fuel spill

[LARRY VALENTINE]

Any advice on how to avoid fuel spills through the tank air vents when filling and fuel gauges not working ???
My 53 ft HAT ED has two air vents per tank Thanks

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

Any advice on how to avoid fuel spills through the tank air vents when filling and fuel gauges not working ???My 53 ft HAT ED has two air vents per tank Thanks

How’s your hearing? You gotta listen and stop pumping when the sound changes.

 

[Bob Bradley]

Yup. Listen for the gurgling. It usually happens just as a loud boat passes you as you fuel up.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

If you’re not sure, practice filling your fresh water tank without overflowing. It won’t be as loud so good training.

 

[SEVEN]

Fix your gauges.

 

[Bob Bradley]

Fix your gauges.

Now that's just crazy talk.

 

[warrenw]

Why not install the Parker LG100 Fuel/Air Separators in the vent lines? I did this on my gasoline powered Chris-Craft as the vents were right above the name on the transom so overflows would damage the lettering beyond any issues with spill. They work as advertised and are relatively inexpensive and easy to install if you have access to the vent run from the tank to vent fitting.

 

[Cricket]

Yep, also installed the Racor/Parker LG100's in the vent lines for all 3 tanks. Great addition, relatively easy install too.

 

[Finalee]

Consider not filling to the point your even close. If you do a bit of boating, chances are you know within 50 gallons or so whats left in the tanks. Listening to the sound of air coming out the vent goes without saying.

 

[DCMY #92]

I installed the Racor fuel air separators in the early '90s. The work great for eliminating spitting fuel from the vents, but when their internal float valve closes the air being displaced by incoming fuel can only exit up the fill pipe. If you don't shutoff the nozzle as soon as the sound changes you get a geyser of fuel belching from the fill pipe.

Do to old age and noisy boats going by at the wrong moment, I pulled the diaphragm assembly off of a cheap mechanic's stethoscope. I put the stethoscope tube in the fuel fill pipe beside the nozzle. It's no problem at all to hear the change in the sound.

I don't know what kind of gauges your Hatteras has, but mine are no where accurate enough to use for filling the tanks.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

With my Heart Tank Tender, I know within about 5 gallons how much fuel is in each tank. I fill just short of full and there is no problem. I never run them lower than about 1/4 full anyway so another 15 gallons or so per tank is not necessary.

 

[drburke]

I guess the Davis No Spill is out of production, but there are a few other similar items on the market.

Last time this came up forum members suggested getting a "fuel whistle" which cleverly fits into the vent line and has an audible sound up until just short of overflow--apparently used for decades up north where houses had heating oil tanks.

DAN

 

[Rich60175]

I guess the Davis No Spill is out of production, but there are a few other similar items on the market. Last time this came up forum members suggested getting a "fuel whistle" which cleverly fits into the vent line and has an audible sound up until just short of overflow--apparently used for decades up north where houses had heating oil tanks. DAN

I used one of the inline whistle in the vent line. I installed as close to the tank as I could get. Worked great. You have to pay attention as you could still over flow. Made it easier to hear the air flow from the tank.

 

[JustMike]

Thank you very much for the useful information.

 

[oscarvan]

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=848503

 

[LARRY VALENTINE]

How’s your hearing? You gotta listen and stop pumping when the sound changes.

loss of hearing in upper range. No discernable tone changes while filling.

 

[LARRY VALENTINE]

Fix your gauges.

Cannot get old Rochester gauge out of aft tank.

 

[LARRY VALENTINE]

Why not install the Parker LG100 Fuel/Air Separators in the vent lines? I did this on my gasoline powered Chris-Craft as the vents were right above the name on the transom so overflows would damage the lettering beyond any issues with spill. They work as advertised and are relatively inexpensive and easy to install if you have access to the vent run from the tank to vent fitting.

Got the first two in place on the aft tank . Two more coming from Defenders at $80 each not looking forward to ant, forward vent in the Battery room.

 

[rustybucket]

My aft tank gauge works, and seems to be very accurate. I stop at the F line and know I am about 20gals from overflowing.

My fwd gauge does not work and I couldn't easily get it out. so I just pull the plug on that tank and have a wood dowel that I check every so often as i'm getting close. I try to fill within an inch or so of the plug hole.