Today's Message Index:
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1. 08:07 PM - Help me solve the case of the missing fuel (MPPalmer@aol.com)
2. 08:19 PM - Re: Help me solve the case of the missing fuel (Bruce Gray)
3. 09:09 PM - Re: Help me solve the case of the missing fuel (Dj Merrill)
Message 1
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| Subject: | Help me solve the case of the missing fuel |
Hi All:
Over the last 3 months or so, we have been running out of fuel faster than
usual and faster than our fuel totalizer shows. It's gotten to the point now
that we can't account for about 7 gallon of fuel in a 43 gallon top off! (Ran out
of fuel in flight in the main today an hour short. Fortunately, had the
Header topped for just such a contingency.)
At first, when the problem started, I thought the totalizer was off a bit.
But as the problem grows, it seems the totalizer must still be right. It says
we're burning our usual 7 GPH, but our fule "burn" calculates now to 9 GPH!
We're certainly not going any faster for it!
I'm thinking we must be blowing a bunch of fuel overboard in flight, but am
at a loss to figure out where or how. I've checked the fuel pump overflow. It's
dry. I've looked at the belly. Maybe something at the center vent... not sure
yet, nor am I sure how to tell. (Steve K. can testify you don't want to form
up on me to find out!)
We can't smell any fuel in the airplane. But when we've had bona fide leaks
before - like when one of the fuel drains didn't close all the way on preflight
- we can sure smell fuel then.
The airplane is hangared. I don't think a thief is stealing fuel from us.
I plan to do a thorough blowing out of the vents in case something funky is
happening. Anyone had this problem before or suggest things to try?
This is becoming an expensive problem! We're throwing away about $30 every
time we fill up.
(Glasair II, carbureted engine, stand pipe vent, wing vents Tee'd to the
center vent. Has worked fine for 13 years.)
Mike Palmer <><<BR><BR><BR>**************<BR>Gas prices getting you down? Search
AOL Autos
for fuel-efficient used cars.<BR>
(http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)
Message 2
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| Subject: | Help me solve the case of the missing fuel |
Are you blowing it out the fuel caps?
Bruce
<http://www.glasair.org/> www.Glasair.org
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-glasair-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-glasair-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of
MPPalmer@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 11:05 PM
Subject: Glasair-List: Help me solve the case of the missing fuel
Hi All:
Over the last 3 months or so, we have been running out of fuel faster
than
usual and faster than our fuel totalizer shows. It's gotten to the point
now
that we can't account for about 7 gallon of fuel in a 43 gallon top off!
(Ran out of fuel in flight in the main today an hour short. Fortunately,
had
the Header topped for just such a contingency.)
At first, when the problem started, I thought the totalizer was off a
bit.
But as the problem grows, it seems the totalizer must still be right. It
says we're burning our usual 7 GPH, but our fule "burn" calculates now
to 9
GPH! We're certainly not going any faster for it!
I'm thinking we must be blowing a bunch of fuel overboard in flight, but
am
at a loss to figure out where or how. I've checked the fuel pump
overflow.
It's dry. I've looked at the belly. Maybe something at the center
vent...
not sure yet, nor am I sure how to tell. (Steve K. can testify you don't
want to form up on me to find out!)
We can't smell any fuel in the airplane. But when we've had bona fide
leaks
before - like when one of the fuel drains didn't close all the way on
preflight - we can sure smell fuel then.
The airplane is hangared. I don't think a thief is stealing fuel from
us.
I plan to do a thorough blowing out of the vents in case something funky
is
happening. Anyone had this problem before or suggest things to try?
This is becoming an expensive problem! We're throwing away about $30
every
time we fill up.
(Glasair II, carbureted engine, stand pipe vent, wing vents Tee'd to the
center vent. Has worked fine for 13 years.)
Mike Palmer <><
**************
Gas prices getting you down? Search AOL Autos for fuel-efficient used
cars.
(http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007)
Message 3
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| Subject: | Re: Help me solve the case of the missing fuel |
MPPalmer@aol.com wrote:
> The airplane is hangared. I don't think a thief is stealing fuel from us.
Are you sure? If it were leaking, you'd see it on the ground or smell
it. I went nuts trying to figure out why my header tank was empty every
time I went to the airport, until I moved the airplane to another
airport and mysteriously the fuel stayed in the tank after that.
-Dj
--
Dj Merrill
Sportsman 2+2 Builder #7118
http://deej.net/sportsman/
"Many things that are unexplainable happen during the construction of an
airplane." --Dave Prizio, 30 Aug 2005
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