Gas Problem

This has happened to me recently but I think only because I filled the tanks to full. I have the rain-proof fuel caps and it squirts out of the breather holes.

Brian
SLC-UT
N3281H

Dennis, I had the same problem with my 1946 415C this past year. Turns out the old terneplate 5 gal header tank was full of sloshing compound which had begun to break up and come loose. Some was obviously beginning to clog the lines. I also found the inlet and overflow fuel lines had been replaced sometime in the past and had been placed too high in the back of the tank, causing the tank to become too full.

After discussing the problem with both EOC tech advisors, who provided invaluable advice and assistance, I solved the problem by having a replacement tank aluminum made locally by a highly qualified specialist welder often used by my A&P AI. My A&P installed it last spring and I've not had an overflow problem since. Feel free to call me is you want at 816-803-0139.

Ron Mays
Kansas City MO

Are you talking about a solid stream of fuel (yikes). or a little splashing or misting? If it is a solid stream, that would imply the pump is delivering fuel to the fuselage tank faster than it is exiting (via engine and return to wing lines) and it is over flowing. To test, the next time it happens, turn off the emergency fuel shut off valve. That will stop fuel being delivered to the tank and the squirting should stop pretty quickly.

I have a 1946 415C and 3 times now when taxing fuel has started squirting out the fuselage gas cap. Each time, I have shut the engine down, waited a few minutes, and the problem did not repeat--but I am obviously concerned about the fire hazard with a hot engine. 2 out of the 3 times, both wing tanks were full; the 3rd time wing tanks were about 3/4 full. I had one mechanic try to fix the problem but he could not find anything wrong. Can anyone tell me what they think is wrong? "Thanks