Gas Usage

[jfh28]

Is it just my imagination or do our machines use more gas in the hot weather.......ran out of gas again today while out working in the heat.......thats the second time this week......I've never run out before.......maybe I'm having to much fun on it and don't realize how long I'm out there "working"........haha.....just curious if anyone else has noticed this.......man do I wish these machines came with a fuel gauge........Jack

 

[SpringHollow]

They do not have a fuel gauge? I did not know that. The PT1850 has one. I wonder if they are concerned about electrical sources at the gas tank (mine is diesel). I am not sure how much sending units cost like the ones in cars. You could probably add a mechanical float style one. Perhaps one of the ones that are a dome so you can read it from the side.

Ken

 

[jfh28]

unlike the low boys with the plastic tank my gas tank is part of the steel frame so you can't see what is inside.....plus the fill tube is long enough that you need to shine a flash light down it to get an idea of whats in there....the only reference points you have are where the end of the fill tube penetrates the tank which I use as the "full" point and the gas filter near the bottom at the pull point which I use as the "empty" point.......everything in between is a guess......oddly enough pt put a sticker on the outside of gas tank area that has a line on it and says "do not overfill"........I've never figured out how I'm suppose to see when the gas level is at that point......lol.......the battery compartment extends out over the fill tube which also makes filling a bit of a challenge in tilting the gas can at just the right angle so gas will flow.......those push type nozzles on cans are a real pain as I can never get the angle to actually push the nozzle enough so gas flows out........I'm thankful that it's all steel but this was not one of pt's most well thought out designs...........Jack

 

[SpringHollow]

from the pictures on the web site, you should be able to put in a float style fuel gauge into the fill tube, replacing the solid fill tube cap. For example, my ATV has the style where a float runs up and down a twisted piece of metal. The float rising rotates the metal causing the half dome gauge built into the gas cap to rotate. A commercially available one might not be accurate for real amounts but it would tell you some idea of how much you have.
Just did a quick search and found this one that is 10" long:
http://www.partsreloaded.com/Snowmo...JlhnjSptFMLNyaFwhS32dxV2tEq2d3PyuQaAoRp8P8HAQ
Here is one that is 13.5" long:
Amazon.com: Kelch 54-1815 13.5" Gauge Gas Cap: Automotive
It would not be that hard to make an adapter to be able to use one of these but there might even be one that fits directly.

You could also add a sight tube to the tank but I would be less than thrilled with that unless you put serious protection around it. Another option is to keep the fill tube/cap as is and have another flange welded on for a dedicated float gauge.

Ken

 

[CobyRupert]

I wonder this too the other day, when on one of the most humid days of the year, it felt like my car didn't have the same amount of "go".

Possibilities:

1) Is summer blend of gas the same as winter blend? I thought summer was better?

Humidity:
2) On one hand, one would think that on very humid days that the additional expansion of water vapor into steam in the combustion chamber would increase power.
3) On the other hand, does this change of phase rob energy to do so?

Heat:
4)On one hand, less energy is used (robbed) to raise the air/gas mixture from ambient to combustion temperature (since ambient is higher),
5) On the other hand, hot air is a lot less dense, so less air/gas is entering the cylinder and motor has less power?

I'm guessing #5 is the most realistic / noticeable?

 

[MossRoad]

Hard to say if the difference is noticeable to me. I use a little over a gallon per hour year round. I have the plastic tank, so one time, when it was empty, I poured in a gallon, drew a line, poured in another, drew a second line, etc... so I have 4 one gallon marks on the see-through tank. I can see it through the steel mesh on the engine cover. That won't work for yours.

 

[buickanddeere]

A 10 gallon fuel tank filled with 125F fuel contains less btu of energy than the same tank filled with 0F temp fuel.

 

[MossRoad]

We've got 4 usable gallons on most gas powered Power Tracs. Would it be noticeable to an eyeballer?

 

[cqaigy2]

A 10 gallon fuel tank filled with 125F fuel contains less btu of energy than the same tank filled with 0F temp fuel.

How much is the difference?

 

[MossRoad]

About a henweigh.

