Front Runner Aux Fuel Tank

[jake]

G'day
Has anyone with the Front Runner Aux Tank had any issues with there tank and where or if you have rerouted the equalising line.
Comments and or photos of modification would be appreciated
(fitted to 110'Puma)

Jake

[one_iota]

Hi Jake,

I presume you've seen this thread in Projects:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/120384-frontrunner-45l-fuel-tank-install-part-2-a.html

and particularly cols110's comment.

I have one on mine and haven't had any issues at all...well apart from not being able to use a high flow pump at the servo becauses it causes the fuel guage to misread (this is probably not the tanks fault).

The only concern I have is that the lowest line which I presume is the equalising/balancing line could be vulnerable.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/597.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/19451/title/img-3393/cat/533)

[PAT303]

Do these tanks work with long range main tanks?. Pat

[one_iota]

I don't know for sure Pat but as the tank is gravity feed it would be a matter of plumbing. I'm sure that the devil is in the detail.:)

[IGL002]

Hi Jake,

I presume you've seen this thread in Projects:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/120384-frontrunner-45l-fuel-tank-install-part-2-a.html

and particularly cols110's comment.

I have one on mine and haven't had any issues at all...well apart from not being able to use a high flow pump at the servo becauses it causes the fuel guage to misread (this is probably not the tanks fault).

The only concern I have is that the lowest line which I presume is the equalising/balancing line could be vulnerable.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/597.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/19451/title/img-3393/cat/533)

What does a high flow pump at the servo got to do with your fuel gauge?

[one_iota]

What does a high flow pump at the servo got to do with your fuel gauge?

After filling with a high flow pump the gauge although it starts at above full quickly descends to below 3/4 and remains that way until I have emptied the auxiliary tank at which point it again ascends to above full.

It took me a little while to figure out cause and effect...it doesn't happen when I fill with a regular pump.

All that can I suppose is that the flow of fuel pushes the float down and it doesn't resume its top position until the auxiliary tank is empty.

[cols110]

Hi Jake,

I presume you've seen this thread in Projects:

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-tutorials/120384-frontrunner-45l-fuel-tank-install-part-2-a.html

and particularly cols110's comment.

I have one on mine and haven't had any issues at all...well apart from not being able to use a high flow pump at the servo becauses it causes the fuel guage to misread (this is probably not the tanks fault).

The only concern I have is that the lowest line which I presume is the equalising/balancing line could be vulnerable.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2011/02/597.jpg (http://www.aulro.com/app/showphoto.php/photo/19451/title/img-3393/cat/533)

I will try to get a picture of how I ran my balance line posted over the next few days.

By rights, as mine does your fuel gauge should remain at the full mark for a few hundred km's until you burn the fuel above your normal tanks height, then go down as normal, but a bit slower than it used to due to the extra capacity of fuel for the same fuel height. Pump flow rates should have nothing to do with your quantity indication.

[one_iota]

Thanks Col.

Please believe me, I am not imagining this ....The fuel guage issue is real and as I say only happens when I use the high flow pump to fill the tank. Otherwise the guage behaves as you have described.

This is based on two years of experience with the tank.

[dullbird]

Well I dont have any dramas filling with a hi flow in my car and I have the tank...you wouldn't have a small hole in your float by any chance, maybe the hiflo pushes it under allowing fuel to get in and weighs it down...just a guess

[one_iota]

Lou, that is a plausible explanation and not one that I had considered.

I doubt I'll go exploring to found out for sure though.:)

[Michael2]

Do these tanks work with long range main tanks?. Pat

My LRA tank on the 300Tdi 110 incorporates a large main tank and a side tank similar to this (total capacity 150lit). So I guess the Frontrunner could be used with either a standard or long range tank.

[gusthedog]

I've had the frontrunner tank in my 2004 td5 110 for over a year now and am happy now. When I first purchased the tank however and got it installed by opposite lock, there was some undetected (at the time) weld splatter on the bottom nut where it is sealed with an alloy washer. This caused a slow leak to drain around 50 lt from my tank over two days before I noticed it. I got it repaired by a mechanic in western vic (i was on my way to camerons corner and had to cancel my trip) who used a copper washer and annealed (not sure If I spelled that right) the system on properly.

I was also worried about tearing the rubber fuel line out of the bottom of the tank and had it replaced by my mechanic with a brass line and some armour in the form of a larger section of tube bent to the same shape. Dont have any photos at the moment but will endevour to up load some soon.

I also find that when at the fuel bowser and the nozel clicks, if I lift it up and fill to the bottom of the tube (until its just visible) i can fit in over an extra 10 litres compared with when the nozle first clicks. Only just worked this out recently but its something you should know.

cheers.

