Thread: Disco 4 2016 - ran out of fuel 3 times

Originally Posted by GregMilner

Crikey, I don't like the tone of this thread. I'm just about to have a gravity fed extra tank fitted to my MY16. Will be following the outcome of your issues closely...

Greg,

Start by letting your tank run down below a quarter full so you know that the gauge is working OK before you fit the tank. I seriously doubt that what the dealer is saying about the software will be correct but who knows? My experience has been that when they don't know what is wrong they say it is a software issue and when the recommended software upgrade doesn't fix it they manage to find the real problem.

I personally wouldn't want a gravity fed tank unless it could be isolated, preferably from the drivers seat. It is nice and convenient but doesn't give you two separate sources of fuel (in case of leaks) and doesn't allow the fuel level in either tank to be accurately measured. I have a pumped system and keep on losing fuel when I forget to turn it off, so that is not the full answer either. However, at least I have a fuel gauge on each tank to monitor how everything is going.

I'm sure it would be easy to fit some sort of solenoid valve to the hose on a gravity feed tank,would be my choice of setup.
Andrew

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

I'm sure it would be easy to fit some sort of solenoid valve to the hose on a gravity feed tank,would be my choice of setup.
Andrew

Yeah, I think you're right Andy. That way you could have a fuel gauge on the aux tank and only transfer fuel when you want to, the way you do with a pumped system. Provided the tank was isolated the car fuel gauge would also read correctly. I think the main difference is that you probably can't empty the aux into the main unless the main is low on fuel so you end up having to have them both connected for a lot of the time so you can't tell much about what the real level of fuel is at probably the most important stage of fuel use, when you are getting low.

Sounds like an idea. I'll ask Opposite Lock about it when they fit the tank in a couple of weeks.

Let me know how you go Greg.
If I don't fit a LRT myself I would be getting OL at Bunbuy to do it.
Andrew

Originally Posted by GregMilner

Sounds like an idea. I'll ask Opposite Lock about it when they fit the tank in a couple of weeks.

It can certainly be done but is probably not normal. On my GQ Patrol there was a two way solenoid and a switched fuel gauge. When you switched to the rear tank the car fuel gauge would read the level of the rear tank and the fuel would be drawn from the rear tank. The same thing with the front tank. Only one fuel gauge and one switch swapped everything over between the two tanks. It would be easy in comparison to just put an electrically controlled valve in the pipe as we are talking about. The fuel gauge on the rear tank would be a bit more difficult.

Well I'll give it a go and let you know Andrew. It's worth a try, although it might be something for Auto Spark rather than OL.

As someone who has been running an Outback Accessories gravity flow long range tank without problems for about 5 years now, I really can't see why you'd bother trying to fit a solenoid valve between the tanks, or a fuel gauge to the aux tank. Yes - a gauge would be nice to have sometimes, but seriously, you very quickly get used to running without it - and you have a pretty good idea of how much fuel you have on board / what range you have.

The gravity feed system and lack of a second fuel gauge has never given me even the slightest concern.