stephenh 860 Posted October 12, 2017 Anyone know what the capacity is of the standard factory XI fuel tank? Because of the unusual shape it isn't really an easy job to calculate from measuring it. I'll need to know when I get round to re-calibrating the fuel gauge once I've fitted my Spiyder gauge wizard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon Marks - North Oxfordshire AO 263 Posted October 13, 2017 Hi, Stephen, Four and a bit gallons is as close as I can remember! I did drain my tank from full into measuring jugs then the jerry can to get the number, then filled it back progressively as I calibrated the gauge wizard. Good 5l measuring jugs were five or six quid from Amazon and have been regularly used since. Simon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robhume 166 Posted October 13, 2017 When my gauge was wired, it read backwards, so swapped the terminals over but made no difference. After a while it stopped working altogether and now for my purpose, I use a garden cane suitably marked. Just another of the winter jobs to add to the ever increasing list. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stephenh 860 Posted October 13, 2017 Thanks Simon, I hoped you would reply because I guessed you must have measured it somehow for adjusting your gauge wizard. Rob, funny that you have the same problem as me. I'll let you know how I get on but it might be some while before I get round to it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WestyXI129 4 Posted November 12, 2017 4.7 gallons US. Depends on how big a dimple you put in the flat side to fit it into the chassis. A dip stick is the best way to measure. Measure the depth of the fuel tank on the stick, then mark it half way. Use that to calibrate your float or gauge tube. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon Marks - North Oxfordshire AO 263 Posted November 12, 2017 I've just put 4.7 gallons US into a unit converter. It comes out as 3.91357 Imperial Gallons - plus a small bit in the pipe from the tank to the fuel pump and, if you overfill a bit more in the large diameter filler pipe to the cap assembly. Simon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stephenh 860 Posted February 13, 2018 The correct answer turned out to be about 22 litres, based on my measuring jug, in the case of my tank. I've fitted the gauge at last, and I've calibrated it to the tank sender as per the wizard instructions. And I've calibrated the gauge to the wizard for correct full indication, IYSWIM. Not sure if I can do the other values for the wizard to gauge settings with a full tank, Simon if you read this, can you tell me? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simon Marks - North Oxfordshire AO 263 Posted February 13, 2018 Hi, Stephen, Calibrating the intermediate points necessitates filling the tank to the relevant point and setting the gauge, so you'll have to drain the tank again, I am afraid. Your volume value agrees with mine (I could not quite fit a tankful into one of my 20 litre Jerry Cans). Drain / pump it out then back in with 5.5 litre amounts and you'll be sorted at Empty, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and Full. I found the Gauge Wizard very straightforward to use. Simon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stephenh 860 Posted February 13, 2018 Thanks, Simon, as I feared. Oh, bother or words to that effect. I don't much fancy pumping 22 litres out using a cheap hand operated vacuum pump, so I'll leave the rest of the settings until the spring, when it (the car that is) comes out to play, and I can use up some of the fuel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonjh1964 567 Posted March 16, 2018 Stephen, I don't know if you've done this yet but I've just emptied my tank by disconnecting the carburettor pipe and using the fuel pump to transfer the fuel, it took a couple of minutes. Jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stephenh 860 Posted March 16, 2018 Not yet bothered, Jon, but I'm getting close to doing it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick - Joint North East AO 448 Posted March 17, 2018 I know it's there because the original Lotus one was there, but there is a great space just in front of the rear axle, nice and low down for a long range tank................ just saying Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonjh1964 567 Posted March 30, 2018 On 17/03/2018 at 11:10, Nick - Joint North East AO said: I know it's there because the original Lotus one was there, but there is a great space just in front of the rear axle, nice and low down for a long range tank................ just saying or behind? article is from Autosport 25 November 1982 so looks like the original cars had a big tank behind the axle - wouldn't pass today's IVA though! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stephenh 860 Posted March 30, 2018 Interesting, but I think I'll take my chances with the tank left where it is now. I've emptied the tank, using my hand syphon pump. Wasn't as bad as I had feared. Unfortunately I still can't get the gauge needle to move below full indication, even though there is less than a couple of litres left in the tank, except by switching off the ignition, when it drops to the empty position as it should, of course. However, I've messaged Spyder, and they have made some suggestions for me to try, and said if it didn't do the trick I could send it back to them, and they would check it (the gauge wizard, that is) over, and upgrade it to the latest firmware spec. or if it is faulty they will send me a new one of the latest spec. They came back to me with this within a couple of hours of me sending my "help" message, which i thought was very good, and very fair, for what I suspect is a small outfit. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jonjh1964 567 Posted March 31, 2018 Stephen, Have you checked the sender before it goes through your guage wizard. It should be 220ohms at empty and 20ohms at full. Jon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
