Surge Tank

[DirtyLude]

Anyone running a surge tank to prevent fuel starvation? I've been half thinking of making one up. The only hard thing would be figuring out where to put it on the CRX.

I figure it might be a next winter project.

[GregR]

Couldn't you just get away with using a high-volume fuel pump and some larger fuel lines to hold more fuel at the right pressure?

[DirtyLude]

No, once you have air in the line, that's it, there's no going back. It doesn't matter how large your fuel lines are. The surge tank is designed to prevent any air getting into your final high pressure line.

It's not too hard to make, it's just the cost of the a second low pressure fuel pump, the placement, and all the new plumbing which is a bit of a hassle. Some people put them in the cabin, but personally I wouldn't do it unless I can figure out some for it all to be outside the cabin.

I noticed some people complaining about fuel starvation on another road race forum.

[GregR]

So is this is a problem of fuel sloshing around in the tank and the pickup ingesting air? I'm learning here....

[ADAM]

my inline pump sucks air all the time when the tank is low....it reprimes itself no problem... ?

[DirtyLude]

Yes, it's a problem of the fuel sloshing around in the tank and running the pump dry. I'm sure most cases can be solved with just putting the fuel cell foam in your stock tank.

Adam, by not going back, I don't mean, that's it, you're screwed until you can reprime the pump, I mean that air has no where to go but out the injectors. Also you've lost fuel pressure for the amount of time your pump is trying to pump air through your system.

[ADAM]

i have battled this problem for 2 years now...and have ended up driving with a 3/4 full tank on the track....

the only thing that worked was race foam in the tank.....unfortunately the foam i put in my tank broke apart and clogged my fuel filter up..so i ripped it out..

the real solution is a 3 door surge tank in the fuel tank..with proper fuel pick ups..AND race foam as well...

[DirtyLude]

I think with the charcoal cannister taken out of the engine bay I have ample room for a small surge tank in the engine bay. I found a simple overflow can that can be converted to a surge tank very easily with just welding on 2 more hose fittings. A low pressure intank pump and a high pressure inline on the fire wall beside the tank should work nicely.

If I go crazy and weld up my own tank, I'll go the extra step and put baffles in it.

I've never heard of the foam braking up before. Maybe I'll hold on the foam, then. The only solution everyone seems to have is just to run as full a tank as possible.