[Spridgets] Fwd: Fwd: fuel senders and ethanol

[w swift]

At Mike's request ...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael MacLean <rrengineer.mike at att.net>
Date: Thu, May 4, 2017 at 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Fwd: fuel senders and ethanol
To: w swift <wlswift42 at gmail.com>, "spridgets at autox.team.net" <
spridgets at autox.team.net>, Yahoo Bugeye Group <bugeye at yahoogroups.com>, "
midgetsprite at yahoogroups.com" <midgetsprite at yahoogroups.com>


 I have to drop the tank in my Bugeye for probably the same reason.  For a
couple of years the new replacement gauge worked just fine with the plastic
float.  Just recently, I let the fuel level drop to a quarter tank.  After
filling up, the needle did not move and has not since another of fill up.
As soon as the fuel level gets down again I will drop it to replace the
float.  Summit racing has the replacement floats for $5.36.  Shipping is
$6.95, but that is still cheaper than Moss after tax and shipping.
Mike MacLean

P.S. John or W Smith, would you please for ward this to the Spridget list.
I can only receive emails from  the list.  For some reason I can not send.


On Thursday, May 4, 2017 12:51 PM, w swift via Spridgets <
spridgets at autox.team.net> wrote:


I received several helpful responses to my earlier post.  In summary I was
right and wrong.  Thanks to those who showed me the light.

1.  Right to replace the plastic float with a brass one.

2.  Wrong as to my explanation about the cause of the leak into the plastic
float.

Briefly - I was advised that since ethanol is hygroscopic, it absorbs
water. Unlike water, it won't freeze unless temperatures are very very low
or unless the water concentration is very very high .  80 proof vodka is
ethanol with about 60 % water - and it doesn't freeze when stored in a 0 F
freezer.  (Ask me how I know).

As to the other possibility that freezing was a source of the leak - water
at the bottom of the tank - this too is unlikely, since the tank was
1/2-3/4 full, the float before leaking wouldn't have rested at the bottom
of the tank where water would have collected.

So I have to rule out freezing as the cause.

Another response pointed out that ethanol eats plastic floats. There are
plenty of anecdotal links supporting this explanation.    And my plastic
float leaked.

So stick with brass.

Walt

On Thu, May 4, 2017 at 7:04 AM, w swift  wrote:


I believe the freeze/thaw cycles during the winter caused the plastic float
to crack and leak, slowly.  I removed the plastic float from the lever arm
...

I located a minuscule crack in the circumferential groove where the lever
arm snaps onto the float.  I think that during extended periods of below
freezing temps, ice accumulates on the wire ring that snaps onto the
plastic float (air inside) and basically cracks the plastic.

It's also possible  that the float had a split in it from the beginning,
but I'm betting it was the water in the ethanol that caused the seeping
leak.

So - I replaced the plastic float with a brass float, and I don't use
ethanol anymore.
-- 
w swift ... on the road again.



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-- 
w swift
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