| Author | Message | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 20 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.216.155 Rating: N/A |
Hello to all. I have a 1966 TDH 4519 fishbowl. She has 2 fuel tanks. I do not have the dimensions as I post this but can get them if needed. I was told by the PO that he THOUGHT each tank held 150 gallons. The fill enters on the tops of the tanks with a long straight pipe then it changes into the top with about a 75°bend. I used a tape measure to dip into each tank when I got her on halloween of 08. The tanks where full. It seems that fuel is delivered to the engine from the rear tank and returned to the front tank. These tanks are not square but an elongated oval shaped. Does any body know the true capacity of each tank? I am trying to budget how much $ to top her off and I think once I know the capacity I can use inches measured thru the fill spout to figure how many gallons are needed. How do you Nuts figure out your fuel usage I know I can just go fill er up,but im on a limited income till this economy turns the corner so I can get back to WORK. Ed | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1815 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
I'd be surprised that they hold that much fuel; probably more like 100 to 140 total.There would have to be a balance pipe between tanks on the bottom to equalize levels | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 21 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.216.175 Rating: N/A |
Yes there is a balance line. The tanks are as wide as the bus body and 22 inches tall. The corners on the sides are radiused,making them kinda oval. I am envisioning a 55 gal barrel on its side squished with 2 of them end to end, so that's about 110 gallons. But I don't know. I am hopeing that fishbowl Brian or another fishbowl Nut can give me a real accurate gallons per tank capacity. And if they measure their tank with a dip stick? Thanks Chessie. | ||
| Paso One (Paso_1)
Registered Member Username: Paso_1 Post Number: 155 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 142.165.246.239  Rating: |
Hmmmm Fishbowl nut. I guess I qualify  I was told they had two stock tanks. One went side to side within 6 inches of the outer walls. 140 Gallons The other tank stops about 14 inches from the left side 100 gallons. Some came equipped with a factory dipstick above the filler I decided to go outside and lay my bus on it's side so you could see it for your self. The picture is showing the smaller tank  | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 736 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91  Rating: N/A |
What we BUSNUTS do for others. Great amount of work goes into helping others LOL Good Job!! Gomer | ||
| Peter River (Whitebus)
Registered Member Username: Whitebus Post Number: 187 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 24.234.166.174  Rating: N/A |
ouch. there must be a story behind THAT photo... | ||
| Paso One (Paso_1)
Registered Member Username: Paso_1 Post Number: 156 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 142.165.246.239 Rating: N/A |
Well the "story " is not too exciting. I stole the Fishbowl from the Myth busters show. It is the bus they made several atempts to roll. My story is better for this picture. It was my parts bus and I was tired of crawling underneath removing stuff so I gently rolled it on it's side on field grass. The interesting thing is when I rolled it back to haul it to the scapper you couldn't tell it was layed on its side no damage makes you think Here is the pictures of that bus also showing the tank.   | ||
| Peter River (Whitebus)
Registered Member Username: Whitebus Post Number: 188 Registered: 4-2009 Posted From: 24.234.166.174 Rating: N/A |
ahh. I remember that show | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 22 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.217.156 Rating: N/A |
WOW! Talk about a definative answer,Paso 1 this is the BEST. LMAO. 240 gallons. That is a lot of $ for a fill up @ 3.00 /gallon. I also remember that episode. I have been watching the movie Speed at stop frame to get a look. If only I had that floor hatch up front I could dig a basement. Thank you again. Ed | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 161 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
I would remove the rear tank, in that 120 gallons is more then enough fuel (unless you're going to travel in Africa). Then you'll have freed up room for the gray and black tank. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| gary throneberry (Garhawk)
Registered Member Username: Garhawk Post Number: 27 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 24.158.156.153 Rating: N/A |
Hi Bluesman, Here is the formula for determining the capacity of your fuel tanks. In inches, Length X Width X Height divided by 231. Subtract your best guess for radiused edges. | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 24 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.216.152 Rating: N/A |
