Alan,
9.5 liters or 2.5 US gallons on the reserve side. (Basically the same thin
g on the other side if you want to know.)
Calibration of the fuel sight gauge, fuel flow and fuel gauge are important
. I measure each tank volume, check and calibrate my fuel flow using a sma
ll valve to restrict the flow and hold pressure at about 4 PSI to get the f
low right and of course flush my fuel system all at the same time. Old tan
ks held 18 US gallons with reserve. New tanks slightly more. My trigear f
uelled to the neck, holds just at 20 gallons. I normally plan 15 gallons f
or flight as my sight gauge is at the arm rest and the fuel left is one hou
r total left in the main and reserve.
No tank is clean on the inside, and a cleaning and thorough flush is necess
ary. You have a fuel pump, and electric pumps work out of the box and if t
hey are going to fail, fail in the first few hours. Why not run it prior t
o engine start cycling fuel through the system and calibrating the tank. I
even make lines on the tank with the wings detached to use should I need t
o change out the sight gauge line (required about every 5 years...
Filtration of the fuel system is a mixed bag of personal tastes. I make my
system exactly (well almost) like in the book. I differ on my site gauge
install and my vent system has a drain installed out the bottom of the airc
raft to prevent staining. Just check for insects and mud. Gascolators hav
e course filters on the whole, tend to leak as they have a gasket, must be
the lowest point in the fuel system which is hard to do in a Europa without
making a bump in the belly, if mounted high will suck air if the gasket dr
ies out, and leak or worse yet, prevent the fuel pump from pulling the rema
ining fuel out of the tank lower than the gascolator, robbing you of fuel.
But, they have been around forever on tractors, boats and airplanes becaus
e mechanics never change and work fine in a farm environment. Andair makes
the best in my opinion and can be placed on the suction as well as pressur
e side with its excellent O ring seals and is equipped with a 100 and 70 mi
cron filter and is not very tall. But follow Andy=92s instruction at Andai
r and put it as the lowest point in the system if possible.
Filters: 40-50 micron is best. I have written on this before and still us
e the Mr. Gasket/Purolator type. The Mr. Gasket/Purolator glass filters re
quire a technique. You can over and under torque them and they will leak b
y unscrewing themselves, a spring helps prevents loosening of the internal
nut that holds the filter in place and the filter element can be put in wro
ng. I=92ve used them for 15 years and never had a problem because I tighte
n them properly and use a light spring. Just pay attention, use quality fi
ttings and hose, and I put them in my seat pan for easy inspection plus put
in a drain should it leak. I am getting lazy as every 25 hour inspection
(really thorough preflight) over the last 10 years I have found no contamin
ation in my filters to speak of so I never check my fuel filters on preflig
ht any longer.
Make the filters easy to remove without leaking fittings or draining of the
fuel system. Again, I have written on my fittings for this before. I use
CPC valved fittings without fail. Keep a set of O rings for the QDs as th
ey do eventually wear out or though improper use, get cut.
The Europa plastic fuel tank does not sweat so, in my experience, water in
the fuel is normally not a problem even in colder damp conditions. But che
ck anyway.
Fuel quality is imperative. If you have water in your fuel tank, it has be
en my experience that the owner put it there using car gas with ethanol. A
viation suppliers of AV Gas tend to have excellent filtration and water tra
ps. Quality MOGAS stations do also. The metal jerry cans in my shop are a
ll gone as they sweat and water collects if the cap is not perfectly sealed
. I still pre-filter my auto fuel (a filtered funnel by =91Mr. Funnel=92 w
orks fine) and never had water in a tank. Ethanol can be a real problem.
Over time the octane drops off, it absorbs water readily from the air, even
in the fuel vapor and vent system of the fully fueled aircraft tank, and
it tends to permeate non EPA (R-9 or better) fuel lines making a stinky sme
ll. AV Gas is great, except for the cost, higher maintenance, engine lead
deposit woes, and other lead problems. Non Ethanol premium auto fuel is pr
eferred in a Rotax. (94 Octane unleaded aviation fuel is starting to show
up around the States thank God.)
Bottom line, clean and calibrate your fuel system, make it easy to maintain
, and service, use components that have been tested and proven and you=92ll
be fine.
Best Regards,
Bud Yerly
Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Window
s 10
________________________________
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com <owner-europa-list-server@matr
onics.com> on behalf of Alan Burrill <alanb@dpy01.co.uk>
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 1:10:15 PM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: saddle tank?
Per Saddle i.e. each side is approx 9 -10 litre
Alan
On 17 Mar 2018, at 16:23, Paul Munford <pmdental@btinternet.com<mailto:pmde
ntal@btinternet.com>> wrote:
Thanks for such a speedy reply to my query !
Just to be sure, is that 9-10 litres for each side ?
or total for both sides?
Sorry to be a nuisance but I want to be sure.
Thanks again Paul Munford Europa NG kit 625
From: Tim Ward
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 1:23 PM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: saddle tank?
Hi Paul,
9.5 litres either side I work on.
Tim
Tim Ward
12 Waiwetu Street,
Fendalton,
Christchurch, 8052
New Zealand
ward.t@xtra.co.nz
Mob +64 210640221
On 17/03/2018, at 6:56 AM, Paul Munford <pmdental@btinternet.com> wrote:
Hi everyone, Anyone out there know the approx=92 volume of the 2 saddle are
as
in the std Europa 62 litre polypropylene tank . That is,- when the fuel is
down
to the bridge area. I am trying to understand & calibrate my fuel useage &
reserve.
Thanks Paul Munford Europa NG kit 625
|