Auxiliary diesel tank

The bottom line is "convenience", the ability to refuel when you want to, not when you have to. Price savings is just an added luxury, not to mention it makes the truck ride better when the tank is full.

wandering1 wrote:
Why is one needed? Diesel stations are everywhere.

If you live in major urban areas that is true. Try vast sections of the western USA off the major trucking routes and you will find a great many towns where no stations pump diesel. I have a diesel and my trip planning includes where to stop for fuel and how far to the next town with diesel. I have a 36 gallon tank and bought a 5 gallon plastic fuel can to give me extra range until someone decides to build a tank for a GM shortbed truck.

wandering1 wrote:
Why is one needed? Diesel stations are everywhere.

If you live in major urban areas that is true. Try vast sections of the western USA off the major trucking routes and you will find a great many towns where no stations pump diesel. I have a diesel and my trip planning includes where to stop for fuel and how far to the next town with diesel. I have a 36 gallon tank and bought a 5 gallon plastic fuel can to give me extra range until someone decides to build a tank for a GM shortbed truck.

Former Neighbor has a tank in his truck bed. Holds one hundred fifty gallons, if I remember correctly. The 29 gallon tank, in his truck, isn't much when pulling 14 to 20,000 lbs.
There are stretches of road where you would run out on the 29 gallon tank.
One is from Russeleville, Ark area up into Missouri. It use to be an over 200 mile stretch of road through the mountains.
When you left the Su the stretch of road to next fuel use to be a very long way, almost to Wawa. Things have changed, perhaps, with fuel availability.
There are stretches out west where it it is over a hundred miles to next fuel.
If we ever get another coach I'm going to look for at least 150 gallon capacity and hopefully 200 gallons. Been considering another tank underneath this one. Weight and other problems might forestall one. It would be good to carry as much fuel as possible when it is 3.34 to 3.47 at some stations here versus over 4.0 in Michigan and elsewhere.

Diesel tests in ca have no fuel cap or sniffer test (yet).

There is always someone who says who needs a bigger fuel capacity when there are diesel pumps aplenty. No one says you have to keep it full but it is there when you need it. A sixty gallon tank will allow me to carry fuel that I get for a much reduced price.

Back to the topic.......

For final word on EPA or DOT - suggest a (free) call to either:

RDS Manufacturing (aux tanks adv in Northern Tool).
Located in Florida. 800-292-6898

and/or

Transfer Flow Inc. - sales and installation of Aux & replacement tanks *Nationwide*.
Located in *CALIFORNIA*. 800-442-0056

BTW - Northern Tool sells a ball check-valve "kit" for gravity feed overflow prevention which becomes part of your normal fuel tank fill. (about $60).

.

discovery4us wrote:

aruba5er wrote:
Don"t understand why it would fail a smog test. All are done by OBD 11.

CA also requires a visuale to check for non OEM parts, catalytic converter, smoke test, fuel cap vacuum test, and a sniffer in the tail pipe.

Some of your "Smog Test" info for CA is incorrect.

Pre- OBD11 (means OBD "two") diesel vehicles *do* require testing.

There is *NO* vacuum test.
It's a *PRESSURE* test done on pre 1998 gasoline powered cars.

Diesel vehicles:
Nothing over a 350 series diesel (pickup) require a smog test.
(No test on vehicles over 14K GVWR - or Motor Homes.)

CA after market visual inspection is for engine and exhaust parts/equipment - cat in place, engine parts (mods) must have a CARB certification .

*If* an aux tank fed directly to a diesel engine (not to the main tank), it would require a CARB certification.
(Why would anyone have that configuration?)

Smog check doesn't check aux fuel tanks - gravity feed for gasoline tanks is most likely a DOT thing.
BTW - try to buy a (new) portable gas can that doesn't have a "spill proof" nozzle anywhere in the USA - example old style "Jerry Cans", "NATO Cans", etc! EPA prohibited w/serious fines for sale of same.
If you find one at a garage sale - grab it ASAP!

Visual "smoke" test - for diesels - hit throttle three times.
Excessive (whatever "excessive" is) smoke would fail.

Older diesel vehicles (lots of Benz's) "Engine Service Due" indicator "ON" = fail.

Need more CA (smog test) clarification - ask away.

~

wandering1 wrote:
Why is one needed? Diesel stations are everywhere.

Yeah really. I'm thinking of reducing my 19 gallon tank to 10. I need to stretch every 50 miles anyway.

wandering1 wrote:
Why is one needed? Diesel stations are everywhere.

For me, I use an auyxillary tank to ease my wifes asthma issues. Fumes eminating around most fuel stations kicks up her asthma. So I fill the tanks in her absence, and we are good for a full days drive without the worry of where the next station might be. I just have a 45 gal aux tank with 12v pump. Got the complete set up used (but nearly new) for $150 off from Craigs List.