Mailing List flyrotary@lancaironline.net Message #17487
From: George Lendich <lendich@optusnet.com.au>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Water in the fuel
Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 10:02:21 +1000
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Dave,
There has been instances, one in particular ( local airstrip) where a couple
of chaps filled the tanks with fuel the night before a big trip.
Some idiot ( local youths) siphoned out the fuel and replaced it with
water.The tanks weren't checked the next morning.
The story goes they had enough fuel to get airborne.

I would always have drain plugs in, even though I agree a little water won't
hurt. I'm sure the daily driver gets plenty of water when he fills up at the
local garage.
George ( down under)

Tom, the pickup is in the lower rear corner of the tank.  I would let it
sit overnight to be sure all the water had time to collect (traverse the
entire tank).  Most of that glob will be sucked up as soon as I turn on the
pump, but you are right that some additional amount may get sucked up when
the tail comes up, so I will be careful.  Perhaps a taxi only test.

The point of this test is to show that the 50 gph of fuel flow is enough
to mix in any water.  If I can't pass this test with flying colors, then I
need to put the drain plugs back in.

Dave Leonard

>
> Dave,
> What's the point of letting it set overnight?   Are you running mogas
with alcohol and expect it to mix in?        If it doesn't mix in and just
sits on the bottom in a glop, when are you gonna conclude that you've
consumed it and it's not just sitting off somewhere on the bottom?  (other
than the engine sputtering and going quiet)
>
> Your RV has diehedral.  Where's your fuel pickup, how far from the
bottom of the tank?   If it's a taildragger the water glop would sit to the
rear of the tank until you got the tail up.
>
> Be careful
> Tom
>
>
>
>
>
> daveleonard@cox.net wrote:
> Heresy it it, but before I go to my lynching I think I would like to try
a little magic. Next time I get the chance, I am going to POUR one full cup
of water into my gas tank. I will let it set overnight. Then I will attempt
to start the engine without draining the fuel. If my magic works, the engine
will start an run just fine after a few seconds of running the pump. If the
test fails, I will put the drain plugs back in (and eat a crow).
>
> Dave Leonard
>
> > >
> > > I never drain my fuel. I even took out the drain plugs.
> > >
> > > JMHO,
> > > Dave Leonard
> >
> > HERESY!! (but it does make sense - assuming you only have a little
> > water; i.e. not a leaky gap cap!) I think I'll still check...
> >
> > Joe Hull
> > Bellevue (Seattle), Washington
> > Cozy MkIV #991 (working on Engine & Electrical & Finishing)
> > http://www.maddyhome.com/canardpages/pages/JoeHull/index.html
> >
> >
> >
> > >> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
> > >> Archive: http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html
> >
>
>
> >> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/
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>
>
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