---------------------------------------------------------- RV8-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 06/25/10: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:50 AM - Re: Fuel Tanks TestingIII (Carl Froehlich) 2. 07:11 AM - Re: Fuel Tanks TestingIII (Michael) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:50:22 AM PST US From: "Carl Froehlich" Subject: RE: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks TestingIII The difference in viscosity between 100LL and auto fuel is insignificant for leak detection. The dye in 100LL however may make leak detection easier. I did the air test on my tanks when building my 8A. I used enough soapy water to clean a truck, no leaks. A year into flying however I noted a green stain on the bottom of one tank, originating at a rivet on the rear baffle. The fix was easy as I had not yet painted the plane. Bottom line - soap and water testing will find the big leaks, it will not find the weepers. Having fuel sit in the tanks for a prolonged period will. If you want to paint before flying, then some sort of fuel weepage testing will help mitigate the chance you screw up your paint job to fix a leak. The other option is to fly the plane and then paint it. The fly then paint option provides other advantages as well, as I for one made modifications that would have been detrimental to my final paint job. Taking wings off a flying plane to paint is a one hour or so evolution, especially if you do the standard practice of a thin coat of light grease on any steel to steal or steal to aluminum bolt/interface. Carl Froehlich RV-8A (550 hrs) RV-10 (systems install) From: owner-rv8-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv8-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of japhillipsga@aol.com Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 11:54 PM Subject: Re: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks TestingIII Thanks Dan, as I indicted before we did the balloon test several years ago, but we also know of several fellows that were successful at that test and had leaks when gas went in the tank later. Before I spend a bunch of money on painting and time and effort I want assurance the paint won't be ruined by a leak. So who knows can we expect Mogas to move through a leak as 100 LL ? Who knows? Bill -----Original Message----- From: Dan Bergeron Sent: Thu, Jun 24, 2010 2:41 pm Subject: Re: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks TestingII BILL: VANS HAS A KIT WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO PRESSURE TEST YOUR TANKS WITH COMPRESSED AIR. I USED IT AFTER FINISHING UP MY TANKS SEVERAL YEARS AGO - IT'S CLASSIC VANS - ECONOMICAL AND SIMPLE AND IT WORKS. YOU SIMPLY MAKE SURE THE FILLER CAPS ARE NICE AND TIGHT; SCREW A NIPPLE INTO THE VENT LINE FITTING AND TAPE A BALLOON OVER IT; SCREW AN AIR VALVE INTO THE FUEL LINE FITTING AND PUMP SOME AIR INTO THE TANK WITH A BICYCLE PUMP - DO NOT USE AN AIR COMPRESSOR. THE BALLOON WILL EXPAND AND KEEP YOU FROM OVER PRESSURISING THE TANK. DISCONNECT THE PUMP AND WATCH THE BALLOON. I ALSO BRUSHED SOAPY WATER ONTO ALL THE RIVET LINES. IF THE BALLOON STAYS INFLATED AND YOU DON'T SEE ANY BUBBLES - YOU'RE HOME FREE. SURE BEATS FOOLING AROUND WITH 21 GALLONS OF GASOLINE - AVGAS OR MOGAS. I'VE NEVER HAD A LEAK. DAN BERGERON RV-7A - N307TB 152 HOURS SINCE FIRST FLIGHT ON 08/04/09 On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 9:59 PM, wrote: We have and so does everybody else, but somehow a percentage still have leaks to contend with when the juice goes in so why not fluid test before mounting? do not archive -----Original Message----- From: rikvincent@aol.com Sent: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 3:09 pm Subject: Re: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks Testing Why not pressure test with air? -----Original Message----- From: japhillipsga@aol.com Sent: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 6:39 am Subject: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks Testing We are planning on a full up test of the RV-8 tanks before final mounting. Instead of 21 gallons of 100 LL we were thinking maybe just premium mogas. Will mogas be a suitable substitute for AV gas? Will it show a leak as well as 100 LL ? We know water viscosity is too great, but mogas it available, easier. What does the smart folks think?, Best regards, Bill //www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?R V8-List //forums.matronics.com ">http://forums.matronics.com //www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/contribution get=_blank>http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List tp://forums.matronics.com _blank>http://www.matronics.com/contribution et="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List tp://forums.matronics.com _blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution =================================== get=_blank>http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List =================================== tp://forums.matronics.com =================================== _blank>http://www.matronics.com/contribution =================================== ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:11:14 AM PST US From: "Michael" Subject: RE: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks TestingIII Just a note here, do not know if it has been said before, I put a balloon on a vent, pressurize the tank to fill the balloon about half way up (around 3 to 5 psi). and