First sorry for this long reply.Here is what my fishbowl has, and here is my ciphering: 2 tanks, each is the same dimension. Using Garhawks formula here are the results. L 81"x W 27"x H 12"/ 231=113 gallons. Round off for radiused corners and I estimate 110 gallons for each tank x 2= 220 gallons total. So I took 110 gallons and divided by the H 12" and came up with 9.17 gallons per inch. So now I think using a dipstick I can use these results to get a fairly close estimate of how much fuel I have remaining and have used. My tape showed 4" so 4"x 9.17=36.68 gallons per tank x 2 tanks=73.36 total gallons remaining. So if I get 7MPG I can go around 532 miles to EMPTY. Also if the tank is 12" tall( H ) every 3" is a 1/4 tank.WHEW quite a science project. Thanks again to all u NUTS. Ed | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1666 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.182.48.162  Rating: N/A |
Edward - Ah. . . I think you're being highly optimistic about going 500 miles before empty with the current fuel level that's in the tank. Especially in a Fish with a slushbox. If your Fish maxes out at 60 mph (normal), then 4 - 5 mpg is a more accurate approximation of your fuel mileage. If it maxes out at 70 mph (rare), then 5 - 6 mpg would be about right. Just for simplicity, round off your tank capacity to 200 gallons. The bus industry's "rule-of-thumb" is that only 85% of the tank's capacity is usable, which translates to 170 gallons in your case. 170 gallons at 5 mpg = 850 miles total, from a full tank. Or, continuing along the KISS principle line of thinking, fuel every 500 miles to be safe. You don't want to run out of fuel with a Detroit, unless, of course, you don't mind trying to reprime the engine at Oh Dark Thirty in the rain? FWIW & HTH. . . | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1186 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 74.4.55.77  Rating: N/A |
Also, I doubt if avery drop of fuel in the tank is usuable. Depending on where the pick-up tube is located, if the coach is on unlevel ground, on a hil, etc. As RJ said "you do not want to run a DD out of fuel". Our policy is to never run with less than 1/4 tank. Keeping more fuel in the tank does not cause less MPG and can save some real headaches | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 162 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
Then too remember about any Diesel generator use. With my transit with turbo 8V-71N, I get 5-6mpg without the generator, and 4.5-5.5 with generator during hot summer driving. Good Luck,TomC | ||
| Paso One (Paso_1)
Registered Member Username: Paso_1 Post Number: 157 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 142.165.246.239 Rating: |
Well if you keep both tanks you can say "this tank is only used for heating and generator use " Buy the fuel without the road tax Ya Ya I know | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 25 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.216.152 Rating: N/A |
Excellent points. I learned many years ago it is exactly the same to run on the top 1/2 of the tank as it is on the bottom 1/2. From what I have learned on this sites postings is that the tanks should always be topped off to avoid water problems that accumulate from return of the unused fuel that runs thru the heads which collects the heat of the engine thus causing condensation in the empty portion of the fuel tanks. I as a newbie to a DD 6 series I assumed( I just love that word) that I would be getting 10 MPG. Now I know better. I believe the lower MPGs stated here. As I think back, the tanks were close to being full when I got her. We left Tacoma and headed home to Ellensburg about 150m over the Cascades via I-90 ( a story for anther post). When we got home she sat until late this summer when I finally finished refinishing the panels that blank out the windows POR 15 and tie coat sealer. Then I drove her every chance I could and racked up more miles. I hit a sign leg when I pulled up to get propane and ripped the balance line for the tanks off,thus losing 10- 15 gallons before I could get the valves closed. JOY! I did replace it. Any way no matter it is time to fill er up. I can't wait to one day get to meet all of you folks,and swap stories. Thank you and God bless. Merry Christmas to all. Ed | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 26 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.216.155 Rating: N/A |
Excellent points. I learned many years ago it is exactly the same to run on the top 1/2 of the tank as it is on the bottom 1/2. From what I have learned on this sites postings is that the tanks should always be topped off to avoid water problems that accumulate from return of the unused fuel that runs thru the heads which collects the heat of the engine thus causing condensation in the empty portion of the fuel tanks. I as a newbie to a DD 6 series I assumed( I just love that word) that I would be getting 10 MPG. Now I know better. I believe the lower MPGs stated here. As I think back, the tanks were close to being full when I got her. We left Tacoma and headed home to Ellensburg about 150m over the Cascades via I-90 ( a story for anther post). When we got home she sat until late this summer when I finally finished refinishing the panels that blank out the windows POR 15 and tie coat sealer. Then I drove her every chance I could and racked up more miles. I hit a sign leg when I pulled up to get propane and ripped the balance line for the tanks off,thus losing 10- 15 gallons before I could get the valves closed. JOY! I did replace it. Any way no matter it is time to fill er up. I can't wait to one day get to meet all of you folks,and swap stories. Thank you and God bless. Merry Christmas to all. Ed |
