Funny discovery

[it_mike]

How do you find out you're fuel gauge doesn't go all the way to empty? 


It's just one of those days...

[Van]

Oops! Wa Happen? Heavy foot? . Hope you got it goin with out too much hassle, bummer!
We took a nice excursion around the Vegas valley this morning, I started out with a 1/4 tank and because I had the opportunity to take it easy at 62 mph, the gauge barley budged ( and mine goes to E  ). Maybe this taking it easy thing is not so bad after all!

  Liking the
  slo mo

    Van

[luvrbus]

Most buses have usable gals and the gauge doesn't always read empty and you are out of fuel with fuel left strange huh


good luck

[Van]

I think the gauges are all backwards, should read E-for enough, and F- for fumes LOL!

[it_mike]

I've been working to pass inspection, idling in place.  I was hoping to recharge the air tanks when she sputtered out.

[BG6]

I've been working to pass inspection, idling in place.  I was hoping to recharge the air tanks when she sputtered out.

I don't think you'll be able to blow hard enough.  You're just gonna have to buy some fuel.



Congratulations, though, there are a couple of things that you can do more easily when you've got the tank level low.

First, check to see if you have a few million miles' worth of sludge, water, etc. in the bottom of the tank.  You might have a LEVEL matching the gauge, but the bottom 1/4 may not be FUEL.  I would suggest draining the tank, then if there is gunk in what comes out, you need to flush it, too.

Second, this is also a good time to backflush your dip tube, which may have a filter on the end (in the tank).

Third, once you have it cleaned and the plug back in, put in fuel 5 gallons at a time while you watch the gauge for first movement, AND while you try to suck fuel (use an electric pump, hooked to the dip tube).  Record how much fuel you put in to reach each of these points, then add 10 percent and consider THOSE to be the practical levels (to make up for ullage).  Subtract those from the tank capacity, and you will know your drop-dead minimums.  If the gauge is off the bottom peg when the pump starts drawing fuel, mark exactly where the needle appears to be when you are in the driver's seat.

[Len Silva]

I've been working to pass inspection, idling in place.  I was hoping to recharge the air tanks when she sputtered out.

First....be sure that you are actually out of fuel and not some other problem.  If you were idling, trying to build air pressure and somehow lost power to the run solenoid, it would have quit as the air pressure came up and turned off the fuel.

[NewbeeMC9]

As Len said, It may be that switch in the back.  If it is not in the correct position("RUN" IIRC) it will shut the bus off as it airs up.  Funny feeling.  Luckily I had heard about it here before it happened to me.       My gauge does not work either.

[luvrbus]

Guys sometime the fuel pump on the old 2 strokes will lose it's prime on idle if it is toward the end of the pumps life or the fork is getting wore out.



good luck

[belfert]

My bus has a 150 gallon tank, but I found out only 130 gallons is usable the hard way.  My bus had a Webasto heater from the factory, but it was gone when I bought the bus.  I used the Webasto fuel pickup for my generator.  When my engine stopped due to being out of fuel the generator was still running so I was perplexed about the issue at first. 

I was wondering how I could be out of fuel if the generator was still running?  I finally pulled the secondary filter and it was empty.  5 gallons of fuel and a reprime later we were on our way in about 45 minutes to an hour total.