Helivue Design 17 Gallon Auxiliary Fuel Tank System install/review

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Actually, it is a good question because most fuel tanks are steel or plastic. Aluminum does not deform as well. IMO, aluminum coated steel would be a better choice of materials.
 
Aluminum is definitely the least deform and crack resistant when compares to steel and a certain grade of plastic. OEM plastic are the best. I was working on my DIY solution using junked fuel tank but got tired of having to design everything myself and jumped on this deal.

Mounted in the back, they are definitely more exposed during rear end crash. This is the reason why every vehicle in last 20-30 years moving their fuel tank closer to the middle.
Jeep cherokee/grand cherokee /liberty are very prone to caught fire during rear end collison. Chrysler response to this is to give a hitch for free to counter recall mandate from NTHSA for jeep liberty. This tank being low profile are almost completely covered by rear cross member.

Joe is working on a skid plate for this tank. It should give it much more protection during rear end collison. I am not worried about off road clearance.

We modify our vehicle quite extensively. Majority of it are not crash tested. The only exception is Australian bullbars becaue it is a requirement over there.
 
I have a plate steel bumper too, and also plan to either buy his skidplate or have one made, but I am considering dragging the rear end over rocks. Collision resistance would just be a bonus for me.
 
Now that I've done a few fills I feel safe saying that 17 gallons is the nominal capacity, but you can only get about 15 gallons out of it with the pump. So while I have 40 gallons combined, I can only run it down to about 36.5-37 before I'd run out of gas.
 
The kit come with 1.25" hose and although it works, I never convident it would give long lasting leak free performance. Last fill up I notice my MPG dropped quite a bit while smelling gas a lot. This is during hot weather. It seems the vapor pressure is high enough and finding leaky path in the system. No check engine light, so it passed EVAP test during normal cycle.

Decided to get 1" diameter hose to replace it.
Use Dorman NOE 573033 which is filler neck hose for CJ7. Available from local NAPA for very reasonable price.

Found a leak a small leak path on the old hose.
20240914_141802.webp


Problem with worm gear type hose clamps is the tension are not uniform. Trying to clamp down from 1.25" hose to 1" is cutting into the hose.
20240914_141733.webp


I might need to replace the worm gear with spring tension hose clamp. Not easy to find locally. This seems to be the correct size with 1" ID hose I use.
 
Jstawgn said:
The kit come with 1.25" hose and although it works, I never convident it would give long lasting leak free performance. Last fill up I notice my MPG dropped quite a bit while smelling gas a lot. This is during hot weather. It seems the vapor pressure is high enough and finding leaky path in the system. No check engine light, so it passed EVAP test during normal cycle.

Decided to get 1" diameter hose to replace it.
Use Dorman NOE 573033 which is filler neck hose for CJ7. Available from local NAPA for very reasonable price.

Found a leak a small leak path on the old hose.
View attachment 3726376

Problem with worm gear type hose clamps is the tension are not uniform. Trying to clamp down from 1.25" hose to 1" is cutting into the hose.
View attachment 3726375

I might need to replace the worm gear with spring tension hose clamp. Not easy to find locally. This seems to be the correct size with 1" ID hose I use.
Click to expand...

Mine also started to leak a few months ago, I plan to swap to 1" when the weather is better and my car is back on the road. For now I just tightened them up.
 
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