually.
--------
Ron Lee
Tucson, Arizona
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=383823#383823
nith701801-List" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith701801-Lista href="http://forums.matronics.com/" target="_blank">http://forums.mat &nbs//www.matronics.com/contribution" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.co==================
| Quote: | | http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith701801-List |
01234567
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Dan Wilde
Joined: 05 Jun 2011
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:21 pm Post subject: LeftRight Fuel Systems? |
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On 9/23/2012 6:26 AM, ronlee wrote:
| Quote: |
I have snorkel tubes on each gas cap and they still feed uneven . My guess is that the one that produces the most pressure feeds the fastest. The only way to have even pressure on each tank is to have only one snorkel cap, the other non vented and have an equalizer tube between the tanks as some GA have. It is an issue as I really don't know when one or the other tank is completly empty so I can't use all my fuel safely. I don't have enough balls to test while in flight if fuel will still flow once one side is empty. I have actually had fuel transfer from one tank to fill the other one time when a fuel cap was left off one side. The side with the snorkel forced it to the tank with the cap off. I thought my fuel gages were going crazy as one gage was going up and the other down. I do have a valve to feed each side separate or both at once. I now always use only one side at a time so I know about where I am with fuel. The fact is I just don't have the guts to burn one side til!
l I run out so I never know for sure how much is left when I switch to the other side. As I said, I do believe if there was an equalizer tube between the tanks they would feed even unless one tends to fly with one wing low.
Someone should be able to figure this problem out as it has been ongoing for a long time now, years actually.
--------
Ron Lee
Tucson, Arizona
Ron: Before I put individual shutoff valves on my fuel lines, I made a
|
long trip (2+ hours) and my right fuel gauge went to empty while the
left tank still showed full. Since I did not fall out of the sky I am
sure the other tank was feeding fuel to the engine. However, I did land
early and fill up the right tank just to ease my mind. I must admit
there was some pucker factor at work since the area I was flying over at
the time did not have any good spots to set down if things went bad.
Shortly after that flight I installed the valves so now I can regulate
fuel flow.
I asked Zenith about this and they assured me the other tank would feed
once the right tank got low enough. However peace of mind is worth it
for a couple of bucks for shutoff valves.
Dan Wilde
N948DW
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ggower_99(at)yahoo.com
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| Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:51 pm Post subject: LeftRight Fuel Systems? |
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What I have done in several years of happy flying my 701:
Where I notice it more, is in trips more than 2 hrs long. I carefully plan my refuels no more than 3 hours, for safety...
The way I have handle it is, We installed one shut off valve on each side of the cabin, just where the hose enters the cabin.
The right side tank (passenger side) is the one that drains faster in my 701, since the first XCounttry flight.
So I take off with both valves open, once I level on cruise, I close the right hand valve (easy reach from the pilot seat) and fly for one hour on the left tank only (I always use a timer), then I open the right valve and continue the rest of the flight on both tanks, I arrive with almost even level in both tanks... That simple.
One other advantage of the two valves (learned the hard way).
If we hangar the plane for the week with the tanks more than half tank full. In case of a one main tire flat during the week, all the gas travels to the "lower" tank and lots of gasoline is lost to the floor 
Gary Gower
701 Rotax 912S
Flying from Chapala, Mexico.
From: ronlee <rlee468(at)comcast.net>
To: zenith701801-list(at)matronics.com
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2012 8:26 AM
Subject: Re: LeftRight Fuel Systems?
--> Zenith701801-List message posted by: "ronlee" <rlee468(at)comcast.net (rlee468(at)comcast.net)>
I have snorkel tubes on each gas cap and they still feed uneven . My guess is that the one that produces the most pressure feeds the fastest. The only way to have even pressure on each tank is to have only one snorkel cap, the other non vented and have an equalizer tube between the tanks as some GA have. It is an issue as I really don't know when one or the other tank is completly empty so I can't use all my fuel safely. I don't have enough balls to test while in flight if fuel will still flow once one side is empty. I have actually had fuel transfer from one tank to fill the other one time when a fuel cap was left off one side. The side with the snorkel forced it to the tank with the cap off. I thought my fuel gages were going crazy as one gage was going up and the other down. I do have a valve to feed each side separate or both at once. I now always use only one side at a time so I know about where I am with fuel. The fact is I just don't have the guts to burn one side til!
l I run out so I never know for sure how much is left when I switch to the other side. As I said, I do believe if there was an equalizer tube between the tanks they would feed even unless one tends to fly with one wing low.
Someone should be able to figure this problem out as it has been ongoing for a long time now, years actually.
--------
Ron Lee
Tucson, Arizona
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?-> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith701801-List
_= - List Contribution Web Site &nbs
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