Checking Fuel Levels on P40s

[Neil Lynch]

Well, the paperwork has gone thru and the 87 Passport is now ours.  She'll be called "Erin Elizabeth" and will be berthed in Sausalito.  We are moving to boat over to the boat yard on Monday to have some work done....  Was on the boat this weekend and realized that I have no idea how to check the fuel levels in the tanks.   There is a round access plate, on the top of the tanks...  do you need to unbolt these to check the fuel levels?  

Neil

[robert c young]

Congratulations!

 

On my 1987 boat there is one tank and it has a dipstick.

 

If the clean out port bolts look like they have never been touched it’s likely that is not the way to ck fuel level. It also may point out another issue-the tank(s) were never cleaned and it’s a matter of time before you will have plugged filters. rough seas and a half of tank will let you know the hard way via plugged filters.

 

The easiest way to keep tabs on fuel consumption (even with a dipstick feature) is to fill the tank, track the engine hour meter, and budget 1 to 1.5 gallons an hour consumption depending on speed tide and wind direction. On average, call it 1.25 GPH with a clean bottom.

Regards

Bob

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[Michael Moradzadeh]

The dipstick, at least on my 1984 boat, it a t-handled affair in the center of the port.  It's a metal rod that is sometimes hard to read, so I keep a wooden dowel handy.

Michael

[rhp...@verizon.net]

On Anthem, we use our tachometer as a fuel gauge. It has never failed to let us know when a tank is empty.

We have the stainless dip sticks, which are worthless. We also use dowels, and have several swimming in the tanks as I write.

We talk about getting actual gauges, but since our real problem is that we're not fuel focused, we'd probably forget to check the gauges.

So, for the past few years, when one of thinks fuel, we fill up, whether we need it or not. We log the engine hours and generally, think about fuel every 30-40 hours or so. We have two 60 gal tanks, so at 30 hrs, we usually switch tanks.

I have a history of running tanks bone dry, but with our new approach, we haven't had "an incident" in three years.

Bob Peahl
Anthem P40/70

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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From: Michael Moradzadeh <m...@yachtpc.com>

Sender: Passpor...@googlegroups.com

Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:48:01 -0800

To: <Passpor...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: [Passport] Checking Fuel Levels on P40s

[Larry Rovin]

The dipsticks work better if you rough u the surface so you can see the fuel. We installed a Tank Tender for the fuel and water tanks. Not cheap, but very effective.  

Larry Rovin

Whisper, P-40 #134

Sent from my iPhone

[Bill Casnovsky]

Neil,

 

You do not need to remove the access plate. Just unscrew the small wing nut at the center of the plate. Drop a long stick down in the whole to check the fuel level. I have calibrated notches on a stick (gallons) to help me determine the amount residing in the tank. I am amazed that Passport did not provide fuel gauges. Perhaps gauges were problematic in those days.

 

Bill Caz.

s/v P40, 1984, Beau Navire    

[Neil Lynch]

Thanks everyone for making the newbie feel so welcome...  once I got back on board this morning, I found the access to the dipstick.  Mine is a metal rod. Difficult to read at best.  Looked around the boat and found a long wooden dowel...  Worked great.   Successfully moved the boat down the Napa River to Richmond.

More questions to come, I am sure.   Neil

[louis raphael]

The way to read the metal dowel is to lay it on a clean paper towel, then see how long the wet part is.
Louis

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[Albireo]

I have a tough time reading the metal rod directly, but also have difficulty in getting a reading by laying the rod on a paper towel or a sheet of paper.  I have had the best success by partially inserting the rod and looking for drop of diesel at the bottom of the rod.  The drop/no-drop point gives the depth of fuel from the top of the tank. 

 

The 1 GPH consumption rate has proven a decent approximation in my case. 

 

Steve

s/v Albireo

P40, #57, 1984

[John Baudendistel]

Hello Neil nice to have met you at our feb event.  In the first 5 years my fellow sailors will attest that I ran out of fuel more than once.  Following this Laurel bought me wema gauges.  Also have a 7 or 8 tank wema unit which measures both fuel and both water tanks.  A straight fwd install into the 10" clean out caps. 

John 

Dream Keeper

P42

Sent from my iPhone

[John Baudendistel]

Noel

A second gauge I have is a wooden dowel which I put a notch in every 5 gallons from empty to full.  This is more Accurate than the gauges as they do not teach the bottom and 1/2 tank is really less due to shape. 

Sent from my iPhone

[John Warren]

Johnny, Johnny, Johnny...I must say that it wasn't the first five years... I think it was much more than five years as I remember.  And...as a fellow Passport Owner...I'm very proud to say that I don't know anyone that can change a fuel filter and reprime an engine any faster than you...even out in the Pacific Ocean in big seas...you're the best "out of diesel" guy that I've ever met.  I'd even bet that after Laurel bought you those fancy gauges...you probably ran out of fuel.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

 

Nothing better than the smell of diesel fuel in the morning!!!  Especially after staying up all night with the Bay Area buddies.

 

Miss all you guys...from sunny and very windy LaPaz.

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From: Passpor...@googlegroups.com [mailto:Passpor...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of John Baudendistel
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 6:55 PM
To: rhp...@verizon.net
Cc: Michael Moradzadeh; Passpor...@googlegroups.com

[John Baudendistel]

Ok maybe 6 times.  I keep the special Perkins wrench in a top drawer just in case.  We're planning vac to Catalina Isl with the Poa this year in Sept.  should be fun.  Take care John W. 

John B

Sent from my iPhone

[Michael Moradzadeh]

Hold on a minute.  I have run out of fuel at least as many times as Johnnie-boy

[Bill Schmidt]

More. Many more.

B.