Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

fuel tank foam

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    fuel tank foam

    One of the instructors saw me adding 5 gals of fuel to my car and I explained to him that I get fuel starvation below 1/2 tank in hard corners. ('90 325is)

    He recommended foam in the tank to prevent sloshing and starvation.

    Anyone done this??

    #2
    Is there a special type of foam for this? I'd be worried about it breaking down and contaminating the fuel, or worse.

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
    1988 Alpinweiss 325i Convertible

    Comment


      #3
      Fuel Cell Foam alone doesnt really do much of anything to prevent slosh, which is why fuel cells use 3 door surge tanks or swirl pots to contain fuel around the pickup(s).
      Just adding foam would be a waste of time.

      Adding in a surge tank around your pickup would be way more beneficial and using foam to hold the surge tank in place.
      ATL sells a few different stand alone surge tanks as Im betting others do to.

      When I bought my fuel cell my surge tank came separate from a different location.
      I took the car to a track day with just the foam in the cell before I installed the surge tank and it was undriveable under 1/2 capacity even with the cell full of foam.
      Just foam is a waste of time.
      Jimmy P.
      87 E30 M3 Prodrive British Touring Car
      88 E30 M3 Zinnoberot - Garage Queen
      88 E30 M3 Lachsilber - SCCA SPU #98
      92 M Technic Cabrio - S14 Powered!
      98 318Ti Morea Green
      04 Ford F350 Dually Tow Machine

      Comment


        #4
        Foam DOES greatly reduce the chance of explosion.

        Doesn't do shit for fuel moving around.

        That said, dual, well- designed pickups in the rear corners
        of the cell and 2 pumps let me get down well under 2 gallons
        before I notice any sort of pressure drop.

        t
        now, sometimes I just mess with people. It's more entertaining that way. george graves

        Comment


          #5
          Look into a Holly HydraMat. I haven't used it on an E30 before, but has worked well for the two Champcars I've worked on (my buddy's RX7 and my 240SX).

          Comment


            #6
            I just use surge tanks with 2 fuel pumps. Literally won't starve until it completely runs out of fuel.
            john@m20guru.com
            Links:
            Transaction feedback: Here, here and here. Thanks :D

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by citizen_insane View Post
              Look into a Holly HydraMat. I haven't used it on an E30 before, but has worked well for the two Champcars I've worked on (my buddy's RX7 and my 240SX).
              OMG... Hydramat is crazy-cool!

              The amazing HydraMat is a patent-pending fuel reservoir system designed to reduce fuel starvation issues present in hard cornering, acceleration, stopping, inclines, and low fuel conditions.

              Comment


                #8
                i don't think that would work in our tank though :(
                There's a big bowl on the bottom.

                On the red by jet jones, on Flickr

                Comment


                  #9
                  Surge tank.

                  RISING EDGE

                  Let's drive fast and have fun.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by LowR3V'in View Post
                    i don't think that would work in our tank though :(
                    There's a big bowl on the bottom.
                    On the red by jet jones, on Flickr

                    You can get magnetic hold-downs that will help keep the mat flush with the bottom of the tank and bend it around features inside the tank. As long as any portion of the mat is touching fuel, it will pull fuel. I think it should work, but again, I haven't tested it in an E30.

                    It's quite a bit cheaper than a surge tank in my experience, but a surge tank is always a good option as well.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by citizen_insane View Post
                      It's quite a bit cheaper than a surge tank in my experience, but a surge tank is always a good option as well.

                      11"x11" of hydramat is ~$250


                      I have been buying $60 eBay surge tanks and using e250 dual tank van external pumps, ~$100 for Bosch. I would say the price is comparable once you add in fittings/hoses - but - with the surge tank there's extra capacity which is a bonus if you are endurance racing.
                      john@m20guru.com
                      Links:
                      Transaction feedback: Here, here and here. Thanks :D

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Hoveringuy,

                        Do you have an early tank? If late, try cleaning out your crossover tube, is your pump sock all the way to the floor and clean?

                        Should be able to do better than half on stock setup.

                        I was up above it, Now I'm down in it ~ Entropy - A Build thread.
                        @Zakspeed_US

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Anyone running an under-car surge tank?
                          '90 318is

                          Comment


                            #14
                            I can go to about 1/4 tank on my early tank setup, you might have other issues. During my last outing, I learned that oil starvation on long left-handers is a bigger issue for the M20.

                            Comment


                              #15

                              Originally posted by AusScare View Post
                              Anyone running an under-car surge tank?
                              I have this installed and it works great. No more dead pedal on long right hander's at half a tank.

                              Click image for larger version

Name:	25902204498_57b65e054e_b.jpg
Views:	405
Size:	69.9 KB
ID:	9872366


                              Attached Files

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X