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I just removed my gas tank from my 72s frame yesterday. When I looked inside I noticed the fuel gauge float and the end of the gas pickup tube were almost 3 inches from the bottom of the tank!!
Since the tank is only 9 inches tall that could explain why so many users say they are out of gas after 10 gallons or so. That would be 12 gallons on a 18 gallon tank,leaving 6 gallons left in the bottom and completely unusable.
Does this sound normal to anyone? Is there a spec? Has anyone ever tried to lower it to get the fuel pickup closer to the bottom of the tank?
Running out of gas with almost six gallons of gas left in the tank makes no sense to me. An oil pump pickup should be within a 1/2" of the bottom of the oil pan, this just seems nuts.
Last edited by leigh1322; May 17, 2020 at 09:43 AM.
I don't know of a spec to quote, but I know that sender assembly is sometimes a challenge to get snaked into the tank especially on a fully assembled car with the tank in the car. It would not take much of a bend, accidental or otherwise, to cause your issue. Chip.
I prefer the pickup tube to be 1" from the DEEPEST part of the tank.
You use all but a gallon of fuel...without sucking water/contaminents into the fuel line.
I "unbend the tube just enough to accomplish the above/it takes several attempts to get it just right....but, that's just me
FYI: all military aircraft had petcocks at the lowest part of each fuel tank. On a daily basis we would drain any water/contaminants from the tanks.
(petcock: small quick-release for draining liquid or air)
I will definitely put one in the below-the-floor fuel tank I fabricated (OEM tanks have such a large opening, a petcock is not needed to suction out moisture/water)
Last edited by doorgunner; May 17, 2020 at 11:02 AM.
Thanks Door gunner.
I might just be doing some "bending" 2-1/2 to 3" from the floor just seemed way to high for me. No use wasting 6 gallons every tank. I got a BB I'm gonna need it.
It's a replacement tank and sender that someone put in before me.
You might want the float to be 2" higher than the filter.....that way, you know you have 3-4 gallons of usable fuel left when the gas gauge needle moves to the "Empty" mark.
Fuel for thought
Fuel Pump Pickup Too High?
