Another Fueling Thread - 130 gallon or 150 gallon tank...?

[SBH2OMan]

So for a long time I've thought that I had a 150 gallon tank (based on info from Parker). Since I'd never had the tank COMPLETELY empty, I never put more than about 120 gallons in at a time, so I never questioned it. (I've also never had a problem with filling it all the way). Well, yesterday my boat partner ran out of gas and got towed to the fuel dock. A perfect opportunity to really find out how much fuel we can carry (and to recalibrate our tank level sensor). So I set the LMF-200 to 150 gallon tank and went through the 5-point calibration (empty, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4....) and then at 128 gallons the pump kicked off. I could hear and see pressure venting from the tank as we fueled (I was helping fill from inside the boat, my partner was on the dock). Since the marina guys get really pissed if they see you trying to "top off" we discretely and slowly eased some more fuel into the tank just to make sure it was full (since I was under the impression that we had a 150 gal tank).

The pump clicked off again, so not wanting to push our luck, we pulled the nozzle with a total of 129.8 gallons on board. About 45 seconds later (a long pause, in other words), fuel began ERUPTING from the fill hole like a damned volcano. I freaked out and jumped to the filler opening, mashing both my hands over the fill hole to prevent any more fuel from spewing out. Yikes :shock:

So my question is whether I actually have a 150 gallon tank and somehow it built up pressure at 130 gallons. Would this cause the "eruption" of fuel I experienced after so long a delay? (it makes sense, since the air forced into a closed tank would build up and then "bubble" back out) That was what made it so weird - the length of the delay between when I pulled the fill nozzle, put it back on the dock, walked into the house and turned around, before the fuel started erupting from the fill hole.

Now I am wondering whether to set the total tankage at 120 gallons or 150 gallons...

 

[DaleH]

You should be able to read the label on the tank. Mine is a '92 and is still readable to describe the 126-gallon tank.

Remember gas volume expands w/ higher temps.

How did you make out cleaning up the spill????

 

[SBH2OMan]

You should be able to read the label on the tank. Mine is a '92 and is still readable to describe the 126-gallon tank.

Remember gas volume expands w/ higher temps.

How did you make out cleaning up the spill????

The tank label says what looks like 150, so I think it is actually 150, but it is possible it says 130. I gave Robin the HIN and she told me it was a 150, so I think that's what I'm going to rely on.

I'm thinking of pulling the boat onto a trailer to top off the fuel at a less risky location and so that I can monitor it more easily without the chaos of a busy fuel dock.

I also need to replace the thermistor on my B744v transducer anyway...

 

[warthog5]

Hmmmmmmmmm? A old scratched up label......A 5 could look like a 3 and visa -versa.

I suspect that you got it so full the vent hose "May" have gotten fuel trapped it it. This would cause the tank to vent out of the fill.


This is why when tanks are renewed I have the builder vent Both ends of the tank. It creates a Y. Then venting is never a problem and thus filling is never a problem.

I first saw this done on a 29 SeaVee. But we have improved on their design.

 

[tomysel]

150 gal tank and you have 130 gal of usable fuel.. That sounds about right.. I've heard that the pick up tube doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the tank so that it doesnt pick up all the junk sitting in the bottom.

 

[Megabyte]

The tank builders sticker on my main tank says 127 gallons.
Fuel computer says it has 38 gallons left in the tank, but I think I have about 45 if past experience is any indication.
My low fuel alarm is set to 20 gallons.

Going into town to fill her today so we will see...