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Topic: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List) (Read 1260 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #25 –
A while back I posted a set of suggested parts for a fuel polishing system:
Fuel Polishing (was loss of power)
Not very complicated nor expensive.
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #26 –
Hi Elliott,

For filtering  coach diesel what two hoses did you use to go into the neck of the tank? It seems the supplied hose might be too big to allow another one to fit.
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #27 –
Quote from: Jim Frerichs –
Hi Elliott,

For filtering  coach diesel what two hoses did you use to go into the neck of the tank? It seems the supplied hose might be too big to allow another one to fit.
For the boat we had a pickup and an open pipe for the return. There is no particular load on the hose. We used clear plastic hose. Wouldn't pass Coast Guard but it was not used underway.

For the coach I could even see pumping from one side and returning it into the other side. You would want as much swirl as possible to get the bottom stirred up anyway.
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #28 –
I'm not going to recommend this to anyone since this setup is clearly not approved for the purpose but I used a 120v inline water pump to drain my tank into 2-50 gallon plastic barrels when I changed out my fuel lines. 

Flotec 1/12 HP Liquid-Transfer Utility Pump-FP0F360AC at The Home Depot

I think it was this one or something very similar.  I already had it around for another purpose.  Worked fine but was not fast.
Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #29 –
We have used a $9 drill pump to pump out diesel fuel from fuel tank and to pump out engine oil from hydraulic reservoir. After use, we throw drill pump out and carry a spare as it is not worth cleaning.

200 GPH Drill Pump-DRP-1 at The Home Depot

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #30 –
Sitting around recovering from knee surgery is giving me lots of time to review projects and order parts.  On the fuel tank, I am rereading all the posts and I have some questions.

Is the fuel tank truly flat on the bottom?
Is the fuel pickup on the bottom or just close to the bottom?
Where is the drain located? Center, Left, Right
How high is the generator drain?
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #31 –
Quote from: sedelange –
Sitting around recovering from knee surgery is giving me lots of time to review projects and order parts.  On the fuel tank, I am rereading all the posts and I have some questions.

Is the fuel tank truly flat on the bottom?
Is the fuel pickup on the bottom or just close to the bottom?
Where is the drain located? Center, Left, Right
How high is the generator drain?

I believe my tank is flat on the bottom.
I believe the fuel pickup is near--but not on--the bottom, so that it doesn't pick up debris on the bottom.
I don't know about the location of the drain.
I believe the generator pickup is at about the 1/4 level of the tank so that one can't be left stranded by generator usage.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #32 –
I may drain my tank through the generator pickup so I know exactly how low I can go. Our last trip I stopped and bought 20 gallons at $3.78 to get me to where it was $3.48. Being in West Texas in summer, you do not really want to run without a generator and roof air conditioners.  This was especially true for this trip, because my wife was in bed resting her new hip joint for most of the trip.
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #33 –
Quote from: sedelange –
Sitting around recovering from knee surgery is giving me lots of time to review projects and order parts.  On the fuel tank, I am rereading all the posts and I have some questions.

Is the fuel tank truly flat on the bottom?
Is the fuel pickup on the bottom or just close to the bottom?
Where is the drain located? Center, Left, Right
How high is the generator drain?

Steve,

At least for 2003 there were a couple of revisions of the fuel tank.  FT should have drawings of the one for your build number - they had ours (after looking through several to figure out which it was).  They might be able to e-mail it to you as an attachment.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #34 –
Wow, you guys are becoming Bionic!  You both have replacement joints!
I've been avoiding that for years.
Current coach 1996 U320 40'
Previous coach, 1990 36' U280

Re: Draining fuel tank (split from Re: Coach PM Punch List)

Reply #35 –
Mine was only a partial knee replacement.  Just returned from first outpatient PT.  It feels so good. . . . .when you stop.  My wife had a hip replacement in May, but has healed completely and is able to be nurse.  Of course, she has had to take over the cooking, which means, order in, takeout, of nuke it.
Steve DeLange
2005 U320T 40'
Pearland, Texas