Petrol tanks

[smithy318i]

Hi Guys (and Gals)

My petrol tank is leaking (big time) from the filler pipe area and the little wavey pipe between the two tanks, so it needs replacing.

I have a replacement tank, but it is a different style. It has 2 fuel level sensors and the pipes are different to my old one.

So the question is.... well .... will it fit ? (the plumbing not the actual tank)

[Brianmoooore]

It can be fitted OK. The plumbing difference is as to where the fuel return line goes into the tank.
Depending on which way around things are you may either need a fuel pump frame with two pipes, or have to blank off one on a two pipe pump.
Level sensors are series connected.

[smithy318i]

Now im confused...

My original tank has 2 pipes on the fuel pump and a wavey pipe to link the two sides of the tank together. The one im replacing it with has 2 pipes to the pump and another one on the passenger side (return line ??? ) and no wavey pipe between the tanks.

so my question is. how does the fuel transfer from the right (passenger side) to the left of the tank, if it doesn't have a wavey pipe ?

plus were does the vent pipe go ?

[smithy318i]

i think i have it sorted...

[Brianmoooore]

so my question is. how does the fuel transfer from the right (passenger side) to the left of the tank, if it doesn't have a wavey pipe ?

That is one of lifes great mysteries. I've asked on here before, but never got any illumunating replies.

[smithy318i]

so my question is. how does the fuel transfer from the right (passenger side) to the left of the tank, if it doesn't have a wavey pipe ?

That is one of lifes great mysteries. I've asked on here before, but never got any illumunating replies.

The ONLY thing it can be is this pipe from the return line. It runs along the bottom of the tank then up through the gap between the two halves, and into the pump basin thing.





Just don't ask me HOW it works.

[DanThe]

Just fitted a tank the same as yours Smithy and ive been scratching my head all day!
How the hell does the fuel get to the right side of the tank

[smithy318i]

Magic!

[DanThe]

I couldnt make up my mind if I was going to actually fit the tank or cut it in half so I could see how it worked

[oze30]

wouldnt the vacuum of the pump pull the surrounding petrol into a vortex in the basin,, thus causing the fuel to be sucked from the LHS to the pump side?

How far down into the basin does the pipe/filter assembly go?

[fuzzy]

i cant help you with this great fuel mistery but im just posting to say that i cant believe that there is an e30 related tech question and brianmooore doesnt know the answer whats the world coming to

[Brianmoooore]

wouldnt the vacuum of the pump pull the surrounding petrol into a vortex in the basin,, thus causing the fuel to be sucked from the LHS to the pump side?

How far down into the basin does the pipe/filter assembly go?

Pipe/filter goes right down into the pan, often rubbing through the filter on the pan.
don't think the pump shifts fuel fast enough to cause any vortex effects, but I still don't hacve an explanation, other than it must be something to do with that little pipe.

[DanThe]

I recon the pipe 'syphons' the fuel across, but how the air that gets in there when the tank dries up is removed I dont know?
Hard cornering?

[Brianmoooore]

I can see that a syphon may work when the tank is half full or so, but E30s run their tanks almost completely dry.

[DanThe]

Well if I ever get a breaker with one of these tanks its def getting the chop