REFLECTOR:Low fuel light

Brett Ferrell reflector@tvbf.org
Sat, 26 Jul 2003 09:05:57 -0400


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Re: REFLECTOR:Low fuel lightWhy would you jump to the assumption it's =
air in the tank?  Without a sightglass, or replacing that run of tubing =
to the sump neoprene or something, we don't have any idea what's causing =
the indication.  Could just as easily be a defect inside the instrument. =
 My whole contention was that, if air is entering the sump, it's =
probably for the best b/c the alternative is most likely to pull a =
vacuum on the tank.  Air doesn't displace fuel without a reason.

 Brett

  ----- Original Message -----=20
  From: alventures=20
  To: reflector@tvbf.org=20
  Sent: Friday, July 25, 2003 5:56 PM
  Subject: RE: REFLECTOR:Low fuel light


  Al,



  This thread started with Rene's problem with occasional low-fuel =
warning with plenty of fuel on board.  How is the air getting into the =
sump tank if the strake tanks have enough fuel to keep the =
strake-to-sump fuel lines submerged?  The sump vent seems the most =
likely route.



  Keith



    Yes, I agree with that; assuming of, course, that the intermittent =
warning is due to a low level in the sump tank and not a problem with =
the float switch, or something else.



    After giving the issue more thought, the valve in the sump vent =
seems to make sense.  Although it is one more thing on the checklist, =
and not convenient to get at.  And it doesn't preclude fuel exhaustion =
in the case of a leaky fuel cap.  If we are going to keep a simple =
gravity feed system from both tanks, we have to pay attention to the =
fuel caps, and be aware of one tank level dropping faster than the =
other.



    Let's see; if we could just find a different place to put the fuel =
cap; someplace that doesn't happen to see about the maximum negative =
pressure of anywhere on the airplane.



    Al

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<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Re: REFLECTOR:Low fuel light</TITLE>
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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Why would you jump to the assumption =
it's air in=20
the tank?&nbsp; Without a&nbsp;sightglass, or replacing that run of =
tubing to=20
the sump neoprene or something, we don't have any idea what's causing =
the=20
indication.&nbsp; Could just as easily be a defect inside the =
instrument.&nbsp;=20
My whole contention was that, if air is entering the sump, it's probably =
for the=20
best b/c the alternative is most likely to pull a vacuum on the =
tank.&nbsp; Air=20
doesn't displace fuel without a reason.</FONT></DIV><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2>
<DIV><BR>&nbsp;Brett</DIV>
<DIV></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; =
BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
  <DIV=20
  style=3D"BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: =
black"><B>From:</B>=20
  <A title=3Dalventures@msn.com =
href=3D"mailto:alventures@msn.com">alventures</A>=20
  </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A =
title=3Dreflector@tvbf.org=20
  href=3D"mailto:reflector@tvbf.org">reflector@tvbf.org</A> </DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Friday, July 25, 2003 =
5:56 PM</DIV>
  <DIV style=3D"FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: REFLECTOR:Low fuel =

  light</DIV>
  <DIV><BR></DIV>
  <DIV class=3DSection1>
  <DIV>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Al,</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
  <DIV>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
  size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P></DIV>
  <DIV>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">This thread started with =
Rene's=20
  problem with occasional low-fuel warning with plenty of fuel on =
board.&nbsp;=20
  How is the air getting into the sump tank if the strake tanks have =
enough fuel=20
  to keep the strake-to-sump fuel lines submerged?&nbsp; The sump vent =
seems the=20
  most likely route.</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
  <DIV>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
  size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P></DIV>
  <DIV>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3DArial =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
  style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: =
Arial">Keith</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
  <DIV>
  <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.5in"><FONT face=3D"Times =
New Roman"=20
  size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: =
12pt"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P></DIV>
  <BLOCKQUOTE=20
  style=3D"BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: =
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    <DIV>
    <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.6in"><FONT =
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
    color=3Dblue size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
blue">Yes, I agree=20
    with that; assuming of, course, that the intermittent warning is due =
to a=20
    low level in the sump tank and not a problem with the float switch, =
or=20
    something else.</SPAN></FONT></P>
    <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.6in"><FONT =
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
    color=3Dblue size=3D3><SPAN=20
    style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
    <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.6in"><FONT =
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
    color=3Dblue size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
blue">After giving=20
    the issue more thought, the valve in the sump vent seems to make=20
    sense.&nbsp; Although it is one more thing on the checklist, and not =

    convenient to get at. &nbsp;And it doesn=92t preclude fuel =
exhaustion in the=20
    case of a leaky fuel cap.&nbsp; If we are going to keep a simple =
gravity=20
    feed system from both tanks, we have to pay attention to the fuel =
caps, and=20
    be aware of one tank level dropping faster than the =
other.</SPAN></FONT></P>
    <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.6in"><FONT =
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
    color=3Dblue size=3D3><SPAN=20
    style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: blue"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
    <P class=3DMsoNormal style=3D"MARGIN-LEFT: 0.6in"><FONT =
face=3D"Times New Roman"=20
    color=3Dblue size=3D3><SPAN style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: =
blue">Let=92s see; if=20
    we could just find a different place to put the fuel cap; someplace =
that=20
    doesn=92t happen to see about the maximum negative pressure of =
anywhere on the=20
    airplane.</SPAN></FONT></P>
    <P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DVerdana color=3Dblue =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
    style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana"></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</P>
    <P class=3DMsoNormal><FONT face=3DVerdana color=3Dblue =
size=3D2><SPAN=20
    style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: =
Verdana">Al</SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY=
></HTML>

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