 

[SpringHollow]

The volumetric coefficient of expansion for gasoline is very close to 0.001/degree C so that would be very close to 0.0005/degree F. So 125 °F change for one gallon = 1 gallon +1 gallon x 0.0005/°F x 125°F = 1.06 gallons. So just from a "gasoline density" point of view, the cold gasoline would have ~6% more energy than the hot gasoline. I am pretty sure I am remembering the numbers correctly. I will check later and if i am wrong, I will post again.

Ken

 

[MossRoad]

The volumetric coefficient of expansion for gasoline is very close to 0.001/degree C so that would be very close to 0.0005/degree F. So 125 °F change for one gallon = 1 gallon +1 gallon x 0.0005/°F x 125°F = 1.06 gallons. So just from a "gasoline density" point of view, the cold gasoline would have ~6% more energy than the hot gasoline. I am pretty sure I am remembering the numbers correctly. I will check later and if i am wrong, I will post again.

Ken

I like eggs...


:laughing:

 

[jfh28]

thanks ken thats an interesting idea.......just measured the fill tube......it's 8" long at about a 45 deg angle........so at best I would only have a couple of inches of the fuel gauge in fuel when full so would need to find something a bit longer to be of use......Jack

from the pictures on the web site, you should be able to put in a float style fuel gauge into the fill tube, replacing the solid fill tube cap. For example, my ATV has the style where a float runs up and down a twisted piece of metal. The float rising rotates the metal causing the half dome gauge built into the gas cap to rotate. A commercially available one might not be accurate for real amounts but it would tell you some idea of how much you have.
Just did a quick search and found this one that is 10" long:
Gas Tank Cap - Arctic Cat Snowmobile (167241) (w/Gauge) [21146] - $15.5 : Parts Reloaded, Your Source For Hard To Find Motorsports Parts
Here is one that is 13.5" long:
Amazon.com: Kelch 54-1815 13.5" Gauge Gas Cap: Automotive
It would not be that hard to make an adapter to be able to use one of these but there might even be one that fits directly.

You could also add a sight tube to the tank but I would be less than thrilled with that unless you put serious protection around it. Another option is to keep the fill tube/cap as is and have another flange welded on for a dedicated float gauge.

Ken

 

[jfh28]

I've never measured how much fuel my tank holds but based on whats left in a full 5 gal gas jug after filling I'm guessing my tank holds a little less then 3 gal as I get pretty close to two fill-ups per 5 gal jug....my tank is a welded pt custom steel tank so I'm thinking it was designed based on room available and not on vol of fuel to fill......Jack

We've got 4 usable gallons on most gas powered Power Tracs. Would it be noticeable to an eyeballer?

 

[MossRoad]

Could be time for a project.... make your own fuel gauge.

 

[cqaigy2]

The volumetric coefficient of expansion for gasoline is very close to 0.001/degree C so that would be very close to 0.0005/degree F. So 125 °F change for one gallon = 1 gallon +1 gallon x 0.0005/°F x 125°F = 1.06 gallons. So just from a "gasoline density" point of view, the cold gasoline would have ~6% more energy than the hot gasoline. I am pretty sure I am remembering the numbers correctly. I will check later and if i am wrong, I will post again.

Ken

Wow! I like bacon with eggs.

Ok, so how much time in a tank of gas, say 4.5 gallons? Does 3.5 minute per gallon sound right?

 

[MossRoad]

Wow! I like bacon with eggs.

Ok, so how much time in a tank of gas, say 4.5 gallons? Does 3.5 minute per gallon sound right?

On mine, I get about 50-55 minutes per gallon.

 

[cqaigy2]

Cool video on the remote fuel gauge. Thanks

Would have to make sure it leaks around the seal, just like my fuel cap does.

 

[CADplans]

About a henweigh.

Nobody has asked,,, what's a henweigh?? :laughing:

I run a LOT of gas through 2 gas engine machines, including one with a 24HP Onan,,,

I see very little difference in fuel consumption due to temperature.

 

[4570Man]

Wow! I like bacon with eggs. Ok, so how much time in a tank of gas, say 4.5 gallons? Does 3.5 minute per gallon sound right?

I got about 1.5 GPH on my 25 HP Kohler.