Auxillary OL Fuel tank not working!?

[Steve223]

Hello Together,

I had the OL rear bar and auxiliary fuel tank (with pump) fitted last week one day before leaving to Goulburn River NP.

Filled up what I thought both tanks (single nozzle supposed to fill both tanks equal) and though to myself does not seem to make such a big change at the cash register.

So in NP having still around 200k's in main tank I think better use/test the pump and fill up main tank before doing more local excursions.

However pump runs for a couple of minutes but only seems to add 10-15 L to main tank before becoming louder (indicating nothing to pump anymore) so all excursions cancelled and today back to Mudgee to fill up.

Having around 180k's left and auxillary tank empty I fill up to overflow and get 80l in the tanks's ?? maybe I'm missing something but I should have gotten around 140l = 160l minus the ~20l left in main tank.

Any suggestions? Is there a "secret" switch I have to flick to fill both tanks?

Gordon's instructions where fill as normal and both tanks will fill up equally and then pump fuel over once main tank is nearly empty but that does not seem to work?

Cheers

Steve

PS hope you all had a Great Christmas....

We had some beautiful thunderstorms and so much rain...........

[~Rich~]

Does it not have a "Y" filler tube?
The Brown Davis has this setup, front one is to the main tank / rear one the auxillary tank.

[AnD3rew]

I have the long ranger one but I also thought they were the same set up to fill. If you look inside the filler you should see two necks inside the main one, one to the front and one to the back, guide the nozzle into the front one to fill the original tank and when ful take the nozzle out and then guide it into the rear one to fill the aux tank. That's how mine works anyhow.

[Steve223]

Does it not have a "Y" filler tube?
The Brown Davis has this setup, front one is to the main tank / rear one the auxillary tank.

nop, from the installation instructions it has a fork further down but you can actually not see it from top

[Steve223]

when I asked Gordon initially how it would work he also mentioned the Y filler but when picking up the car he said no it's a different set up and both tanks would fill equally from one inlet.

Just checked again definitely no second inlet visible where I could direct nozzle to.

really a bummer as I was counting on second tank for AULRO table land trip on 2nd of Jan.

[AnD3rew]

Have you actually used the fuel in the Auxilliary tank? It should have been filled on installation to check for leaks. Sound from your original post that maybe the aux tank is still full which would explain why it isn't hitting you at the pump. Maybe a problem with the pump or a blocked or crimped fuel line from the aux tank.

[Graeme]

Any chance the pump is pumping in the wrong direction?

[Steve223]

hm, don't think so as some fuel got in the main tank and extended tank got empty very quick, my assumption is it was not assembled correctly and somehow not much fuel is actually going in the extended tank so not much to pump over, just hope Opposite Lock is open tomorrow and Gordon fixes it before NYE.

very annoying to having to cut our family camping trip short

[Tombie]

Annoying when this happens...

But again the rule...

Don't work on a vehicle less than a week before a trip:angel:

[Steve223]

Annoying when this happens...

But again the rule...

Don't work on a vehicle less than a week before a trip:angel:

Yes totally agree..., my bad taking our family trip as the test ground (don't tell my wife I did) but really wanted the tank for January trip and knew on family trip we would not really need it, just glad I tested it there and not on highland trip.

Still would be nice if people actually would test what they put in.

[scarry]

Annoying when this happens...

But again the rule...

Don't work on a vehicle less than a week before a trip:angel:

X2

And if you don't do the job yourself,well, it never seems to get done properly:(

Hope you get it all sorted.

[Steve223]

spoke to Gordon from Opposite Lock and he said may be an air pocket so will try to fill up again after car had been driven 280k's now will see what that does...

[TerryO]

They should have filled both tanks before giving the vehicle back to you just to make sure it all worked and there was no leaks. They just add the fuel cost to the bill anyway, so no skin off their nose.

