Faster Fill-ups...Shorten the Breather Hose?

[mgonske]

Originally posted by R. M. THOMPSON

... I'm under the assumption that there is approx. 3 gal in reserve when gauge read "E". Where did we read this figure ?

In the owner's manual! It says that when the gauge reads empty, and mini trip computer reads zero miles to empty, you have approximately 10% of the tank remaining.

 

[RHinds]

Since nobody has responded concerning the two hose barbs in the tank, here is a discussion with a link to another discussion about them. My thought is that if air will flow out of these barbs, then there shouldn't be a fill issue at all.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=816113#post816113



The post referred to above was posted for me by my uncle. Since then, I have joined the TDR. While my truck was being repaired, I noticed that the barb was open and had the shop put a plug on the barb, that was before reading these posts. My fill issue is the same as before, but not as bad as some are referring to.



One thing that I want to mention is that my father is a truck driver and I have filled his Kenworth too many times to remember. The tanks on the 18 wheelers have no vent tube, they do however have a very large fill nozzle which is to make up for that, but have any of you ever noticed that the fuel foams up in them tanks also. Most of the foaming has to do with how much air is being forced into the fuel while filling, the faster the flow rate, the more foam you get.



I however will be looking into the tank design once the weather warms up a bit around here.

 

[Jeremiah]

Refueling woes

I don't want to be a smart*** but slow refueling can be partially solved in two ways. The secret is finding a station that isn't level.



In other words, the ground should tilt slightly away from the left (refueling) side of the truck. Much of the air that gets trapped in foam will vacate the tank out the filler hole.



The other solution is rather expensive, and that is to buy an auxilliary tank that feeds into the main tank. But who wants to do that when the fuel on board outlasts most bladders?



Of course, if tilted truck stops aren't an option either, hey, carry a few 2 x 4s and use them (drive up on 'em, in other words) to tilt the truck away from the filler hole.



P. S. This will work for Ford owners too; just don't tell them they're not supposed to use the 2 x 4s as pry bars.

 

[RonWeiss]

How about driving up on 6X6 under the rear left wheel?



Ron W.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by RonWeiss

How about driving up on 6X6 under the rear left wheel?



Ron W.

Hey, that'd work too!

 

[Spooled-up]

I think we can solve this problem if someone would actually pull their tank and open up that barb everyone's been talking about and plumb it with a "T" fitting into the vent tube.



When I'm filling up, the level of the fuel slowly goes into the tank, meaning as I slowly fill, I keep the fuel level in the filler at a constant level which is above the vent tube that is on the forward part of the filler. What I don't understand is why are there no bubbles coming out of that vent? Shouldn't the air being displaced from the high part of the tank be coming out somewhere??

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by DMKelley

I think we can solve this problem if someone would actually pull their tank and open up that barb everyone's been talking about and plumb it with a "T" fitting into the vent tube.



When I'm filling up, the level of the fuel slowly goes into the tank, meaning as I slowly fill, I keep the fuel level in the filler at a constant level which is above the vent tube that is on the forward part of the filler. What I don't understand is why are there no bubbles coming out of that vent? Shouldn't the air being displaced from the high part of the tank be coming out somewhere??

I think it's coming out the fill hole AND the vent. Then things shut down when one or both of 'em get blocked with foamy fuel. If the air comes out fast enough, it ought to facilitate fueling. It won't be as fast as gasoline, but faster than usual.

 

[Spooled-up]

When I'm filling with the level right at the fill neck and the fuel is still going in, there are no bubbles coming out of the neck or the vent hole. The fuel just kind of sinks into the filler. I've seen this with no foam and I'm mystified as to where the air goes that the fuel is displacing.

 

[Jeremiah]

Originally posted by DMKelley

When I'm filling with the level right at the fill neck and the fuel is still going in, there are no bubbles coming out of the neck or the vent hole. The fuel just kind of sinks into the filler. I've seen this with no foam and I'm mystified as to where the air goes that the fuel is displacing.

Congratulations! You are experiencing equilibrium. The foam - which is mostly air - is in perfect balance and disappears bubble-by-bubble as the fuel flows slowly into the tank. Ignore all those hairy-legged truck drivers waiting in line behind you. You have as much right to that pump as they do.

 

[Spooled-up]

Here's a link to the solution for all those subscribed to this thread.

http://www.tdr1.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=102655