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Lost my measuring stick, retail version only measures to 10 gallons. Does anyone have a stick that would share measurements for 6A? Thanks
I couldn't disagree more.Isn’t a fuel measuring stick kinda useless in an RV due to the wing dihedral? I mean, most of the fuel in the tank is inboard of the filler port where one would dip the fuel. I just look inside the open filler port and judge fuel by where the fill line is against the closest outboard rib.
Hi, Please post your measurements. I never thought about it, but a dip stick would be good to have. SteveThe one I made goes from 3 to full. Most are one gallon marks. I won't be able to send measurements till next Saturday.
PM me if you want them.
Agreed! Dipping my tanks is such a part of my preflight I can't imagine NOT doing it! It would be like walking out of the house and not tying my shoes! Or something like that!Sticking the tanks is the first thing I do with every preflight. I calibrated it myself at the same time I calibrated the fuel level component of my EFIS. I started with empty tanks and added 2 gallons at a time for the EFIS and then, at various other increments for each tank, calibrated the homemade dipstick. I find it very accurate and I can't envision not doing such a simple evaluation of such a critical flight component (fuel level).
I've seen others post their own dipsticks for the RV – 9A and thought that would be great to make my own so that I wouldn't have to calibrate one myself starting with empty tanks. However, I found that numbers and devices posted by others for the same airplane didn't correlate with mine. I don't know why my 18 gallon tanks should be any different than any other -9A, but I've not found other dipsticks to accurate for my airplane. .
Yes, it doesn't take long to empty fuel tanks, but naturally an adventure such as draining the fuel tanks comes with many warnings about the hazards associated with that much open fuel in the hangar.I would think you'd need to make one taylored to your aircraft? I made mine with a paint stick, marked with a sharpie. One side is Left tank, other side is Right tank.
Drain the tanks (takes 15 min), then add in gas 5 gal at a time, dipping the stick and marking for every 5 gal. My right and left side are slightly different, by about 2 gal difference.
I have used this universal stick since day one on my 7a. I use it at the start of the day. You can create a calibration chart from 6 gallons all the way to full. I use it to set my fuel computer on my Advance Flight System 2500.I bought one of these years ago and dip the tanks before every flight. Every 1” on the stick is 1.5 gallons in the tank. To get quantity in tank just multiply the inches the stick reads by 1.5 and add 4. Like others have already mentioned, it is pretty accurate down to 5 gallons.
Fuelhawk Universal 11 Inch Fuel Gauge | Aircraft Spruce
Fuelhawk Universal 11 Inch Fuel Gauge The Fuelhawk is clear lightweight and unbreakable. It's easy to use and gives an instant readout in gallons usable. No more guessing.www.aircraftspruce.com
Calibration curve for a 6A.
Same here. Use a paint stirrer with marker lines at 5 gallon increments. I can't imagine needing to know the fuel level to 1/2 gallon increments before take off.I would think you'd need to make one taylored to your aircraft? I made mine with a paint stick, marked with a sharpie. One side is Left tank, other side is Right tank.
Drain the tanks (takes 15 min), then add in gas 5 gal at a time, dipping the stick and marking for every 5 gal. My right and left side are slightly different, by about 2 gal difference.
Agreed. The fuel computer in my EFIS is accurate to about 1/10th gallon and my tank gauges are similarly accurate, although don't begin registering until down about 1/3rd. I stick my tanks mainly to confirm that they roughly agree with the gauges at the beginning of a flight.Same here. Use a paint stirrer with marker lines at 5 gallon increments. I can't imagine needing to know the fuel level to 1/2 gallon increments before take off.
My caps have a built in dipstick made from 0.063" aluminium and are calibrated in 5 litre increments. On the subject of the left cap shown in the photo, this was from my father's RV-12 and I had it inscribed in rememberence. Some people might think its bad ju-ju but the heck with that - I'm proud to have a piece of his plane flying with me all the time as a tribute.
I forgot to ask about the cap dipstick. How did you attach it to the bottom of your caps. I would appreciate a picture of the bottom of the cap. Thanks.RV6 Seattle - I made the dipstick for my "6" from a sacrificial broom handle. The first photo below provides dimensions. l then epoxied in a nylon hook to easily flip open the fuel caps. You'll notice that at the lower end there is a notch in the side... the oil hatch on the top cowl is not spring loaded open and the dipstick serves as a prop to keep the hatch up when topping up the oil - the notch in the dipstick keeps it in place on the lip of the cowl. The measurements are correct when the dipstick is placed at the rear of the tank opening, although they're very close even if you're in the middle.
My caps have a built in dipstick made from 0.063" aluminium and are calibrated in 5 litre increments. On the subject of the left cap shown in the photo, this was from my father's RV-12 and I had it inscribed in rememberence. Some people might think its bad ju-ju but the heck with that - I'm proud to have a piece of his plane flying with me all the time as a tribute.
Now this I would like to see.Yes. Mine is accurate to within 1/2 gallon.
I really, really like this idea. I am going to copy you. I like this better than the stick, because it will always read the same since it is not subject to be tilted,
thank you for posting
I forgot to ask about the cap dipstick. How did you attach it to the bottom of your caps. I would appreciate a picture of the bottom of the cap. Thanks.