wait a few days. If the balloon stays up, no leaks. Works pretty good. Mike From: owner-rv8-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv8-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Carl Froehlich Sent: Friday, June 25, 2010 9:50 AM Subject: RE: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks TestingIII The difference in viscosity between 100LL and auto fuel is insignificant for leak detection. The dye in 100LL however may make leak detection easier. I did the air test on my tanks when building my 8A. I used enough soapy water to clean a truck, no leaks. A year into flying however I noted a green stain on the bottom of one tank, originating at a rivet on the rear baffle. The fix was easy as I had not yet painted the plane. Bottom line - soap and water testing will find the big leaks, it will not find the weepers. Having fuel sit in the tanks for a prolonged period will. If you want to paint before flying, then some sort of fuel weepage testing will help mitigate the chance you screw up your paint job to fix a leak. The other option is to fly the plane and then paint it. The fly then paint option provides other advantages as well, as I for one made modifications that would have been detrimental to my final paint job. Taking wings off a flying plane to paint is a one hour or so evolution, especially if you do the standard practice of a thin coat of light grease on any steel to steal or steal to aluminum bolt/interface. Carl Froehlich RV-8A (550 hrs) RV-10 (systems install) From: owner-rv8-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv8-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of japhillipsga@aol.com Sent: Thursday, June 24, 2010 11:54 PM Subject: Re: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks TestingIII Thanks Dan, as I indicted before we did the balloon test several years ago, but we also know of several fellows that were successful at that test and had leaks when gas went in the tank later. Before I spend a bunch of money on painting and time and effort I want assurance the paint won't be ruined by a leak. So who knows can we expect Mogas to move through a leak as 100 LL ? Who knows? Bill -----Original Message----- From: Dan Bergeron Sent: Thu, Jun 24, 2010 2:41 pm Subject: Re: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks TestingII BILL: VANS HAS A KIT WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO PRESSURE TEST YOUR TANKS WITH COMPRESSED AIR. I USED IT AFTER FINISHING UP MY TANKS SEVERAL YEARS AGO - IT'S CLASSIC VANS - ECONOMICAL AND SIMPLE AND IT WORKS. YOU SIMPLY MAKE SURE THE FILLER CAPS ARE NICE AND TIGHT; SCREW A NIPPLE INTO THE VENT LINE FITTING AND TAPE A BALLOON OVER IT; SCREW AN AIR VALVE INTO THE FUEL LINE FITTING AND PUMP SOME AIR INTO THE TANK WITH A BICYCLE PUMP - DO NOT USE AN AIR COMPRESSOR. THE BALLOON WILL EXPAND AND KEEP YOU FROM OVER PRESSURISING THE TANK. DISCONNECT THE PUMP AND WATCH THE BALLOON. I ALSO BRUSHED SOAPY WATER ONTO ALL THE RIVET LINES. IF THE BALLOON STAYS INFLATED AND YOU DON'T SEE ANY BUBBLES - YOU'RE HOME FREE. SURE BEATS FOOLING AROUND WITH 21 GALLONS OF GASOLINE - AVGAS OR MOGAS. I'VE NEVER HAD A LEAK. DAN BERGERON RV-7A - N307TB 152 HOURS SINCE FIRST FLIGHT ON 08/04/09 On Wed, Jun 23, 2010 at 9:59 PM, wrote: We have and so does everybody else, but somehow a percentage still have leaks to contend with when the juice goes in so why not fluid test before mounting? do not archive -----Original Message----- From: rikvincent@aol.com Sent: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 3:09 pm Subject: Re: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks Testing Why not pressure test with air? -----Original Message----- From: japhillipsga@aol.com Sent: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 6:39 am Subject: RV8-List: Fuel Tanks Testing We are planning on a full up test of the RV-8 tanks before final mounting. Instead of 21 gallons of 100 LL we were thinking maybe just premium mogas. Will mogas be a suitable substitute for AV gas? Will it show a leak as well as 100 LL ? We know water viscosity is too great, but mogas it available, easier. What does the smart folks think?, Best regards, Bill //www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?R V8-List //forums.matronics.com ">http://forums.matronics.com //www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/contribution get=_blank>http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List tp://forums.matronics.com _blank>http://www.matronics.com/contribution et="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List tp://forums.matronics.com _blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution =================================== get=_blank>http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List =================================== tp://forums.matronics.com =================================== _blank>http://www.matronics.com/contribution =================================== http://www.matronics================ http://forums.matronics.com - List Contribution Web generous nbsp; --> http://www.matronics.com/c= Forum - Navigator to browse List Un/Subscription, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 02:35:00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message rv8-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/RV8-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/rv8-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/rv8-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.