Car and Truck Fuel Tanks
Fuel tanks hold the unleaded gas or diesel that your car or your truck needs to run. The capacity of the tank depends on the size of the vehicle. Here are some of the details about fuel tanks:
How does the fuel tank of a vehicle work?A fuel tank holds the combustion fuel you need to drive your car or truck. When the car starts, the fuel pump pumps the gas out of the tank and pushes it into the fuel lines. Eventually, it gets to the engine combustion chamber and makes the car or truck run. This process, which starts with the fuel tank, lasts a matter of seconds.
How do you install a new fuel tank?Here is how to install a new tank.
- Place the new fuel tank on the same jack you used to lower the old one.
- Raise it slowly, connecting the electrical connector and the hoses.
- Secure the bolt accessories into the straps.
- Reinstall any other parts that you removed.
- After removing the jack, lower the car and transfer the gas you removed earlier into the new tank.
- The last step is reconnecting the cable to the negative terminal of the battery.
The majority of fuel tanks are made from one of two materials:
- High-Density Polyethylene: This is a plastic that is blow-molded. It is blown into a ball like a bubble and, then, shaped to the appropriate standards for the vehicle. It is a common choice because it can conform to almost any shape; it is a single piece without joints to leak, and the complex shapes can be mounted in locations to increase crash safety. Fuel emissions are also lowered when HDPE versionss are used.
- Molded sheet metal: Until the development of HDPE, tanks were made almost exclusively of stamped sheet aluminum and steel. It is a strong material that can withstand collision damage. It continues to be the material of choice in classic cars.
Reserve transfer tanks are a molded section of a tank or second, adjacent unit that is not affected by the gas gauge. This is designed to give you a bit of additional fuel if you run out of gas. In many cars, it holds approximately 15% of the volume of the main tank.
What are racing fuel cells?Racing fuel cells are fuel tanks that are encased in rigid boxes lined with closed-cell foam. They are given an additional layer of padding to increase safety in a sport that has a higher likelihood of crashes. They are an excellent choice when considering fuel tanks to place in a racing vehicle.