[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > Hello, > > I hope these questions aren't too basic, but I am in the early stages of > learning about coupes and flying. > > 1. How often does water get into (your) gas tanks by condensation or > other wise? > *****I've had my coupe nearly 14 years (always hangared) and I have yet to find the first drop of water in any of my three fuel drains. I always keep them full so as not to get condensation and since it's hangared I don't have to worry about rain seeping into the tanks.
> 2. If water does get into the tanks, is it necessary to dump all of the
> gas?
*****No, absolutely not. Since water is heavier than gasoline, it will
always settle to the lowest spot in your fuel tanks and/or system. In
the two wing tanks that is where the fuel drain taps are, just use a
clear container to drain a little fuel and hold it up at eye level and
if there is any water in it you will easily see it in the bottom of the
container. As for the header tank (nose tank), the 'gascolator' (on a
car it's called a sediment bowl) at the inlet to the carburetor is the
lowest spot in the entire fuel system. This is where you will discover
the water, if any, that comes from your header tank.
Just in case you don't already know this, ALL the fuel that goes
into
your carburetor comes from the header tank and your engine runs on a
"Gravity Feed" principal. The only thing that your fuel pump and wing
tanks do is to keep the header tank full of fuel.
Therefore, if your fuel pump fails, you will still have
appoximately an
hours worth of fuel left to allow you plenty of time to find a place to
land and find out why your fuel pump quit on you. This is also called
'reserve' fuel in case you run your wing tanks dry. That's an hour of
'reserve' fuel for you to find the nearest gas station. (This is not a
good, or safe, practice because you should stop for fuel prior to your
wing tanks being empty.)
> 3. Do you folks ever have a problem with contaminents in the fuel you
buy?
*****No, I have never had that problem either. I have the STC to burn
Automobile Fuel (mogas) as well as Airplane Fuel (avgas). I bought two
new PLASTIC 5 gallon fuel cans with pour spouts and I don't use them for
anything else but my airplane. When putting the fuel into my wing tanks
I pour it through a special funnel with a very fine mesh screen in the
bottom of it. The mesh is so fine that water/dust will not go through
the holes in the mesh. Last summer (after 13 1/2 years of doing this) I
decided to siphon out some fuel from the back corners of my wing tanks
with the tail lowered to the ground. I let it set in this position for a
few minutes and then drew some fuel for the clear glass test. The fuel
was as perfect as when it came from the gas station. Not a trace of any
contaminants or water. Again, remember that I keep my coupe in a
hangar. I think this is important, if not essential, to prolonging the
life and safety of an airplane. If no hangar is available in your area
then by all means 'at least' have a good quality and PROPER FITTING
canopy cover and leak-proof caps on your fuel tanks.
> I have heard that in my area, Eureka, CA, contaminated fuel has been a
> problem. I'm not sure how often, but it seems to me that even once is
too
> much!
***** You are very right, one contamination could equal one crash. How
many of those are you willing to try and live through? Plus the cost of
either rebuilding your plane or perhaps buying another one and starting
all over again getting it the way you want it. Probably the biggest
factor contributing to fuel contamination is carrying fuel in 'dirty'
cans and not straining it with a 'good' funnel when pouring it into the
tanks. Of course there is always the chance of getting 'dirty' fuel from
an airport also, but that is quite rare.
>
> I would appreciate your thoughts. Again, I apologize for being such a
> novice, but I do need to ask questions (and study) to learn.
*****Hey, everybody was a "novice' in the beginning. Thank goodness (and
Tom) for this website so that we can all help each other and make it so
much easier for both the 'new novices' and the 'old pros' to exchange
all this valuable information. There isn't anyone on this list who
knows it all, but between us all we can answer any question that comes
up or at least know where to find that answer.
Keep 'em coming girl, we'll help you all we can and soon you'll be
on
the 'other end' and you'll be flying, still learning, and answering some
other 'new novices' questions. It all takes time and there is no
shortcut to 'experience'. That takes the most time of all, but it's the
most valued thing in flying. Never be afraid to ask a 'dumb question'
(the only DUMB question is the one that wasn't asked and therefore
wasn't answered), and never stop learning because you'll never know it
all.
>
*****That's my nichol's worth for today Georgia, I still need to get
outside and get some work done...
Bob Saville
> Thanks,
> Georgia
>
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