---------------------------------------------------------- Glasair-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 07/05/08: 3 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 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 _____________________________________ Time: 08:07:09 PM PST US From: MPPalmer@aol.com 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 <><


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(http://autos.aol.com/used?ncid=aolaut00050000000007) ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 08:19:18 PM PST US From: "Bruce Gray" Subject: RE: Glasair-List: Help me solve the case of the missing fuel Are you blowing it out the fuel caps? Bruce 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 _____________________________________ Time: 09:09:48 PM PST US Subject: Re: Glasair-List: Help me solve the case of the missing fuel From: Dj Merrill 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message glasair-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Glasair-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/glasair-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/glasair-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.