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Topic: Fuel Gauge Calibration (Read 1566 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Fuel Gauge Calibration

Reply #20 –
Condensation in the tank as it cools is an issue as is the fuel volume as a heat sink for the returned fuel.

A non full coach where we live in shaky town(Los Angeles) is not using the coach to its full potential if a emergency occurs...

Re: Fuel Gauge Calibration

Reply #21 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Condensation in the tank as it cools is an issue as is the fuel volume as a heat sink for the returned fuel.

Agree on both counts:

Particularly in hot weather, running on less than 1/2 tank materially raises fuel temperature.  Fuel is used to cool and lubricate injection components.  Because of their internal tank location, Foretravels are particularly sensitive to low fuel level causing elevated fuel temperatures.  Hence, many of us have installed fuel coolers (basically transmission coolers) in the fuel return line.

And, if you have a 150 gallon tank and 50 gallons of fuel, you WILL HAVE 100 gallons of air.  And at whatever temperature and humidity air you were driving through as you consumed that 100 gallons.  When the temperature of the tank drops to the dew point of the air in the tank, the water will condense out.  Being heavier than diesel, it will go to the bottom of the tank where it encourages algae/bacteria growth.

Yes, when on grades, the extra weight hurts MPG, but 600  more pounds of fuel in a 30,000 pound coach is really not significant. And, on flat land driving aerodynamic drag FAR outweighs the affects of coach weight on determining MPG.

Re: Fuel Gauge Calibration

Reply #22 –
Quote from: lgshoup –
Either you guys are getting fuel very cheap or you are being paid to transport the stuff down the road. I'm not sure there is any place in the US that you can't get diesel every 200 miles or so and certainly every 500 miles if shopping for price. I very seldom take my tank above 3/4 full.
Out west, states like Nevada have far fewer major cities with less expensive diesel. Some more isolated roads will only have an occasional service station where trucking the fuel in means increased costs so I almost always use GasBuddy.com - Find Low Gas Prices in the USA and Canada to find the least expensive diesel ahead.  After arriving, I drop the left side to get every ounce in that I possibly can. The up and down grades here also drop the fuel mileage down much lower than when you get east of the Rockies.

Agree, on flat land in much of the U.S. fuel prices are not that much different and fueling is available at much closer distances.

Pierce

Re: Fuel Gauge Calibration

Reply #23 –
I have learned to phone ahead to verify gas buddy pricing.  Occasionally incorrect. 

Various state txes can make a larger purchase a savings

Re: Fuel Gauge Calibration

Reply #24 –
Always keep at least 75%, got stuck in a hurricane a number of years ago. Ran the diesel genset in my bus for 12 hours a day for 3 weeks, had ac, hot showers, ice and cold beer, did run extension cords to many of my neighbors, to run fans or small refrigerators. Bus only had about 20 gals in it when i finally got to fill it up.

Re: Fuel Gauge Calibration

Reply #25 –
I choose my fill-ups based primarily on cost and plan many states ahead frequently running down to 50 gal left on my 200 gan tank.  But then, I'm off the road in hot weather.
 

Re: Fuel Gauge Calibration

Reply #26 –
So, here is the reason to not worry about what time of day to buy fuel or the unfortunate fallacy of buying only at high volume service stations: http://datagenetics.com/blog/april32015/

Fueling early in the morning is always best if possible as the coach operator is the most rested and the chance of making a mistake either entering or leaving a service station is the lowest. I have witnessed several accidents directly attributable to tired driving. The worst was a newer coach being intimidated by drivers exiting a station along with a fairly difficult entrance for a big coach. He let himself be pressured and turned too early and put a light standard concrete barrier two feet into the side of his coach. So flustered, he never even got out and then backed out into the street and drove off leaving some of the compartment contents lying on the ground. You can't believe the noise it made.

Pierce