Best time to re-fuel??

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by fotodaddy, Nov 8, 2008.

  1. fotodaddy

    fotodaddy New Member

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    Hey guys, a couple of friends an I have been trying to figure out this puzzle.

    One group say "re-fuel when almost empty and that we you save on time"
    other group say "re-fuel every 60 - 100 miles, that way you have fuel which cools your pump so less trips to thedealer to replace fuel pumps"

    What do you guys say. Remember that here in Nigeria the ambient can get to 45C:wink:
     
  2. fotodaddy

    fotodaddy New Member

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    Does this deafening silence mean that there are no opinions on this subject??
     
  3. derstuka

    derstuka Lord of the Wankers Staff Member

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    I just usually fuel up with 2 (or 3) bars left on the fuel gauge....main reason is I always think of sucking up the debris/gunk sitting in the bottom of the tank (and helping clog my fuel filter faster) if I let it get too low.
     
  4. bakchizhai

    bakchizhai New Member

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    Correct me if I'm wrong, I always thought gas tanks have the fuel pump at the bottom of the tank anyways. Isn't that necessary to keep fuel delivery considering the fuel level changes?

    I know for a fact that's true on my car as I've seen it. so it's sucking the mythical gunk/debris at the bottom anyways! boo!

    Anyways, back to OP. Isn't just filling up whenever you need gas the best? fuel is flowing through the pump regardless of how much gas is in the tank.
     
  5. ILVFR75

    ILVFR75 New Member

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    I say fill up when you get to "E". Unless you're riding on absolute fumes, I don't think you'll be damaging your fuel pump. Then again, I'm no mechanic, only my opinion.
     
  6. emptyskull

    emptyskull New Member

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    carry xtra gas in a coke bottle then fuel after you run out, make sure not to spill it on your extra car battery.. :rolleyes:
     
  7. fotodaddy

    fotodaddy New Member

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    Folks, the idea is that the pump sits in the tank and has fuel all around it to cool it. The more fuel around it the better the heat load the fuel can take away from the pump so better cooling. So with less and less fuel, there is less and less cooling.

    This is what we are trying to get to the bottom of. If you constantly run on a tank that's almost empty, wont you mess up your pump faster since it doesn't get enough cooling??
     
  8. supervfr

    supervfr Banned

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    cycle pumps dont get very hot. nor are my vfr or ninja in the tank. if there is gas in the tank its in the fuel pump cooling it. if there isent ur pushin the bike to the gas station.
     
  9. Lgn001

    Lgn001 Member

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    Well, just as an argument, if you have a full tank of fuel that has been warmed to 45C, it will take a lot longer to cool off in the evening hours that a partially full tank, thereby subjecting your fuel pump to a longer heat cycle.

    How warm is the fuel at the filling stations? If it was significantly cooler than ambient temperature, and you were riding all day long, there might be some value in filling up at the halfway mark, just to lower the average fuel temperature. But since I have nothing more than a very basic understanding of thermodynamics, this is all pretty much academic on my part.

    Do you guys really have heat-related fuel pump failures?
     
  10. fotodaddy

    fotodaddy New Member

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    We have a lot of issue with fuel pumps etc. But I cant say that problems are fuel temperature related though.
     
  11. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    I ususally run it to below 2 bars, simply cause I don't want to waste the time stopping to fill up more often than I have to.
    My gut reaction is that the fuel pump was designed to be run on a low tank, otherwise the design of the pump or tank could be changed. But that is a total guess on my part.
     
  12. Molsan

    Molsan New Member

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    I usually keep 2 bars mainly so i don't run out. this works if i need to rip out and do something not thinking "oh i have to fill up first."

    As for the fuel pump overheating.


    You basically want to know if the fuel acts as a heat sink for the heat generated by the pump because fuel has a higher coefficient for transfer of heat and also absorbs more heat energy before heating up.
    This theory depends on a few things.
    1) that the fuel pump generates heat and overheats. I'm Canadian and it snowed this morning...so i have had 0 problems with this. So can't help you.
    2) that the fuel pump sits in the fuel. http://fiche.ronayers.com/Index.cfm.../Model/VFR800A/GroupID/309501/Group/FUEL_TANK gives a plan of the tank but still not sure if this is true as i have not really looked into my tank to see the pump to be honest.

    Theory sounds valid that you would want to keep the pump under the level of the fuel if the pump is generating significant amounts of heat and is surrounded by fuel.

    I do have my doubts that the vfr fuel pump does generate so much heat that a liquid heat sink is needed but i have also never touched it after a long ride. Also keep in mind fuel is passing through the pump and may take some of the heat generated reguardless of tank level.

    If you hear of VFR fuel pumps failing due to heat i would not hesitate to keep the fuel level up if you determine that it does sit in fuel.
     
  13. RVFR

    RVFR Member

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    Hmm, I pretty darn sure the pump is not in the tank. so I say fuel it on the relationship to when the next fuel stop could be, nothing worse than to be stranded out in the middle of no where.
     
  14. drewl

    drewl Insider

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    On the 5th gen at least, the pump is located at the rear bottom end of the tank on a disc bolted to the tank. I run my bike in temps of 20-105 F. Not had to replace the fuel pump in 8 years.
     
  15. julianivfr

    julianivfr New Member

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    Foto, carry ya okada cruise, jare. Honda no dey spoil. Dis one na original, made in Japan. E no be made in Taiwan. You don reach ya 600 miles? If you never reach, work plenty for you. Instead may you dey twist throttle dey enjoy de VTEC, una dey yarn fuel pump. We suppose suspend you from dis site until you reach 5k miles. Shame on you. LMAO!!

    On a serious note, though, Arizona is a much, much hotter place than Nigeria is. I have not heard of very many fuel pump complaints. The only reason I can think of for your fuel pumps failing over there will be if your country is selling inferior quality petrol to the public. A stock VFR should pass the quality/emissions standards of almost any country in the world.

    By the way, Kedu?
     
  16. DANIMAL

    DANIMAL New Member

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    on a 6 thgen fuel pump is in the tank.
    how many fuel pump failures are you guys having out there?
     
  17. chomper

    chomper New Member

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    I think Honda has figured out how to make a fuel pump so i wouldn't worry about it, fill up when its convenient thats what i do. however ford Chrysler and Gm still haven't. dont run those vehicles under a quarter tank unless you want early pump failure repair shops love those guys.
     
  18. emptyskull

    emptyskull New Member

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    just add slick 50 gas treatment will help the fuelpump pump faster more hp..
     
  19. CaptainBart

    CaptainBart New Member

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    I tell ya I am an expert at this....Refuel before you have to push!
     
  20. Richard Thompson

    Richard Thompson New Member

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    LOL....:brick:
     
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