If they had then they would have known if there was an air pocket or not because they would be able to see how much fuel it took to fill both tanks.

cheers,
Terry

[Lotz-A-Landies]

As I understand it after having a number of discussions with Gordon, including looking under a customers D4 having just had a long range tank fitted, there is only one filler.

The Auxilliary tank sits higher than the OEM main tank and the fuel drains under the effect of gravity into the filler of the main tank. In effect the auxilliary tank keeps the main tank full until the auxilliary tank is empty at which time the main tank is about half full.

The breather lines are inter connected and if one of the hoses has been kinked-off during installation, this would account for an air lock not allowing the air to expell from (most likely) the main tank during a fill.

Take it back to Gordon, I'm sure he will sort it out.

Diana

[Steve223]

@ Diana - as I understand that is correct for the gravity fed tank I have a different set up with pump so would need to pump the content of Auxiliary tank over once main tank is empty, advantage being that my fuel gauge for main tank still works.

@ Terry - yes that’s what should have been done and they would have figured out that something is wrong. It's definitely no air pocket just filled up again and got 50l in a half full main tank and 90 l empty auxiliary tank.

the 1/2 more work at the time would have saved me and Gordon who is on Holiday a lot of frustrations.

shortcuts often don't pay

[Lotz-A-Landies]

@ Diana - as I understand that is correct for the gravity fed tank I have a different set up with pump so would need to pump the content of Auxiliary tank over once main tank is empty, advantage being that my fuel gauge for main tank still works.....Thanks Steve
I wasn't happy to fit the gravity fill tank for the reason of the upsetting of the tank gauge and computer, but Gordon didn't mention the option of a different tank set-up. Now I know there is another option!

Diana

[Tombie]

There are 3 tanks readily avail.

Gravity and 2 that have pumps.

Personally I'd avoid gravity transfer like the plague! What happens if the tank holes? You lose everything!

[TerryO]

With all due respect Tombie I would suggest there is a far far greater chance of an aftermarket electrical pump failing than a gravity fed aftermarket tank getting holed.

The Long Ranger tank fitted to my D1 is as tough a nails and the many dents and scrapes on it show how resilient it is.

Either way if you get a hole or a pump failure your just as stuffed.

cheers,
Terry

[Tombie]

Long ranger are also the one with the multiple testing facility that went "pump transfer" on the D3/D4.

Remember on the D3/D4 there is a std, less armoured tank as well.

Gravity feed messes up range calculations on the D3/D4 which means you never really know how much is in the aux
Tank.

For the record, all my 4wds run Long Ranger tanks!

[Tombie]

Hole = leaks to ground and gone.

Pump failure = decant / siphon and top main tank.

[AnD3rew]

Hole = leaks to ground and gone.

Pump failure = decant / siphon and top main tank.

I have a cheap bulb siphon with tubing as an emergency backup so I can stick one end in the Aux and the other down the main and squeeze like hell. Would be a total pain in the arse but possibly a life saver in the event of a pump failure.

I really like the long ranger set up, you know how much is in each tank, you can fill them separately, they are isolated from each other you can top up on go.

[TerryO]

Hole = leaks to ground and gone.

Pump failure = decant / siphon and top main tank.


Ok that sounds completely reasonable to me and to be frank I hadn't thought of that.

When I get back from holidays I'll be changing my order I just made before Christmas from a gravity tank to a Long Ranger tank for the D3. ...:)

Thanks for that.

cheers,
Terry

[Steve223]

I have a cheap bulb siphon with tubing as an emergency backup so I can stick one end in the Aux and the other down the main and squeeze like hell. Would be a total pain in the arse but possibly a life saver in the event of a pump failure.

I really like the long ranger set up, you know how much is in each tank, you can fill them separately, they are isolated from each other you can top up on go.

Yes that's what Gordon advised to however how to get hose in aux tank?
can't see the inlet at all as it must be behind the bend...

[Tombie]

In event of failure one can find the right way :)

[Steve223]

In event of failure one can find the right way :):) rather find it beforehand, also love to have a second gauge for the aux tank is that possible?

