Only half a fuel tank??!!
Discussion
Evening chaps,- I've noticed that I can fill the TIV up with only £24 of optimax! - Obviously it's not the most fuel efficient car I've owned so my range is somewhat limited.. I was reading the Bible last night that describes the wedge tanks as two halves - silly question but is the passenger side "blocked off" or has something else happened? I've tried searching on the forum with little joy. I'm grateful for any suggestions as I'm off to get a quote for some bodywork jobs at PR Woods and would like to get them to check the tank out. Thanks.
Hey, familiar sound! If you go really slowly you may make £30 though I know some who claim to have made £35!
If look under the rear you will see small pipe going from one to the other, from each tnk there is a pipe from the bottom to the swirl pot. Obviously the filler sensor is in the first tank! Great design!
If you go very slowly to allow the air/fuel to move from one to the other you will get more in but I have never managed 55 litres!
Good luck
If look under the rear you will see small pipe going from one to the other, from each tnk there is a pipe from the bottom to the swirl pot. Obviously the filler sensor is in the first tank! Great design!
If you go very slowly to allow the air/fuel to move from one to the other you will get more in but I have never managed 55 litres!
Good luck
have had the same problem on both of my wedges, and have cured it the same way twice. remove filler cap, find breather usually ner back bumper on passenger side, you need to either connect an air line on low pressure or blow up the pipe, i think that mine had become blocked in some way and it then stops the second tank from filling, you might look like a nutter blowing up the pipe but then you own a wedge so enough said
My tanks are fitted with a secondary, large balance pipe (about 50mm dia) about half way up the tanks (from memory). Is this not common to all wedges? I have an 1987 350i.
When my gauge shows almost empty I can chuck in about 48 litres as fast as the pump can deliver it. This gives me about a 150 to 175 mile range depending on short or longer journeys.
The Steve Heath Bible gives the tank capacity as 60.75 litres.
What's the max anyone's put in theirs?
What range does it give you?
By the way, pages 95, 96 of the bible cover fuel gauge / sender unit info.
When my gauge shows almost empty I can chuck in about 48 litres as fast as the pump can deliver it. This gives me about a 150 to 175 mile range depending on short or longer journeys.
The Steve Heath Bible gives the tank capacity as 60.75 litres.
What's the max anyone's put in theirs?
What range does it give you?
By the way, pages 95, 96 of the bible cover fuel gauge / sender unit info.
I'm going to try Blaine's suggestion...
IMHO the tanks ought to equalize the liquid via the bottom hose and the air at the top. But the bottom hose 1) connects at the swirl pot and 2)the optimum height is about equal to the drive shaft.
I looked at using a pair of "Y" or a "T" on the bottom hose so there was 1) a straight cross-over and 2) fuel to the pot but the space was so close to the whirling parts that I decided against it. I was able to lower the swirl pot a bit and get a bit more in at a fill up.
What I don't understand is why the tanks don't equalize over-night so in the morning I should have 1/2 a tank on the gauge???
IMHO the tanks ought to equalize the liquid via the bottom hose and the air at the top. But the bottom hose 1) connects at the swirl pot and 2)the optimum height is about equal to the drive shaft.
I looked at using a pair of "Y" or a "T" on the bottom hose so there was 1) a straight cross-over and 2) fuel to the pot but the space was so close to the whirling parts that I decided against it. I was able to lower the swirl pot a bit and get a bit more in at a fill up.
What I don't understand is why the tanks don't equalize over-night so in the morning I should have 1/2 a tank on the gauge???
grady said:
What I don't understand is why the tanks don't equalize over-night so in the morning I should have 1/2 a tank on the gauge???
If the vent is open on the nearside tank they would (IMHO) after a short while even if the connecting pipe was of very small diameter.
I 'place my bet' on the sender unit being out of adjustment and that there is still 30 to 40 litres in the tank when the gauge says empty. The easy way to check without removing the sender would be to drain the tank and see how much comes out (make sure you have big bucket!)
