Hi Alan,
I am probably "telling grandmother how to suck eggs" But I discovered the hard
way that the plastic 5 litre containers can hold far more than 5 litres. Did you
calibrate your 5 litre can before you used it to calibrate your system? The
Europa fuel tank does change shape during its life so recalibration is needed
but I would not expect the extent of error that you described. I would expect
to see a tank capacity of between 58 and 61 litres, not including the reserve
section.
As I am sure you have spotted, the fuel sender (assuming it is the standard
Europa
fit) only measures the fuel contents from one side of the saddle so if you
are measuring from a complete empty situation, the first 8-9 litres goes into
the reserve and does not show on the gauge. Also, the standard fuel sender only
has 8 reed switches on it, so the fuel contents "jumps" in steps of about 7
litres.
The other thing to be aware of is that if you are draining fuel via the water
drains
(assuming again that you have the standard water drains mod fitted) it is
very hard to completely empty the tank if the aircraft is a Trigear. You are
probably better off emptying the tank by use of the electric pump, having
disconnected
the fuel hose at the mechanical fuel pump. That way you get down to
a genuine minimum useable fuel level at flying attitude. This would be your
zero point for fuel gauge calibration.
The process that I follow, from a completely empty tank, is to pour in about 10
litrs of fuel to ensure the reserve side is full. Then drain the main tank
again
using the electric pump to remove fuel that has slopped over from the reserve
into the main area. Then start the calibration process.
Again, my apologies if I am stating the obvious.
Regards
Brian
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Alan Carter
Sent: 25 October 2012 01:23
Subject: Europa-List: Reserve Fuel
--> <alancarteresq@onetel.net>
Hi All.
I am just putting this in as it may be of use to low hour flyer's or owners that
purchased there aircraft like me.
I purchased my Europa about 3 months ago and have clocked up just over 35 hours
in her.
The previous owner flew her in to Headcorn and basically said nothing , leaving
the plane with a 600 rpm Mag drop which i had to fix.
Eventually I went flying loading extra fuel as i did not know the aeroplane, and
thinking the fuel gauge might be over read a little thinking maybe 5 to 8
litres.
A few weeks later i decided to drain the tanks and check the gauge, lucky i did
for a couple of reasons as follows.
I drained both Main and Reserve as i did not know which tank saddle was the
reserve,
more by chance i drained the Main tanks Saddle first, it was a long process
as i used the fuel drain valves under the aircrafts belly.
Then i drained the Reserve the same way ,Here i made a discovery, the 8 litres
of drained fuel was Stale, contained particles and some emulsified water
droplets.
I concluded from my detective work (1) That the previous owner never used the
Reserve
Side of the Tank, and (2) That even though the Fuel Filler Cap Hose goes
down the same side as the Reserve saddle the fuel in the reserve does not mix
so leaving old stale dirty fuel in the saddle.
I have flow 4 Europa's and nothing about Checking Reserve was printed one there
Check Lists, so i suspect they are quit a few who never use the Reserve,??
So I have added a line to my Check List, Taxing In on Reserve, and then change
back to Main, I am not likely to use Reserve, and the least i fiddle with before
Take Off suits me.
At least i know i have fresh clean fuel there should i need it, And Taxing In
after
flying gets me use to putting my hand down the tunnel and correctly moving
the fuel cock to the correct selections.
I refilled the tank using a 5 litre cans checking the gauge and making a Fuel
Ref
Chart, to my surprise 58 Lts on the gauge equaled 35 Ltr actually in the tank.
It was way out, i must have been very close empty at times, Now i am using my
Chart/Gauge
tables which is quit accurate. I will get round to re calibrating the
gauge now i have instruction Manual. So (3) Know what's actually in the Tank.
I have no fuel filters just a Gasolator, so in cleaning this , i run some main
fuel then and some reserve fuel, having selected Reserve no fuel came through,
another discovery, i have to put my hand down the tunnel to get at the fuel
cock,
and selected the fuel cock pointer, to the ON RESERVE position , but was
actually selected to the FUEL OFF position, ie the fuel cock handle position
for Reserve was not as i would have thought to be,it looked and appeared to me
to be set correctly.
(4) Check and Confirm the position and look of the lever for, Fuel Off and the
position and look of the lever for Fuel Reserve , (I am referring to the old
early
stile fuel cocks)( not the little Red new type cocks) I know some have all
the latest gismo's , but others with just the bare bones may find this helpful.
So in a nutshell, Fuel/Gauge Tables,Handle the Fuel Cock,Burn some Reserve.
Alan
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=385950#385950
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