Removable Auxillary Fuel Tank

[ETomasic]

OK, I have searched forums, and still don't know which way to go. Here is my idea. I want to install a REMOVABLE aux. tank in the bed, using hydraulic quick couplers on fuel lines. I have looked at the siphon method of plumbing, aux to main transfer, and also a selector valve type of install. The problems I see are as follows.



1. With a siphon hook-up, the vent line would be blocked when tank is removed



2. I have been told that there is an electric pump in the tank on the 2001. If I go with a selector valve, this would mean that I have to run a pump on the aux. tank, correct?



3. A transfer pump to run fuel from Aux to main seems to be the answer, but don't want to chance leaving it on. The wife wouldn't understand 50 gal of diesel on garage floor.



I actually prefer the selector option, but want to avoid the aux pump. Any ideas? All input will be appreciated!

 

[Dkevdog]

I am hoping to accomplish the exact same thing you are- I started a post a couple days ago, look at it here .



First off, there is no need to worry about a pump in the fuel tank- it isn't there . If there were, then maybe we wouldn't have the lift pump problems were prone to having:{ .



I bought a used Transfer flow tank (tool box style)from a friend and need to also be able to remove it as certain months of my job require full use of my bed. I too was thinking along the lines of quick connect fittings, but haven't gotten it all engineered yet.



I was able to find a few different pump options: check them out here



The pumps are a tad pricey IMO, so I'm still looking. I want to be able to control the fuel flow from the aux tank to the main somehow. Automatic would be great. I spoke to Transferflow today but don't really want to spend the $$$$$$ for their setup. The Computer transfer system is not cheap .



I'm going to play with it over the weekend (time permitting) and see what I can come up with. If you find anything out, post it here .



Kev

 

[Joe G.]

Kev,



If you find a cheap way to do the automatic pump business please post it. I am looking for a chip that will respond to voltage changes like a thermostat does to temp. That is, turn on at a specific voltage and turn off at a different specific voltage. If I can find one that will work for voltages in the 0 to 5 volt range I can build an automatic pump control.



I have mounted a tank in my truck bed that is removable. I used a trailer plug for the electrical stuff and unscrew the fittings for the fuel. The tank is a saddle tank off a GMC dump truck. It holds fifty gallons. Cost me $37 at a salvage yard. It has a fuel level sender that works with a fuel gauge I got from Westach. I got hold of them and told them what the resistance of the sending unit was and they had the gauge. I use a pump and solenoid valve from JC Whitney. That has worked fine for a year so far.

 

[ETomasic]

Well then, if no electric pump exists in the tank, then a tank selector valve should work just fine, and solve the problems I thought I had. However, according to the owners manual, there is an electric pump.



The hydraulic fittings can be found at any heavy equipment or farm equip supply house. I will go with a 3/8" npt fitting for the supply for the reduced restriction, and 1/4" for the return.

 

[Joe G.]

The sending unit has a pump in it on the gassers, not the diesels.

 

[zstroken]

on and off at different volatges

It is called hysterisys, and not a complicated circuit to build at all. You can probably do a seach on it and come up with something, on yahoo, or google, etc. The 0-5 volts makes it even easier since that is TTL level.

 

[Joe G.]

Thanks for that. The requirement is like a thermostat. Turn on when the voltage drops to say 2 volts and turn off at 3. 5 or something like that and wait for 2 volts to do it again. I didn't know what to look for. Not much help here in Eureka for that kind of stuff.