Mine is 85 350i. It also has the very large balance pipe, so the tanks fill quickly and evenly.
However, the 60 Ltrs quoted in the bible and hand book is simply not true. Having carefully filled mine from EMPTY, I can get a fraction over 45 LTRs in. There is no way in the world you could get bigger tanks in the space available, so I am not sure how TVR decided it was 60 LTR. Wishfull thinking?
Still 45 LTS's give 200 miles with my driving habbits, so not too bad for range. It would be better if the gauge was better damped, and / or gave a usefull reading when less than a quater full, but then you cannot have everything. Actualy, the gauge is in direct line with the wheel rim, so I cannot see it anyway......
However, the 60 Ltrs quoted in the bible and hand book is simply not true. Having carefully filled mine from EMPTY, I can get a fraction over 45 LTRs in. There is no way in the world you could get bigger tanks in the space available, so I am not sure how TVR decided it was 60 LTR. Wishfull thinking?
Still 45 LTS's give 200 miles with my driving habbits, so not too bad for range. It would be better if the gauge was better damped, and / or gave a usefull reading when less than a quater full, but then you cannot have everything. Actualy, the gauge is in direct line with the wheel rim, so I cannot see it anyway......
the S1 tasmins had a fuel filler cap on both sides so you just opened them both up to make filling from either side easier as the other side acted as a breather, cant understand why they stopped doing that? also meant you could drive up to the pump from either side thus avoiding those peky ques 
FHCNICK said:Yes and if you fill up too quickly it all shoots out the other side
the S1 tasmins had a fuel filler cap on both sides so you just opened them both up to make filling from either side easier as the other side acted as a breather, cant understand why they stopped doing that? also meant you could drive up to the pump from either side thus avoiding those peky ques
Done that one!D1 MAD said:
What I don't understand is why the tanks don't equalize over-night so in the morning I should have 1/2 a tank on the gauge???
If the vent is open on the nearside tank they would (IMHO) after a short while even if the connecting pipe was of very small diameter.
I 'place my bet' on the sender unit being out of adjustment and that there is still 30 to 40 litres in the tank when the gauge says empty. The easy way to check without removing the sender would be to drain the tank and see how much comes out (make sure you have big bucket!)
I would take that bet. I've learned if the fuel "guestimator" says empty... it's empty... add a gallon and off you go.
But I confess I climbed under and rapped the far tank to see if I had a tank full of trapped 1986 fuel.
On my '87 350i I have three connections between the tanks: large bore at the top, and a smaller bore about halfway and the connection at the bottom to feed the pump. Know this because I replaced all of them a couple of years a go. Got several times more than 50 litres in....., so capacity should be over 45l. Full tank always way over 200 miles (about 400km for me) range, except on track days. Filling up slow gives me in general an additional 10-15 litres to fill up to the brim. But then don't leave it in the sun or go on a race track as some of it will spill out with all the hazardous risks to yourself and polyester wedge.
Rob
Rob
Seems this is a feature of Wedges; I remember a past thread on this and it is hard to get much petrol in.
I remember once being very gentle and very slow to get as much in as possible, 30 litres plus I think, only to be told by someone at the next pump it was all flowing out of the overflow. Mush embarrassment caused with the putting down of sand etc.. Now I only put in 20 litres or so. Also to try to reduce the smell of petrol - seems to be better with less fuek in the tank.
I remember once being very gentle and very slow to get as much in as possible, 30 litres plus I think, only to be told by someone at the next pump it was all flowing out of the overflow. Mush embarrassment caused with the putting down of sand etc.. Now I only put in 20 litres or so. Also to try to reduce the smell of petrol - seems to be better with less fuek in the tank.
