Fuel Flow Sender

Technical questions, advice, sharing information etc (aircraft, engines, instruments, weather and such)
User avatar
Barnstormer
Woohoo 100 posts - flying high
Woohoo 100 posts - flying high
Posts: 107
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:21 pm
Location: Polokwane

Fuel Flow Sender

Postby Barnstormer » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:57 pm

Gentleman

Where can I obtain a fuel flow sender, except for MGL.

MGL does mention that you can use an automotive fuel flow sender, but I can't find one at any of the local parts, diesel or Bosch centers.

Also, which type of level sender would you recommend? You get the type with an arm and also the tube type. I think the latter would be more accurate?

I'm just weighing options at this stage.
Planeless...
User avatar
Morph
The Big Four K
The Big Four K
Posts: 5176
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Cape Town

Postby Morph » Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:34 pm

IMHO the resitive tube type levels are the best. The capacitive ones are krap and the lever ones move around too much. However this all depends on the shape of your tank. If tall tubes are best, if flat levers are best

Why don't you want to use the MGL fuel flow sender?
Greg Perkins
User avatar
ZULU1
Frequent Flyer
Frequent Flyer
Posts: 1339
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:39 pm
Location: Salt Rock (Ballito) & Mud Island
Contact:

Flow Meter

Postby ZULU1 » Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:04 pm

Try RS Components, they courier and have a serious quantity to choose from:

http://www.rssouthafrica.com

Try part # 185 9982

Failing that try Farnells (Google it) and the local agent is Mantech, for costing take the £ price and multiply x 17 for ZAR.

Eish Zulu1
Centrifugal force in pure Physics does not exist, however this does not apply to Taxi drivers..
User avatar
Barnstormer
Woohoo 100 posts - flying high
Woohoo 100 posts - flying high
Posts: 107
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:21 pm
Location: Polokwane

Postby Barnstormer » Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:17 am

Thx Morph!

Tube will thus be best for my tanks.

I do not have a problem with the MGL sender. However, they mention that a normal automotive unit can be used. I thought there would be a good reason why they mention this. Price maybe? But, yep there is almost always a but, finding said sender at a automotive supplier seems to be something of a mystery (misery).

Thank you for the reply! I was hoping YOU would. :D 8)

Also, thank you for pointing out that resistive is the way to go.

Mr Zulu!

One of the other distinguished gentleman I was hoping to get a response from!

I appreciate your advice and will follow it.

Greetings!
:P
Planeless...
User avatar
Morph
The Big Four K
The Big Four K
Posts: 5176
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Cape Town

Postby Morph » Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:41 am

Here are some options

Optifuel http://www.optifuel.co.za

Floscan http://www.floscan.com/html/blue/aviation.php

I cant find any references to automotive units which is probably why Rainier from MGL made his own

Fuel level senders are available from VDO's local distributor or your nearest spares shop. (Control Instruments http://www.control-instruments.com) Call them, maybe they have fuel flow senders as well
Greg Perkins
User avatar
Byron
Learning to fly
Learning to fly
Posts: 55
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 5:31 pm

Postby Byron » Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:29 pm

Aiden from Solo Wings has just replaced the one in my tank. I'm pretty sure it is of the automotive variety. Maybe give him a call.
User avatar
Morph
The Big Four K
The Big Four K
Posts: 5176
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Cape Town

Postby Morph » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:43 am

Byron,

I think you are referring to a fuel Level sender not a fuel Flow sender. :)
Greg Perkins
User avatar
Barnstormer
Woohoo 100 posts - flying high
Woohoo 100 posts - flying high
Posts: 107
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:21 pm
Location: Polokwane

Postby Barnstormer » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:07 am

Hi Guys!

The following places do not stock fuel flow senders and can't get their hands on it either. (Any type we can use)

Control Instruments
Autozone
Bosch Centres
5x Diesel and Auto Electrical places I tried.

I am still to try Elpar. Control Instruments does the complete range of VDO. The friendly gentleman there advised me to try Elpar for a better price on a VDO fuel LEVEL sender, as Elpar might buy bigger quantities. As Morph said, they also recommend the tube type above the float type.

I even contacted a friend at BMW. The cars do not use fuel flow sender to calculate fuel consumption, they use more advanced and fancy methods which I am not capable of explaining. Basically it is about pressure, flow of mixed gas, amount of air etc.

Greetings and thank you for the comments.
Planeless...
User avatar
Morph
The Big Four K
The Big Four K
Posts: 5176
Joined: Wed May 25, 2005 3:34 pm
Location: Cape Town

Postby Morph » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:22 am

A lot of fuel injector cars use the electronics of the fuel injectors to measure fuel flow so thus don't need a standalone unit.

So I guess it's back to MGL or Optifuel,

MGL are cheaper and work incredibly well.
Greg Perkins

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests