23 replies to this topic

[Kyle Burkhardt]

Will emptying the tank through the port before changing significantly reduce the amount of gas that comes out of the lines after disconnecting them? Can you reuse the plastic clip that stays on the old filter when you release the quick connect lines?

Thanks,

EDITED FOR ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: Yes, emptying the tank will result in no gas getting on you when you change the filter.

[FTodaro]

The gas does not come out of the tank all that fast. To give you an idea I drained 7 gallons out of my tank by disconnecting fuel line before the filter. It drained about a gallon an hr. it just dribbled out.

the connectors on the fuel filter are like the ones you disconnected to install your pressure regulator. the plastic tool disconnects the line from the filter then the line will just snap back into place on the new filter. If you keep the cap on the tank, is should to help slow it down.

[Johnny D]

Doesn't sound like your using the "jumper wire".
J~

[Mike Collins]

Just have EVERYTING ready and do it like Johnny Lightning and you won't spill much at all.

[Kyle Burkhardt]

Just have EVERYTING ready and do it like Johnny Lightning and you won't spill much at all.

I tried. More was coming out than I was comfortable with in my garage without a lift. I'll try again with an empty tank (gotta empty it anyway to corner balance).

[James York]

I tried. More was coming out than I was comfortable with in my garage without a lift. I'll try again with an empty tank (gotta empty it anyway to corner balance).

Actually you don't need to empty to corner balance. You don't race with an empty tank do you?......

[Kyle Burkhardt]

Actually you don't need to empty to corner balance. You don't race with an empty tank do you?......

No, but do you have a better way to make sure it gets balanced with exactly 1 gal?

[Cy Peake]

Drink a few beers to get it right?

[Kyle Burkhardt]

Drink a few beers to get it right?

Which? The fuel filter or the corner balance (or both)?

[James York]

No, but do you have a better way to make sure it gets balanced with exactly 1 gal?

Hmmmmm.. Why 1 gal? In a race distance where does the fuel transition from/to? To stimulate your mind....Do you scale/align your car with you in or out?

I know I am beating around the bush, but like every adjustment to our cars, in which condition do you wish to "simulate". And if you are really the curious type, why don't you put your car on the scales and document the changes as fuel goes from start to finish and see what happens.

[Kyle Burkhardt]

Hmmmmm.. Why 1 gal? In a race distance where does the fuel transition from/to? To stimulate your mind....Do you scale/align your car with you in or out?

I know I am beating around the bush, but like every adjustment to our cars, in which condition do you wish to "simulate". And if you are really the curious type, why don't you put your car on the scales and document the changes as fuel goes from start to finish and see what happens.

I want one gallon in the car at the end of the race and of course I scale it with me in the car (it would be a waste of money otherwise). Dont have the funds to pay my set up guy to scale the car every lap!

[Johnny D]

Think about what James is saying for a minute and why.
J~

[Kyle Burkhardt]

I'm going by JD's set up advice and my past experience setting up other cars. What do you guys suggest?

[James York]

Kyle,

Ok, my thoughts in a nutshell.

First, I am giving you a hard time about something that probably doesn't matter unless you are on the pointy end and getting every last tenth. The reality of the situation is for the small cross change (if any) due to fuel change won't be discernible to most. However, I always suggest the best way of doing something for even beginners if it's not any difference in work. And I was trying to get thoughts going about my answer.

I can't recall what JD's guide says, nor am I critiquing it, but I scale, align and do everything for how the car is being raced. For example, let's assume that Mazda did a poor job on building the Miata and that fuel load made a huge difference in cross and balance. Would you want the car's balance to be way off in the beginning and transition to good, or start good and go way off? Or is there some middle ground that would be a compromise, a little off in the beginning and end? But, in our case Mazda built a great car. Me, I will set up my car with a middle load of fuel unless I have some particular race strategy, like to set up better at the beginning for impending rain.

In the big picture, you are probably fine doing any way you wish.

