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Topic: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank. (Read 782 times) previous topic - next topic

Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

I'm embarrassed to say but a little plastic tube fell into my coach fuel tank.
Will it do any harm? Should I try to retrieve it?
Thanks
Rick & MJ Berry
1998 U320 40'
Ohio

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #1 –
Depending on how big it is will determine if it will just stay in the first compartment of the fuel tank. Your fuel pick up should be in the center section for the engine.  With it sinking to the bottom it won't effect the A/H or generator pick up.  SO I would just leave it till the next time I had the fuel tank out. Now if it is effected by diesel (like dissolves) then you may find it in a fuel filter.

Mike

Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #2 –
Also depends on of what material it is made.  Some plastics may be degraded/dissolved by diesel.  I would ask the question of the plastic manufacturer.

Said another way, not all plastic is approved for use with diesel.

I would spend some time with one of the long claw retrieval tools.  If further from the fill, maybe a coat hanger can be used to fish it over to where you can grab it.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #3 –
Me, I just wouldn't loose a bunch of sleep over it. As has been said the tank has 2 baffles in it with small cutouts at the bottom to allow fuel to move. I doubt anything would he past them. Even if it did the fuel pickup(s) are not all the way to the bottom of the tank.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #4 –
Thanks
I will try to retrieve it.
It was in two parts. A funnel type reservoir with this foot long flexible tube attached. I got it in an auto parts store made for any type of fluid.
So if I can't get it I will hope for the best.
Thanks for the info.
Rick & MJ Berry
1998 U320 40'
Ohio

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #5 –
They make industrial type "endoscopes" (borescopes) that are fuel resistant.  Often used for inspecting the inside of fuel tanks in auto shops.  Not too expensive - around $50 for a decent one.  Once you have one, you will find many other uses for it.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #6 –
If you have some more of what you lost put in a baby food jar with some diesel in it and stick it on the shelve. Twenty years from now you can check that it's still in one piece or consumed by the fuel system
Scott

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #7 –
Quote from: 18360 –
Thanks
I will try to retrieve it.
It was in two parts. A funnel type reservoir with this foot long flexible tube attached. I got it in an auto parts store made for any type of fluid.
So if I can't get it I will hope for the best.
Thanks for the info.

If it was designed for petroleum products, you can ignore my comment above about diesel dissolving it.

But, as I mentioned, diesel does not play well with all plastic.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #8 –
I did exactly the same thing about two weeks ago.  Using a funnel with an extension tube to add biocide to the fuel tank.  Went to remove the funnel and the tube fell in.  I've been thinking about how to retrieve it and was wondering if I could remove the fuel level sender so that I could shine a light in one opening and use a retrieval tool in the other.
George Mann
2002 U320 #5934
2017 Rubicon
2013 BMW GS
Waterford MI

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #9 –
I would be willing to bet that there are thousands of fuel tanks all over the country that have little extension tubes rolling around in them.  Don't ask me how I know this.

You'd think that in all this time someone would have invented a better extension, right?

Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #10 –
Can you put a bit of the same plastic in a container of fuel to see if the plastic floats?  If so, you could fill the tank until you can see the surface of fuel through the filler.  That would make snagging the plastic with a grabber pretty easy.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: Little plastic tube fell into coach fuel tank.

Reply #11 –
Carol,

If it's you old coach, now mine you are talking about there is nothing to worry about as I have had no issues.

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159