|
|
|
|
| Author |
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 247
|
Fuel Cell
I damaged the fuel tank in my 911SC (hit a rock), and I am trying to decide if I should replace with a stock tank, or upgrade with a Fuel Safe fuel cell (SA100 17 Gal). The car is just used for spirited drives on the street. Does anyone have any experience with a fuel cell in their street car(pros/cons)? I have attached an example of the one I plan to install with the factory filler neck. Does anyone know how low the fuel cell hangs below the car? Hopefully not as low as the stock tank. Does the fuel sender work correctly with the stock gauges?
|
||
03-20-2023, 11:12 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,024
|
The fuel cell is *a lot* more expensive, correct?
|
||
|
03-20-2023, 11:23 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 247
|
Quote:
|
||
|
03-20-2023, 11:36 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Had a fuel cell in my AH Sprite race car and had a hard time getting the sending unit to work with the stock gauge. Not saying that you will but matching the fuel cell sender to the Porsche Gauge may be an issue.
|
||
|
03-20-2023, 11:41 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
100% no. You need to replace bladder every 5 years. Check that… it’s most of the price of the cell.
Put a skid plate on if you want protection.
__________________
-Jay '74 Mexico Blue 911 3.0 EFI (Fast and Loud) '70 914/6 Race Car (Faster and Louder) '71 73RSR tribute vintage race car 3.0 '68 SWB 911T "RENNRAT" 2.8 twin plug/915 gearbox '81 Magenta IROC clone in progress 3.6 varioram/G50 |
||
|
05-11-2023, 08:50 PM
|
|
|
Get off my lawn!
|
Quote:
Fuel cells have a real purpose for racing. Just a way expensive way to solve an problem you don't really have. Get a stock tank, or repair the old tank. And get a skid plate if you want protection for the tank. I just love my 21 gallon tank in my 911. 500 miles on a tank of gas is great in the vast southwest parts of the country.
__________________
Glen 49 Year member of the Porsche Club of America 1985 911 Carrera; 2017 Macan 1986 El Camino with Fuel Injected 350 Crate Engine My Motto: I will never be too old to have a happy childhood! |
||
|
05-12-2023, 07:55 AM
|
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Northern California
Posts: 3,747
|
Fuel cell bladders do not have to be replaced every five (5) years.
The answer on that topic is the typical "it depends." I am not sure that any type of FIA-labeled cell is safer for street driving than the stock tank. But I do know that the car was designed in Germany with both safety and various gubmint regulations in mind. I have a '75 that has a fuel cell. The bladder is over 20 years old and it is fine. It is configured as a race car, but I can drive it on the street as well. I run high octane leaded fuel, and all fueling is done at my home.
__________________
Mike PCA Golden Gate Region Porsche Racing Club #4 BMWCCA NASA |
||
|
05-12-2023, 08:40 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Today's gas formulation and fuel cells bladder material compatibility would be my concern long term.
The foam inside the bladder is the next concern, it does degrade "ATL fuel cell replacement SF103 foam renews the anti-slosh, explosion suppression, and safety of your cell. The SF103 foam kits are ATL's most popular for gas and limited alcohols, and are available in many sizes, densities, and styles for a variety of cells. Although engineered to last, high alcohol content in fuels will impact the life span of the foam. Inspect your foam quarterly, and when you need to replace, go with ATL."
__________________
1980 911 - Metzger 3.6L 2016 Cayman S |
||
|
05-12-2023, 09:24 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Northern California
Posts: 3,747
|
"Fuel cell bladders do not have to be replaced every five (5) years.
The answer on that topic is the typical "it depends."" My "bladder" is an FS Enduro unit from 2001. Never replaced and no deterioration. I replaced the foam after about 13 years, even though it was fine. Most of the time I used high octane (usually 110) leaded fuel from a small racing fuel company in my area. So it depends. https://fuelsafe.com/rb-ed./ Yes a rectangular cell can be fitted to a '75 911. It is a race car!
__________________
Mike PCA Golden Gate Region Porsche Racing Club #4 BMWCCA NASA |
||
|
05-12-2023, 10:30 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Quote:
some truth there. I have two race cars with cells. One is quite old in the 914/6 (enduro cell also) and still in good shape. I have one that timed out in 2019 (new in 2014) and it is a terrible leaky mess. Fuel safe says times out after 5 years. I've heard you can get them recertified if in good shape but no experience. I've also heard of problems arising before the 5 year term date. I still don't see the need for one on a street car.
__________________
-Jay '74 Mexico Blue 911 3.0 EFI (Fast and Loud) '70 914/6 Race Car (Faster and Louder) '71 73RSR tribute vintage race car 3.0 '68 SWB 911T "RENNRAT" 2.8 twin plug/915 gearbox '81 Magenta IROC clone in progress 3.6 varioram/G50 Last edited by jmz; 05-12-2023 at 03:33 PM.. |
||
|
05-12-2023, 02:16 PM
|
|
|
I ROC!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 390
|
If you put street gas into the fuel cell, it will eventually deteriorate due to the alcohols they now add. It says it on the pump...usually up to 10%. It will be way worse if you use E15 or E85.
I also had a fuel safe that lasted forever. Used only Sunoco purple (standard) which is 110 & leaded. I crashed heavily in the front with a full tank at the Glen and it never leaked. Saved my life, I believe. Incredible how crushed it was but the bladder was intact. It had been 9 years old by that point. |
||
|
05-12-2023, 06:44 PM
|
|
|
Registered
|
I have a very good current fuel cell I will sell you, it's still in my race car but I am converting back to the street. Ed Muscat. in San Diego area
|
||
|
05-13-2023, 08:32 AM
|
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,106
|
How bad is the dent? Also, changing the bladder is only needed to keep the cert (FIA / SCCA) and not that important from a streetcar. That said, I don't know the total lifespan here. Fuel safe would likely send you a new can also.
|
||
|
05-13-2023, 11:36 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Quote:
Sort of…. The porsche specific 26 gallon fuel safe that I have is a leaky mess. 2014 manuf date.
__________________
-Jay '74 Mexico Blue 911 3.0 EFI (Fast and Loud) '70 914/6 Race Car (Faster and Louder) '71 73RSR tribute vintage race car 3.0 '68 SWB 911T "RENNRAT" 2.8 twin plug/915 gearbox '81 Magenta IROC clone in progress 3.6 varioram/G50 |
||
|
05-14-2023, 04:12 AM
|
|
|
The 9 Store
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Wilmington, DE
Posts: 5,359
|
Dents can be pulled.
__________________
All used parts sold as is. |
||
|
05-14-2023, 04:28 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,620
|
Merely a dent, or is the stock tank actually leaking?
I always kept a kit of "fuel tank epoxy" in my racing pit cart if such a need would ever arise. Fast forward a few years and my dad shows up at my house with a tree branch sticking out of the gas tank in his Cadillac, slowly dripping fuel, with him asking me how to fix it. I remembered the fuel tank epoxy in the pit cart, grabbed a clean drain pan, and mixed up the epoxy before we did the switcharoo with the branch. I literally jammed the ball of epoxy in the hole, hoped for the best, and told him to find a new gas tank and we'll replace it. I think he drove it another 10 years before trading it in. The epoxy was still holding tight. |
||
|
05-14-2023, 05:09 AM
|
|
Carrera
Porsche