[dullbird]

I've had the frontrunner tank in my 2004 td5 110 for over a year now and am happy now. When I first purchased the tank however and got it installed by opposite lock, there was some undetected (at the time) weld splatter on the bottom nut where it is sealed with an alloy washer. This caused a slow leak to drain around 50 lt from my tank over two days before I noticed it. I got it repaired by a mechanic in western vic (i was on my way to camerons corner and had to cancel my trip) who used a copper washer and annealed (not sure If I spelled that right) the system on properly.

I was also worried about tearing the rubber fuel line out of the bottom of the tank and had it replaced by my mechanic with a brass line and some armour in the form of a larger section of tube bent to the same shape. Dont have any photos at the moment but will endevour to up load some soon.

I also find that when at the fuel bowser and the nozel clicks, if I lift it up and fill to the bottom of the tube (until its just visible)
i can fit in over an extra 10 litres compared with when the nozle first clicks. Only just worked this out recently but its something you should know.cheers.

you can do that in most normal fuel tanks too..especially if you let the froth settle

[PAT303]

I want to fit a second tank to my Puma and like the look of Mulgo's tanks.The idea is to fill the second tank and them pump the fuel through a filter and water trap to the main tank so it's filtered twice.The main thing is I don't want it on the drivers side,I might get twin Mulgo tanks and feed from the drivers first or just fit the passanger side one. Pat

[KarlB]

I want to fit a second tank to my Puma and like the look of Mulgo's tanks.The idea is to fill the second tank and them pump the fuel through a filter and water trap to the main tank so it's filtered twice.The main thing is I don't want it on the drivers side,I might get twin Mulgo tanks and feed from the drivers first or just fit the passanger side one. Pat

FrontRunner make both a left and right 'belly' tanks. The left (under the passanger seat box is special order but costs no more than the right hand one. The left tank is 45 litres compared to the right's 40 litres. I have just had both fitted to my D90.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[PAT303]

Karl,are they filled from the original filler?,do they pump back to the main tank or to the motor?. Pat

[jake]

Thanks Everyone,

We may have a very small leak on the weld at the just above the corner where the tank bolts to the sway bar bracket. Not really a leak but like a sweating about a 1cm stain keeps coming back.

I will look closer at the equaliser hose and see if I can protect it a little. I don't think it will be a big problem.

Jake

[KarlB]

Karl,are they filled from the original filler?,do they pump back to the main tank or to the motor?. Pat

Filled from second fillers so that may be a problem with a 110, Pat. Indeed they may not even fit. Check with Daniel (Mulgo). He handles the FrontRunners as well as his own design, so if any one knows, he will. The tanks have external pumps that feed back to the main tank. Controlled by switches in the cabin. Pump out when the main tank drops to about a quarter full. Each tank takes 15-20 minutes to empty. No auxiliary gauges. Tanks hang below the sills but above the bottom of the chassis rails. Yell out if you want some photos Pat.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[TwoUp]

KarlB,
I am yelling:D would like to see the photos please,

Regards,
PeterW

[PAT303]

Yep same here.Can you show us the fillers?. Pat

[KarlB]

Here are some images (sorry about the lighting):

Showing location of filler. Passenger side is mirror image
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/6875/auxtank1.jpg

Showing chassis rail below the tank
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Showing location of external pump
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1237/auxtank3.jpg

Close up of the filler
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Note that the passenger side tank is a slightly differnt shape with a bottom that slopes toward the centre lin of the vehicle. That tank protrudes 2-3 cm below the chassis rail but is well above the crossmember at this point. I presume this difference in shape accounts for the extra 5 litres this tank holds.

Cheers
KarlB
:)

[PAT303]

Yep,with a 130ltre main and two saddles I'll have what I want.Thanks Karl. Pat

[Ricky Chianese]

Just fitted the front runner 45l tank to my Puma 110. I did it over two 1/2 days as I had to stop a few times to prevent spanners being thrown through the garage window and other things being smashed in frustration - cold beer helped calm the nerves a little.

Balance line is volnerable and have not worked out a god solution yet. I had a leak through the threads on the tank balance fitting - this was fixed by wrapping white thread tape on it and re-installing - no more leakes here now.

The tank breather which sits on top of the main tank now leaks slightly - I will have to extend this to behind the LHS tail lights or similar higher location.

I have found that the tank just clashes with the inside of the wheel arch. I have put a small piece of pinch lock rubber to stop the stainless steel and body aluminium from rubbing. After much shoveing and pushing, I could not get the fit any better without the reverting to some serious surgery - I sure there is a way though but perhaps my tank is a bit out of spec geometrically. Its in now and thats that in order for me to keep some sanity!

For the rear cross member, I installed M8 rivnuts X 3 off in place of the kit issue M6 ones. I had to drill out the hex holes slightly bigger to accept the rivnuts. Rivnuts were installed useing a bit of flat bar and a high tensile nut/bolt arangement as i do not have the proper tool - it worked out well.

Cheers

Ricky