[Kyle Burkhardt]

Thanks, James. JD and my guy share the attitude to set it up to be fastest at the end. It hadn't occured to me that others have a different strategy. Box--enlarged.

[HoneyBadger - BrianW]

I want one gallon in the car at the end of the race and of course I scale it with me in the car (it would be a waste of money otherwise). Dont have the funds to pay my set up guy to scale the car every lap!

FYI, my 99 and also a friend of mine's will start to fuel starve in long high G load left handers at close to 2.5 gallons. There is one track in particular in Dallas that has a 2-->3-->4 gear left hander, that is the corner that my car will starve in. In the same corner another friend who drives a 1.6 can run down to within a half gallon. You might want to set your min fuel calc to more than just a gallon with your 99. I now use 3 gallons as a minimum. YMMV

[FTodaro]

I just corner balanced and aligned my car with my weight in the car. I first sat it the car to get the reading on the scales then put wt in the car to replace me. I got it to within one lb. I was concerned that I could not get the car down to the new NASA wt of 2390 with two gallons of gas I am at 2394. I set the car up at that weight.

Now after reading James post, I agree that maybe a wiser approach would be go balance and align it with about 1/2 your expected fuel load so you are a little over at the beginning of the run and a bit under at the end. That is the way i will do it next.

I plan on also experimenting with what changes when I go to the SCCA set up of 2450 and see how that changes things. I will be interested in seeing if I can find a set up that will work for both or if I have to reset the car fore each SCCA and NASA event i do.

Its a hobby what can i say.

[James York]

FYI, my 99 and also a friend of mine's will start to fuel starve in long high G load left handers at close to 2.5 gallons. There is one track in particular in Dallas that has a 2-->3-->4 gear left hander, that is the corner that my car will starve in. In the same corner another friend who drives a 1.6 can run down to within a half gallon. You might want to set your min fuel calc to more than just a gallon with your 99. I now use 3 gallons as a minimum. YMMV

Brian,

If we are talking TMS coming onto the oval into Nascar 3 and 4, I don't get the same result. I can run fine all the way down to my end of race fuel for minimum weight which is about 1 gal. If it's not the case, then I haven't seen any starvation problem unless I am under 1 Gal.

Is your fuel pump/regulator bent or damaged? You might want to check to make sure it is angled to reach down as far as possible. Also, have you modified your fuel pressure? How did you do it? There is a fews ways to do it, some better than others and some causing side effects.

[James York]

Thanks, James. JD and my guy share the attitude to set it up to be fastest at the end. It hadn't occured to me that others have a different strategy. Box--enlarged.

I used to balance this way also in the old days of Toyo RA-1 when the fast laps were when the car was lightest. Now the tires are only "good" for maybe 3-5 laps. Particulary true for 99s, and especially true when it's HOT weather.

But I am sure you will be fine doing whichever way you feel comfortable and correct for you. Good luck.

[HoneyBadger - BrianW]

Brian,

If we are talking TMS coming onto the oval into Nascar 3 and 4, I don't get the same result. I can run fine all the way down to my end of race fuel for minimum weight which is about 1 gal. If it's not the case, then I haven't seen any starvation problem unless I am under 1 Gal.

Is your fuel pump/regulator bent or damaged? You might want to check to make sure it is angled to reach down as far as possible. Also, have you modified your fuel pressure? How did you do it? There is a fews ways to do it, some better than others and some causing side effects.

I am talking about the MSR-C series of turns starting at horseshoe and ending in tombstone, running CCW. Brett Gabriel has similar fuel starvation issues in his 99. Since the rule change, I dont have a stock fuel pressure regulator, I have an adjustable one located outside of the tank. I did make sure that the return hose was fastened tight and is dumping very near the pick-up. I am running 52psi of fuel pressure, but don't really monitor it in terms of logged data. I do have a pressure gauge on the regulator itself, but that is under the tank cover and I only look at it when tuning.