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memphis

memphis

Jedi Hopeful
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Hello Guys!

What is the volume of the BJ8 fuel tank? I thought it is supposed to hold ~12 imp gals or 14 us? It seems that when my fuel gauge shows slightly above "E", I can only put ~9-10 gallons in it. I was talking to another 3000 BJ8 owner this past weekend, and he said he also has this same issue.

I know my tank is a new, replacement tank. Maybe the new ones hold less?

Any comments on this?

Thanks,
Bob
 
Just a general car response :wink: A few things that can cause that are... a little fluid in the float, a bent sender arm, a dent in the tank,fuel gauge not calibrated, bad spot on the sender.

Having said that, I can't remember the last time I've seen a fuel gauge perfect. you could run the car out,then you'll know
grin.gif
 
Hi Bob,

I agree Chilly.

I'll add, maybe the sending unit in the tank is facing the wrong way, which may affect the reading.

The petrol gauge only shows a "somewhat reliable" reading when stopped on level ground. I wanted to know how much petrol or how many miles I can run, when the gauge reads empty. So I carried a full five gallon container with me and ran the car untill it ran out. That showed me how many gallons my tank holds, how accurate my gauge reading was, and how many miles I can run once it reads empty.

My gauge does not go past the F, and I purposely topped it off one day to find that out. Some gauges may read over F, some under, some spot on. If that's the case, how accurate is it at E ?

"It seems that when my fuel gauge shows slightly above "E", I can only put ~9-10 gallons in it."

Bob, how many gallons are in the tank when your gauge reads "E" ?

Roger
 
I think the nominal capacity is 12 (US) gallons (or slightly over). I have a replacement tank, and never run it dry, but when right on the 'E' hash mark it'll take almost 13g.
 
Thanks Chilly, Roger, and Bob.

Roger, can you tell me how I can ensure the sender is facing the correct direction? Also, fyi... my gauge does go above 'F" when I fill 'er up. It sits there for some time before it starts to go down...

My gauge was rebuilt, calibrated, as part of the resto, this is why I was leaning towards the tank. Also because the guy I met this weekend has a fresh resto and has the identical problem with his gauge reading "E" and then only taking about 10gals..

Regards,
Bob
 
I should add I usually fill to an inch or two below the top of the filler neck--just enough to make it from Caliente, NV to Tonopah on fumes (the only gas in between is 87-octane of dubious lineage in Rachel, of 'Area 51' fame). I think I'd get 12g if I stopped filling when the pump shut off.
 
memphis said:
Thanks Chilly, Roger, and Bob.

Roger, can you tell me how I can ensure the sender is facing the correct direction? Also, fyi... my gauge does go above 'F" when I fill 'er up. It sits there for some time before it starts to go down...

My gauge was rebuilt, calibrated, as part of the resto, this is why I was leaning towards the tank. Also because the guy I met this weekend has a fresh resto and has the identical problem with his gauge reading "E" and then only taking about 10gals..

Regards,
Bob
Click to expand...

Hi Bob,

I believe that the float should be facing towards the back of the car? Guys, true? Simple to remove and check.

How much petro do you have in the tank when it reads empty. Maybe that's where your two gallons are?

I think the tank holds 12 US gallons and 1-2 US gallons should be in reserve when on empty. Guys, true? (Not topping off.)

Another thing to look into is the sending unit and the arm that holds the float. The float position affect where the two tabs inside the sending unit rubs against the windings, which in turn affect the reading on the gauge. It maybe your gauge is accurate, but the sending unit is not. That may explain why your needle goes past F.

Cheers,
Roger
 
Hello Roger,

Thanks for the info! I will check the direction of the float.
Not sure how much I have in the tank when it reads "E". Was always chicken to let it run dry, even with a spare gas can ready to go.

When you say 2 gallons, sounds like the max in these tanks is 12 gals, not 14 gals? I thought they held 12imp gals, which is 14us gals? I would be happier with 12us, as my gauge would not be that far off then...

Thanks again,
Bob
 
On every car I've ever had, there was still some gas in the tank when the gauge read "E". I've always figured it was to keep me from running out.
 
AUSMHLY said:
Hi Bob,

I agree Chilly.

I'll add, maybe the sending unit in the tank is facing the wrong way, which may affect the reading.

The petrol gauge only shows a "somewhat reliable" reading when stopped on level ground. I wanted to know how much petrol or how many miles I can run, when the gauge reads empty. So I carried a full five gallon container with me and ran the car untill it ran out. That showed me how many gallons my tank holds, how accurate my gauge reading was, and how many miles I can run once it reads empty.

My gauge does not go past the F, and I purposely topped it off one day to find that out. Some gauges may read over F, some under, some spot on. If that's the case, how accurate is it at E ?

"It seems that when my fuel gauge shows slightly above "E", I can only put ~9-10 gallons in it."

Bob, how many gallons are in the tank when your gauge reads "E" ?

Roger
Click to expand...
Over several years and miles I have observed my Healey fuel gauge readings and have this to post: Under accelleration the gauge shows less fuel than is actually there. Decelleration the gauge is exactly opposite accelleration. Driving on a level surface with slight accellerator pressure the gauge reads accurate and steady. My tank holds about 12 gal. My mileage at highway speeds is 175 miles between filling up before it gets too low.
 
I thought I read somewhere that all the AH tanks held 12 1/2 gallons US. On a recent 250 mile trip I always stopped at 1/2 tank reading and it held exactly 6.0 gallons. I do know that it takes awhile to drop below F on the gauge, but like I said, the 1/2 tank reading was correct each time.
 
I am sure the tank holds 12 US gallons plus the amount in the filler pipe (about 1/2 gal)
 
You probably don't want to run it dry. You will suck stuff into the system that you man not want. Some guys use a wood stick in the gas filler tube. On the hwy I fill up at 230 miles regardless of what the needle says. One eighty when doing mostly city driving. This way I never have had to put in 12 gallons. I'll check the amount of fuel to gill up this weekend.
 
Thanks to all for your replies! It helps!!!

I am happy with 12 gals. I will check to ensure my float is pointed forward and also will refill at 1/2 tank and see what it takes.

All good suggestions!
Thanks again,
Bob
 
"sounds like the max in these tanks is 12 gals",

Nope the standard HLY tank holds 14 US Gals.
 
Same here. Not just english cars, all cas. It would be irresponsible of builders to provide the car with a gauge that does not read empty until the tank is actually out of gas. About one gallon should be in reserve.
 
TimK said:
I am sure the tank holds 12 US gallons plus the amount in the filler pipe (about 1/2 gal)
Click to expand...

Just because I'm sure doesn't mean I'm right. 12 Imperial 14 US is correct.
 
Well, I found out the hard way.. No matter how many gallons it holds, it runs dry at 12.5 US. (I think US must mean USable). I was three miles from the gas station when I discovered this! AAA showed up with a gallon, and I only got 11.45 more to fit in, filling to the max on level ground.
 
I don't know about "usable" gallons because I've never run out of gas in my Healey. But I did measure the capacity of the tank in my BJ8(not an original tank, but a replacement from Moss Motors) as 13 U.S. gallons,exactly, to the top of the tank/bottom of the filler tube. I did this to check the calibration of the fuel gauge at full and 1/2. The procedure was:
1. Siphoning the tank completely dry and storing the gas in another car's tank.
2. Using a graduated measuring bowl to determine and mark exactly one gallon on two empty milk jugs.
3. Siphoning out of the storage tank one gallon at a time and pouring it into the Healey tank.

That's about as accurate a measurement of capacity as one can get.
 
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