Interestingly.... Maybe,
Many years ago I had a tasmin DHC (2.8). It had a 16mm pipe connecting each fuel tank Via a 'T' piece, the third branch of the 'T' as there was no swirl pot, went to the fuel pump . I once ran out of fuel even thought the gauge showed half a tank (as it always did) Turned out the the 'T' piece was chocked up with silicone sealer, I guess choked solid as the gauge NEVER changed. Cleaned that out then the gauge was then 'wedge accurate' still drew air when cornering with less than quater of a tank of fuel.
regards,
Chris.
Many years ago I had a tasmin DHC (2.8). It had a 16mm pipe connecting each fuel tank Via a 'T' piece, the third branch of the 'T' as there was no swirl pot, went to the fuel pump . I once ran out of fuel even thought the gauge showed half a tank (as it always did) Turned out the the 'T' piece was chocked up with silicone sealer, I guess choked solid as the gauge NEVER changed. Cleaned that out then the gauge was then 'wedge accurate' still drew air when cornering with less than quater of a tank of fuel.
regards,
Chris.
I ran my fuel tanks bone dry when running the engine (whilst pumping up air bed with a small compressor) after arrival at Le Mans last year.
After filling with 5 litres of fuel kindly loaned by Paul, I then got abt 56 litres in at the filling station. ie 61 litres is abt right for 100% capacity on my car.
My fuel gauge reads empty when tanks are abt 1/2 full - another job on the "still to do" list.
Meantime I fill to brim full, record mileage, and then have enough for abt 200 plus miles range at a push. I start looking for a fuel pump at abt 150 miles from last fill.
When filling it is sometimes necessary to rock the car after the fuel hose nozzle first auto-stops. A glug of air then bubbles from the far away tank and I can then slowly fill to brim.
I also now carry a spare gallon of fuel in the boot just in case my right foot has been a bit heavy and the 200+ miles "normal" range is reduced.
Rgds
Hamish
After filling with 5 litres of fuel kindly loaned by Paul, I then got abt 56 litres in at the filling station. ie 61 litres is abt right for 100% capacity on my car.
My fuel gauge reads empty when tanks are abt 1/2 full - another job on the "still to do" list.
Meantime I fill to brim full, record mileage, and then have enough for abt 200 plus miles range at a push. I start looking for a fuel pump at abt 150 miles from last fill.
When filling it is sometimes necessary to rock the car after the fuel hose nozzle first auto-stops. A glug of air then bubbles from the far away tank and I can then slowly fill to brim.
I also now carry a spare gallon of fuel in the boot just in case my right foot has been a bit heavy and the 200+ miles "normal" range is reduced.
Rgds
Hamish
I revived this old thread to ask 2 questions (about a US 280i)
1) There is a fuel hose that is piped into the driver side (left) fuel tank near the top of the tank on the outside (right by the rear wheel). Is that the fuel return from the the FI system?
2) Where exactly is Blaine's magic venting hose? I had crawled and poked all around the rear end of the car and can't find it.
Thanks Grady
1) There is a fuel hose that is piped into the driver side (left) fuel tank near the top of the tank on the outside (right by the rear wheel). Is that the fuel return from the the FI system?
2) Where exactly is Blaine's magic venting hose? I had crawled and poked all around the rear end of the car and can't find it.
Thanks Grady
i was advised (by a well known specialist that I won't name in case its bollox) that if you wait the second tank will fill up from the first one, assuming they level off, you then continue filling - if you want to fill it right up then it takes ages waiting for them to level off as you go.
I don't know if this is bollox or not, but it makes sense to me and I have tried it... to a point - sometimes i wait 2 or 3 minutes (which feels like along time standing next to your car while someone is queing to use the pump)and I can get at least 10 more litres in the car... I have never bothered to wait longer but it seems very full at that point
I don't know if this is bollox or not, but it makes sense to me and I have tried it... to a point - sometimes i wait 2 or 3 minutes (which feels like along time standing next to your car while someone is queing to use the pump)and I can get at least 10 more litres in the car... I have never bothered to wait longer but it seems very full at that point
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