[Tombie]

Long ranger has a 2nd fuel gauge.

[Steve223]

Long ranger has a 2nd fuel gauge.

ok, seems like I have the dolium 80l auxiliary tank, need to ask gordon whether I can get fuel gauge for that

[Graeme]

I thought the 80L was gravity feed so suspect your one is the 108L (LRA?) tank.

[Steve223]

strange, I have the front runner bash plate and that's supposed to fit to the Dolium 80l tank, unfortunately the OL invoice is also not very descriptive

[Steve223]

Think I have this tank,

http://www.frontrunner.co.za/fuel-solutions/fuel-tanks/discovery-34-fuel-tank-additional-80l.html

Getting nervous still not heard from Gordon and today is last chance to fix tank

[Tombie]

I don't understand why people fit the Dolium/Frontrunner tank.

80l for $1300.00

My Long Ranger 108l tank was the same price...

[Graeme]

$1300.00I'm still trying to come up with a reason to spend this sort of money on an extra tank but if I get the opportunity to do another decent desert trip I'm sure I would like not to have to fit one in a rush.

[Tombie]

I have a good reason!

Range std ~650km (comfortable)

Distance to mine site: 590km

Nearest fuel: +65km or -198km from site.

Price at home: $1.51 per litre
Price at Glendambo: $1.89 per litre.

I have to top up on the way to site and back or I won't make it between stops!

And on certain days they just dont have any diesel... Which could mean a 6 hour drive becomes a day or 2!

I save about $30.00 on a 75 litre fill.
Total saving for entire trip approx $45.00

Payback on tank is 30 trips...

[Graeme]

Yep, that's a good reason for sure!

I did 1800 km in 2 days recently but highway all the way so no excuse that time.

[scarry]

I have a good reason!

Range std ~650km (comfortable)

Distance to mine site: 590km

Nearest fuel: +65km or -198km from site.

Price at home: $1.51 per litre
Price at Glendambo: $1.89 per litre.

I have to top up on the way to site and back or I won't make it between stops!

And on certain days they just dont have any diesel... Which could mean a 6 hour drive becomes a day or 2!

I save about $30.00 on a 75 litre fill.
Total saving for entire trip approx $45.00

Payback on tank is 30 trips...

But then,umm what did you do with the spare?;)

A wheel carrier at how much?;)

I know where you are coming from,the D2 would take 95l and use less fuel,so had a good range,the D4 is not good at all.

But i will put up with carrying fuel as a hate those wheel carriers.

I actually thought about not carrying a spare at all,around town,and put it on the roof when needed,but you know what murphy is like.....

Don't get me wrong,a larger tank would be damm handy:)

[Tombie]

Already have the Carrier :)

Easy to get used to...

On a 5 seater I'm sure someone could make a false floor and hide it inside!

[Steve223]

I don't understand why people fit the Dolium/Frontrunner tank.

80l for $1300.00

My Long Ranger 108l tank was the same price...

In hindsight me to, though long ranger is supposed to be $800 dearer?

[scarry]

On a 5 seater I'm sure someone could make a false floor and hide it inside!

Or a tank for where the two rear seats go,but it is too difficult and who wants a car possibly smelling of diesel all the time.

Been a thread on disco3 UK about it,and some comments on here as well.

[~Rich~]

I ordered the Brown Davis tank via my mechanic and got a 10% discount, even though I fitted it myself.
Cost was $1308 plus $70 shipping from Melbourne to Sydney incl GST.

Electric pump transfer and a second gauge.

[sniegy]

Hey Rich,

Where is the 2nd gauge mounted, any chance you have a photo handy?
Cheers

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

[~Rich~]

55016

I have not drilled any holes in my dash or steering wheel shroud - Velcro did the trick holding the led gauge.

[discotwinturbo]

After two previous transfer pumps failing from Long Ranger......gravity feed from OL was the only option for me.
Brett.....