Part Time
Ontario,Canada
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I have Four Winds class "C" 31Ft Workhorese chassis.From the first time I did a fillup the trouble started.It would take at least 20 minutes plus just to get enough gas to do a trip (not a full tank).After a few times of frustration trying to get a good slope at the pumps or just being stuborn to try and fill it up, I gave up.Finally I realized GM would not produce a product that would not work properly. Upon inspecting the fill tube I found two problems.The fill pipe was installed sloping back towards the the gas cap and the hose to the tank was routed down under a body cross rail that caused it to be lower than the top of the tank inlet.After changing the fill pipe angle and rerouting the hose to the tank I can pump 55 gallons in record time up to the gas cap. Take a look,it was easier to go around something than to look for a proper route.
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phycospecialties
modesto
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I appreciate the help guys! Lots of good info. I already have planned to run it dry, and see exactly what the capacity is. The tank is 80 gal. (confirmed by local dealer). I really wish this didn't bother me so much,but if the build sheet and gulf stream advertise an 80 gallon tank. I want an 80 gal. tank. Dealer has checked sending unit and gauge and has found (no faults). What i was really after when i posted this question,was owners with like coaches and ther acutual numbers. My fuel milage when towing(about7 to 10k)with 65 galloms of useable fuel only allows for a 400 to450 range at best! For me that is not enough, especially when you consider the price we paid and my expectation of a 550 to 650 range.
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phycospecialties
modesto
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Also advice on fill tube and vent I did not consider will chaeck and report when I have a chance... thanks. And to anyone with numbers please still reply! I would like to know what everyone else is gettin.
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rjstractor
Auburn, WA
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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I would really recommend to not run the tank dry intentionally. Hard on the fuel pumps, and I beleive also on the catalytic converter- if it has one, I'm not sure. At the least it would probably make the computer throw a code.
1998 Gulfstream Ultra B/H Ford E450 V10
2005 Chevy 2500HD 6.0 w/ Maxidump insert
6x12 Interstate enclosed trailer
7x16 Bulldog flatbed hauling a 2006 Kioti CK20 TLB
2003 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer
1998 Saturn SL2 toad
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pnichols
Santa Cruz Mountains
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Joined: 04/26/2005
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You'll probably find on your C5500 that it will help to fill your tank the way I do on my RV's Ford E450 55 gallon tank.
For the life of me it won't take the last 5 gallons .... UNLESS I trickle trigger the fuel nozzle for about 10 minutes ater the nozzle automatically shuts off.
You can only do this if:
1) Your DW has a lot of patience.
2) Their is no one waiting behind you to fill up.
3) You just happen to be at a station with sloppy enough automatic fuel nozzle cutoff feedback loops such that you trick it with carefull fingering into continue dribbling fuel for as long as you want.
My GMC pickup requires the same kind of finese to put in the last 4 gallons.
I think it mave have something to do with the vapor recovery/fuel spill prevention/clean air/etc.. fuel delivery systems they put into vehicles now.
Phil, 2005 E450 Itasca 324V Spirit
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TMBLSN
Washington State
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Joined: 04/07/2008
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pnichols wrote:You'll probably find on your C5500 that it will help to fill your tank the way I do on my RV's Ford E450 55 gallon tank.
For the life of me it won't take the last 5 gallons .... UNLESS I trickle trigger the fuel nozzle for about 10 minutes ater the nozzle automatically shuts off.
You can only do this if:
1) Your DW has a lot of patience.
2) Their is no one waiting behind you to fill up.
3) You just happen to be at a station with sloppy enough automatic fuel nozzle cutoff feedback loops such that you trick it with carefull fingering into continue dribbling fuel for as long as you want.
My GMC pickup requires the same kind of finese to put in the last 4 gallons.
I think it mave have something to do with the vapor recovery/fuel spill prevention/clean air/etc.. fuel delivery systems they put into vehicles now.
Topping off is a waste of money. Most of the fuel that you think is going into your tank is just being recovered by the vapor recovery system:
http://www.epa.gov/donttopoff/
Your tank also needs room for expansion, similar to the 80% fill rule for LP tanks.
http://ask.cars.com/2007/07/gas-top-off.html
2006 Jayco 275BHS
1998 C2500
Lee
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Part Time
Ontario,Canada
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I had a Problem from the day we first tried to fill up our 31 Ft Four Winds class "C" Workhorse chassis.It could take up to a half hour if I was very patient at the pumps.I tried different Gas stations with lots of slope at the pumps but with no luck.After I realized that GM would not build something that didn't work properly,I started to investigate the fill pipe and hoses.I found that the fill pipe was tilted up at an angle inside the body and the hose to the tank was routed down under a body cross rail which worked like a sink trap.After changing the angle on the fill pipe and rerouting the fill hose to be above the top of the gas tank instead of being below by 8 to 10 inches,I was amazed at the difference.55 Gallons in approx 10 minutes or less and right to the cap too.No more dragging it out and loosing patience and quitting before the tank was full.It's worth the time to take a look at your setup.
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pnichols
Santa Cruz Mountains
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"Most of the fuel that you think is going into your tank is just being recovered by the vapor recovery system:"
This is not true at all. I can drive a lot further after filling up this way versus filling up until the pump automatically stops. Absolute proof.
"Your tank also needs room for expansion..."
I suspect that the vapor recovery system and reserve storage region of the tank .... in some combination .... take care of expansion. I have been using this trickle-fill method on both my PU and MH for a long time and never noticed any gasoline wet spots on the side of my vehicles near the fill spout or on the driveway at my house. How else, then, has expansion been taken care all these years in my situation?
Both vehicles drive about 4 to 5 gallons worth of additional miles if I fill them up to what their systems were ultimately designed and advertised to hold.
* This post was
edited 04/23/08 08:48am by pnichols *
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mfa
Florida
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Joined: 08/28/2006
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Here's my reply to your post on the GS owner forum...
Overhead in the driver's seat there should be a sticker with the build codes of installed equipment when it left GM. Here are the fuel tank codes --
N23 - 40 Gallons
NG6 - 40 Gallons
NH4 - 40 Gallons
NH5 - 60 Gallons
NJ9 - 80 Gallons
NN4 - 60 Gallons
Or you can crawl under there and read it off the side of the tank.
My 2006 Ultra C5500 has an 80-gallon tank, but you have to be very patient to get 80 gallons into it. First fuel cutoff is about 60 gallons, then you can trickle in another 20 gallons. I think the tank vent system is poor.
Also, the fuel gage is not very accurate on mine. If I have a full tank, the fuel gage will not drop off the full position until I've driven 150 miles or more -- at least 20 gallons down.
I get about 7.5 mpg at 65 mph in flat country. Towing a 2002 Honda Civic, I get about 6.5 to 7.0 mpg. I can figure on driving 400 miles or so on a (really full) tank with about 20 gallons to spare.
IMO, your expection of up to 650 miles on a tank is unrealistic and has nothing to do with the price you paid for the vehicle. If your dealer told you you would get 10 mpg with this truck, he was either lying or very misinformed. My salesman told me I would get 7.5 mpg and that's what I'm getting. If I ran the tank dry, that would be no more than 600 miles, but doing that is neither prudent nor safe.
* This post was
edited 04/24/08 11:45am by mfa *
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shawdowboss
Ames, IA
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Joined: 12/25/2007
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We only average 6-8 mpg on ours depending if we tow or not. Have filled with 60 gals at 1/4 tank which gets us in the 350 miles or so range and it's got an 80 gal tank. Only have had to trickle the last 5 gals or so.
2006 Gulfstream Ultra 6331
33' Super C
8.1L V8 Gas
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