80 series sub tank

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 09:24

ThreadID: 9831 Views:12337 Replies:6 FollowUps:9

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Steve

hi,
Just purchased an 80 series , filled the main tank and put approx 25-30lt into sub.main is now showing 3/4 full yesterday i pressed the sub tank button the light comes on for 1-2 seconds only. is this because the main is too full. anyone pls help.

thanks so much
steve.

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Reply By: ExplorOz Team - David - Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 14:37

Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 14:37

Interesting - the 80 series sub does not fill the main - In fact you drive around on the sub tank just as if it was a normal tank - ie. it is not a filler tank for the main. When you press the sub button it should stay on and you should be driving around with this on until the sub tank is empty.

If the light comes on and then goes off you may find the transfer solenoid is not working correctly. There are two solenoids that handle the change over - one for the fuel supply and one for the return. I have not seen a system where the light comes on and goes off this is very strange hence I would think there is a problem with one of the solenoids.

If you get or have the Gregories manual it will show you how to remove and test the solenoids - I cannot think of another reason for the fault you are reporting.

My sub is a 170 ltr sub with the 90 ltr main I drive around with the sub switched in until it is empty and then drive the main. I know about these solenoids as I had one go in my troopie. I also know they are exactly the same config in the 80 series - I have removed and fully claened and tested the ones in our 80. It is a bit of a bad job (smelly fuel etc) but once done you know how the fuel system works!Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
--------------------------
Always working, not enough travelling ;-)

AnswerID: 43426

Follow Up By: Member - George (WA) - Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:07

Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:07

I totally agree with David, I also have an 80 series cruiser.
Both tanks, main and sub are completely independant of each other as far as filling and switching is concerned. My sub tank light stays on until I switch back to the main tank. I have never had to tinker with the solenoids, they have worked faultless after 430,000 km.
Interested in what David said about cleaning the solenoids, should this be done at certain intervals or leave them alone whilst there is no problem ?

I have recently replaced the alternator, at 420,000 km, makes me think about the starter motor, should I have that looked at, still working OK now but would not like to get stuck without a starter motor in an isolated place as happened with the alternator. The cruiser is automatic.
King Edward River, Mitchell Plateau
VKS-737, ch 2, sel. 2131

FollowupID: 305728

Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - David - Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:42

Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:42

George,

If they ain't broken then I would leave them - I serviced mine because I thought that I may have had a problem. I did not it was just a fuel line issue and not the solenoid at all.

I had a problem with the starter motor at 160Kms it would not always crank - the solenoid would fire and then nothing. I pulled the thing apart and found that the contacts had worn. Went to the local auto elec and was supplied with some replacement contacts $20 installed and the unit is 100% again. Again if it is not showing any problem then I would leave it also. Having said this I have no problems in doing my own servicing and reapairs out in the bush. If you are concerned and mechanically challenged then it does not hurt to have it checked.Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
--------------------------
Always working, not enough travelling ;-)

FollowupID: 305730

Follow Up By: Member - Eskimo - Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 21:06

Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 21:06

petrol models are pumped into main on the 80 series if i am not mistakenWow! am I cute
If yer ain't fishing, Yer ain't livin
Richard

FollowupID: 305747

Reply By: Member - DOZER- Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:14

Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:14

Hi guys
Bet you bought a petrol. Mine is aswell and what you have explained is exactly what mine does.
With a diesel 80, one or the other tank can be selected to run off, but the petrol has a computer that will only alow fuel to be pumped into the main from the sub if the main is below 3/4, (and the sub is above empty)
Andrew wheredayathinkwer mike?

AnswerID: 43430

Follow Up By: Steve - Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:28

Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:28

Hi Andrew,
thats what i was thinking/hoping, maybe will try it again when she gets a bit lower say under 1/2 tank (only just on 3/4 now)
thanks for yr help
cheers steve

FollowupID: 305729

Follow Up By: Member - George (WA) - Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:46

Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 16:46

Mine is a 80 diesel, did'nt know that there is a difference in set-up between diesel and petrol. Sounds like the sub tank on a 80 petrol can only be used when the main tank is below 3/4. Think I prefer the diesel configuration.
You learn something new every day.King Edward River, Mitchell Plateau
VKS-737, ch 2, sel. 2131

FollowupID: 305732

Follow Up By: Member - DOZER- Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 18:10

Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 18:10

With the petrol, the main efi pump is in the main, so the sub fills up the main sort of thing where as u can run each dry independantly with your diesel.
Andrew wheredayathinkwer mike?

FollowupID: 305738

Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - David - Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 21:37

Sunday, Jan 18, 2004 at 21:37

I learn't something also.Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
--------------------------
Always working, not enough travelling ;-)

FollowupID: 305749

Reply By: Steve - Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 07:19

Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 07:19

so my main tank is too full, is that why the light does not stay on..?

AnswerID: 43475

Reply By: Member - Neil & Lynne(Bunbury) - Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 10:04

Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 10:04

Yes the main is too full. Smart car, it won't overfill the main.
Also bear in mind that EVERY time the engine is started the transfer pump operates for a few seconds which transfers a litre or two to the main. The purpose of this is to keep the pump from seizing or the seals drying out. To ensure the pump doesn't run dry, always keep some fuel in the sub tank.

Regards
NeilLife's too short to say .. "I can't do that !"

AnswerID: 43487

Reply By: bmw1 - Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 13:06

Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 13:06

My 80 series works the same expect it does not pump any fuel into the main tank on start-up. Sub holds 60 liters and the main 90 liters. I wait for the main to get below 1/4 empty before turning on the sub tank.

AnswerID: 43512

Follow Up By: Steve L - Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 13:19

Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 13:19

If your 80 is petrol engined then it WILL be pumping fuel into the main tank every time you start up - no lights come on to advise this is happening, it's a purely automatic thing. If it's not doing this I'd be getting it checked out as it might be a precursor to a complete pump failure (which you don't want to discover when out in the bush!). It's easy to test - fill the sub then do regular driving (plenty of engine on/offs say over a 2 week period) and then before you try manually pumping between tanks go and refill the sub and you'll find that you can put a few litres in it.

The sub tank/transfer light will only stay on while the pump is working, so if the main tank is over approximately 2/3s full the light will only be on long enough to identify that the main is too full for a transfer, then will blink out.

FollowupID: 305779

Reply By: Steve L - Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 13:22

Monday, Jan 19, 2004 at 13:22

Never heard of a 60/90 configuration either. Mine was a 95 litre main and a 50 litre sub (total of 145 litres) before replacing the sub with a 180 litre tank.

Anyone else with something other than a 95/50 config as standard on an 80?

AnswerID: 43513