Community Forums

DSL417 · 10-26-2016, 08:52 AM

I would offer one thing...over two to four months of days above and days below 40 in a RV park during the Winter, it pays to park with more than a half tank of diesel because the AH does burn a significant amount of fuel over a monthly time frame...filling the tank with a five gallon jug because you ran out and wouldn't start is a real pain. I would never admit publicly how I know that to be true

Dr4Film · 10-26-2016, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

I would offer one thing...over two to four months of days above and days below 40 in a RV park during the Winter, it pays to park with more than a half tank of diesel because the AH does burn a significant amount of fuel over a monthly time frame...filling the tank with a five gallon jug because you ran out and wouldn't start is a real pain. I would never admit publicly how I know that to be true

Dave,

I will make two comments regarding your post.

#1 - I recommend always parking with a full tank of diesel when you plan to be parked for a significant amount of time.

#2 - It appears that the diesel pickup tube for your Aqua-Hot is not at the correct length. Your AH should never drain your diesel tank to the point where you will not be able to start your engine to go fill with more diesel.

Same holds true for your generator fuel pickup tube.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

EVsCoach · 10-26-2016, 09:29 AM

I always run on the top half of my tank; and only twice have I intentionally gone below a quarter tank to check the low fuel light and gauge.

Sent from my iPhone 70NAM

DSL417 · 10-26-2016, 10:00 AM

I didn't say it happened to me...c'mon man...I'd never do that

Probably the only and last time THAT person has or will park for an extended period with less than a half tank. I know...I discussed it with them personally.

And by the way, the new plastic fuel cans A person might buy have a safety feature on the spout that requires the ONE to push back a mechanism on the spout to pour. I understand from THIS person that that makes it even harder to load 5 gal of diesel at a time (not to speak of the fact that 5 gl of diesel it not the lightest thing THAT person has lifted recently).

As to pick up entries to the diesel tank, I don't know for certain where they enter the tank, but I do know that the diesel pitot is high enough that 10-15 gallons is unusable, and that's the one that matters when it comes time to start...so THAT unnamed person who foolishly went on site for four Winter months forgot something WRT fuel tank geometry

MRUSA14 · 10-26-2016, 11:51 AM

For the record, I have added 120 gallons to my tank, and at that point the generator and AH still worked. I don't know how low you have to get to cause the AH and generator to quit (and I really don't want to find out). The low fuel light came on about 30 miles before I filled up with 120 gallons..

Dr4Film · 10-26-2016, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRUSA14

For the record, I have added 120 gallons to my tank, and at that point the generator and AH still worked. I don't know how low you have to get to cause the AH and generator to quit (and I really don't want to find out). The low fuel light came on about 30 miles before I filled up with 120 gallons..

So how many gallons does your diesel tank hold?

My Windsor has a 128 gallon tank. The engine will quit once I have used up about 100 gallons or so (don't ask me how I know that!

). That's what it took to fill my tank after the engine quit. My generator and Aqua-Hot will quit when I need about 85 gallons of fuel to fill-up. That was an easy one to figure out one summer in Alaska while staying near my sons house in Eagle River.

My analog fuel gauge is basically worthless so I rely on my SilverLeaf VMSpc screen and gauges that I have set up for fuel consumption.

If I am planning to stop for an overnight and the fuel gauge is near the halfway mark or below I will always fill up BEFORE parking for the night. That way I KNOW I will have fuel to run the generator for charging the house batteries and for coffee and microwave use in the morning PLUS we will have plenty of hot water and heat using the Aqua-Hot if it is cold outside.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

MRUSA14 · 10-26-2016, 01:09 PM

The Anthem and Cornerstone tanks are rated to hold 150 gallons total. We now know that the top 120 gallons will run everything. The bottom 30, who knows?

757driver · 10-26-2016, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSL417

I didn't say it happened to me...c'mon man...I'd never do that

Probably the only and last time THAT person has or will park for an extended period with less than a half tank. I know...I discussed it with them personally.

And by the way, the new plastic fuel cans A person might buy have a safety feature on the spout that requires the ONE to push back a mechanism on the spout to pour. I understand from THIS person that that makes it even harder to load 5 gal of diesel at a time (not to speak of the fact that 5 gl of diesel it not the lightest thing THAT person has lifted recently).

As to pick up entries to the diesel tank, I don't know for certain where they enter the tank, but I do know that the diesel pitot is high enough that 10-15 gallons is unusable, and that's the one that matters when it comes time to start...so THAT unnamed person who foolishly went on site for four Winter months forgot something WRT fuel tank geometry

I have one of those environmentally friendly child/adult proof safety containers that I used to pour the 5 gal. into the motorhome, ....... but only once, what a mess. Now I place the 5 gal. container on a table next to the entry door and use a shaker siphon hose. No holding the weight of the container and not a drop spilled.

https://www.google.ca/search?sclient...wERx1vx2SzM%3A

photraveller · 10-26-2016, 02:41 PM

BTW, I figured out the blue "water" Scepter 5 gal cans are made out of the same material as the gas & diesel cans that have all the EPA adult/child proof caps.

Plus since its a "water can"

it has a separate vent cap that allows close to full flow.

I did put diesel stickers on it so no one thinks of using it as a water can.

Please don't tell the EPA police.

Steve

rbr · 10-26-2016, 03:51 PM

At Spartan Academy (Aug. '15) I got the following info from Big Mike re: my '15 Anthem fuel tank (150-gal):

The sender for the gauge is calibrated based on the full tank capacity even though about 15% (~23-gal) is unusable - meaning usable capacity is ~125-gallons and when my gauge gets near 15% I'm about to be in big trouble.

I wouldn't know based on personal experience, as the most I've ever put in was 113-gallons. That was before my "schooling" and I won't go nearly that low again. I typically add 80-90 gallons on a fill up now.

_____________________________
Ron & Glenda (The Good Witch!)
2015 Entegra Anthem 42DEQ
2014 Grand Cherokee toad

DSL417 · 10-26-2016, 04:07 PM

I put 129 gal in the 150 gal tank...not because I wanted to, but because of a lack of fuel stations from1/4 tank on in. 1/4 tank..fill. THAT OTHER person always has at least 1/2 tank before month or longer stays

gjw · 10-26-2016, 05:39 PM

I am finding all of these discussions fascinating. I heard PJs presentation two weeks in a row. Once at Entegra during our two year PDI. And once the following week Up at Spartan during their Academy. If you can understand what PJ presents and have any clue about radiant heat then you should be fine. I was totally amazed once I learned the way Entegra has run the aqua Hot line's. from what I was told there's a loop that follows every water line all the way around the motorhome. This loop even circles around our holding tanks. The only item that may freeze in a sub freezing situation appears to be the waterline going to the refrigerator if your refrigerator is mounted in a slide out. I have also had several opportunities to talk to different aqua hot techs and they indicated that it was preferable to run both the electric and diesel all the time which is one thing I've always done. Not only does it exercise the diesel part but it also gives you the greatest efficiency. Sounds reasonable to me…

Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum

Dr4Film · 10-26-2016, 05:44 PM

My electric assist and diesel burners switches are both on 24/7/365 unless the unit is being serviced.

During some of the hotter summer months I have had to turn the electric assist off a few times just to force the diesel burner to fire up and exercise it.

Otherwise they never get turned off.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

brobox · 10-27-2016, 05:14 AM

Richard, I have been in some RV parks in northern states in the summer where the ground water coming in must be colder than FL water in the winter. My AG burners kept firing way to much so the burner gets shut off until needed. Just me trying to save fuel so I can use it running 70 MPH