Safely Carry Spare Gas?

jyl · jyl's Garage

My VW Vanagon is prone to running out of gas. The tank is on fumes when the fuel gauge needle is just getting into the red. This has caught me out twice and almost nabbed me last night. Yes, I am a slow learner.

So . . . is there a safe way and location to carry 1 gallon of gas in a Vanagon?

HHI944 · 11-21-2011, 08:45 AM

I carry a 5 gallon jerry can of gas on the rover...change it out every time I fill up. Stupid Lucas gauges have shown half a tank before and I've been running on fumes...

stomachmonkey · 11-21-2011, 08:54 AM

Fuel gauge on wifes Tahoe got flaky, suspected a sticky float but no way in hell was I dropping the tank for that.

Then the fuel pump went so had no choice.

She was all excited that her gauge would no longer mis behave.

Naturally the damn thing stopped working all together.

Now she just tops it off whenever the trip meter gets to ~150 miles.

Fine by me since the thing has a ~450 mile range and it means she is keeping it 1/2 to 2/3 rds full all the time which we all know is better for the vehicle.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

We carry a few gallons in the tool boxes of our trucks. Not sure how to do it in a car with no tool box.

We had an employee that had a bad habit of trying to stretch fuel stops. It's a pita when you run a 2ton international out. Have to fill both filters and prime it with the lantern pump....

MRM · 11-21-2011, 09:01 AM

Can you strap one of those military style 5 gallon jerry cans to the back of the van? Or a smaller version if 5 gallons is too much. The nice thing about the jerry cans is that they're flat and can be strapped to the exterior of a truck.

If you kept it full and didn't park in the blazing sun it should keep. Just rotate the gas every so often when you fill up.

id10t · 11-21-2011, 09:42 AM

Retrofit the reserve petcock from a 356 to it?

Zeke · 11-21-2011, 10:03 AM

I can only say that anyone who runs down past a quarter tank is going to run out of gas more often than someone who takes the time to stop and fill up. I mean what the hell do you do if there is an emergency? Drive first to the gas station and sit there for 5 minutes while whatever is going down proceeds?

Of course I learned this the hard way as most do. Furthermore, if I'm on red and stop on a forward incline long enough, the fuel pump goes dry. So I have to find level ground and about a minute of cranking to get going. Do that once or twice and you will keep gas in the tank.

jyl · jyl's Garage

There is a cargo "well" in the roof above the driver and passenger seats. I could strap a flattish container there. But it would be exposed to sun etc. There isn't another natural place to mount a gas can on the exterior.

I was thinking a couple of 1 liter aluminum fuel bottles like you use for camping, packed in a sturdy steel box (like an ammo can), bolted to the underside between the frame rails or to the floor under the rear bench seat cargo spot. Deathwish?

jyl · jyl's Garage

Zeke, yes, a post-it note that says "fill up moron" would be the cheaper solution.

island911 · 11-21-2011, 10:26 AM

The syncro tanks are larger than the 2wd versions, and sit above the trans. -Some install for two tanks. You also have lots of room on the underside of the van. But really, how about fixing the gauge? ..or use the odometer for a sanity check.

fwiw, my syncro gauge will go to the bottom of the red and still have a 2-3 gallons in it. But on fill up, t never shows 'full"

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

I haven't had a working gauge in years. I use the odometer. 350-380 and I fill it.

jyl · jyl's Garage

To fix the gauge I need to drop the tank, right? I'll add it to my list of next year car projects. Right now, with the weather as it is, car work is best kept at a minimum in my mind. (Garage no longer a garage, is a wood shop - bicycle - kiln zone.)

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRM

Can you strap one of those military style 5 gallon jerry cans to the back of the van? Or a smaller version if 5 gallons is too much. The nice thing about the jerry cans is that they're flat and can be strapped to the exterior of a truck.

If you kept it full and didn't park in the blazing sun it should keep. Just rotate the gas every so often when you fill up.

This is what I would do - in fact, it is what I used to do when I drove my old Bay Window bus all over the eastern Orygun outback in the '70s. You will lose some narrowness if you plan to navigate a slot canyon, etc. 2nd option is on a rack mounted to the rear hatch - just don't let anyone hit you from the rear.

Rig a lock & use a high quality safe container.

Samba has threads on the best gas cans & on how to carry gas on the Van. I think it is very unwise to put it up on the luggage rack over your head.

Option 3 - some Sambanistas have put aux tanks underneath - in the middle, opposite side (door side) from the propane tank. Threads there too. IIRC, there is even a South African tank for this. That is surely the best location, but more trouble and expense to achieve.

Are you getting better or worse mileage with your new Sube motor?

stomachmonkey · 11-21-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

To fix the gauge I need to drop the tank, right? ....

Don't know about that particular vehicle but basically passenger cars have access under the back seat or in the trunk, trucks usually require a tank drop.

Least that's how it's been on stuff I've worked on.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

My first car was a 1960 VW. There was no gas gauge. It had a lever that turned on a "reserve" tank but the valve leaked into the cockpit every time you turned it to reserve so you couldn't use it. I had a note pad and wrote down the Odo reading whenever I got gas. Never ran out.

willtel · 11-21-2011, 01:10 PM

MSR Fuel Bottle?

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyl

To fix the gauge I need to drop the tank, right? I'll add it to my list of next year car projects. Right now, with the weather as it is, car work is best kept at a minimum in my mind. (Garage no longer a garage, is a wood shop - bicycle - kiln zone.)

It runs out when the needle get to the red zone, right? So buy some red duck tape. Cut out a tiny triangle and stick it on the gauge to create a new red zone, one where there is still gas in the tank when the needle reaches it. When the needle reaches the NEW red zone it's time to get gas! Isn't rocket surgery fun?

Superman · 11-21-2011, 01:42 PM

I don't believe thos jerry cans are lawful in my state.

Superman · 11-21-2011, 01:44 PM

I set my trip odometer whenever I fuel a vehicle. And I sometimes throw gas receipts in the center console with the last trip odo written on them. I take a quick mathematical look at them occasionally. I know how many miles I have left on the trip odo.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It runs out when the needle get to the red zone, right? So buy some red duck tape. Cut out a tiny triangle and stick it on the gauge to create a new red zone, one where there is still gas in the tank when the needle reaches it. When the needle reaches the NEW red zone it's time to get gas! Isn't rocket surgery fun?

My thoughts exactly