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Gas tank transparency

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I Drink Alone

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I fill my '96 & '97 GSX's at the dock with portable cans and siphon hose. I have maximum levels clearly marked on tanks so they do not burp out when full. One is difficult to see through the plastic to monitor the level as filling and the other is even harder. Helps some to also pull the seat off so light comes through from behind but still difficult. Any knowledge out there as to how to make the plastic easier to see though, even just a vertical strip, to see the level?
 
One does, one doesn't. Even when working all bars are lit well before tank is full. Would like to reliably see level in tank without over filling.
 
No help? I think if I can apply something with a similar refractive index and create a smoother surface it may help, but not sure what to use.
 
This is one of the weirdest ?s I've run across?? Doesn't really sound like a real problem. Just fill it up and ride man, I dont think you are going to find a magical chemical to make the tank see through. Go ride and drive it like you stole it
 
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Problem is if you don't stop the siphon before the level in the tank is up to the bottom of the filler tube it will burp out and fill the foot well and lake with gas. Ashamed to say I have done that a few times. The siphon does not have automatic shut-off like filling at the gas station pump. If you stop when the gauge says full it drops a bar as soon as you start out and you are not using all the capacity of the tank; i.e. have to fill more often and risk environmental accident more often.
 
Just fill it up and ride man. That extra 1/5 of a gallon isn't going to mean that much. Fill it up and go I wouldn't be spending too much time trying to fill it up to that perfect spot. But I hope you can find something that works for you. Happy doo'n!!
 
Seriously? This is a dumb question. Just fill it up, how the heck does it burp? There is plenty of air flow through the fuel fill hole, it shouldnt be belching gas anywhere.
 
just use a flashlight, shine it on gas tank, and you will see fuel level -- i use this on coolant overflow bottles at work every day -- you should have a good strong flashlite in your ski anyways :thumbsup::cheers:
 
Just fill it up and ride man. That extra 1/5 of a gallon isn't going to mean that much. Fill it up and go I wouldn't be spending too much time trying to fill it up to that perfect spot. But I hope you can find something that works for you. Happy doo'n!!

agree, for the most part, I've found that I can hear it filling up.

Seriously? This is a dumb question. Just fill it up, how the heck does it burp? There is plenty of air flow through the fuel fill hole, it shouldnt be belching gas anywhere.

relax ! i've filled up using siphons once or a dozen times from an elevated dock and stuff, it can be a bit of a pain sometimes, and i've had mine burp before, splashing into the well.

just use a flashlight, shine it on gas tank, and you will see fuel level -- i use this on coolant overflow bottles at work every day -- you should have a good strong flashlite in your ski anyways :thumbsup::cheers:

yes ! mark it (best you can) to have a good guess, and then go back to step 1) above, don't worry about that last 1/2 gallon, just try and get it close. that was my method, (look at the tank, make best guess, then stop early)

Problem is if you don't stop the siphon before the level in the tank is up to the bottom of the filler tube it will burp out and fill the foot well and lake with gas. Ashamed to say I have done that a few times. The siphon does not have automatic shut-off like filling at the gas station pump. If you stop when the gauge says full it drops a bar as soon as you start out and you are not using all the capacity of the tank; i.e. have to fill more often and risk environmental accident more often.

understood. but going back to what I said above, when using a siphon from a dock and stuff, i'd say just stopping short, and or maybe, stopping short, then having a 1 gallon tank handy to hand pour the last gallon or so. just a thought, when i was going on long rides, and wanted to squeeze in every last drop, i stopped short with the siphons, or 5 gallons, then sat on the ski and hand poured that last 3/4 of a gallon in, and when i was "right there" i could her it getting to the top, or spill the minimal.

but I stress this, this was ONLY a factor when I was doing a group ride or something over very long distance, and was worried about making it back, otherwise, i never reallly cared about being FULL, just was happy to be 90% full.
 
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There are no dumb questions but there are sure some ignorant answers. Honestly griz, shine a flashlight down a 14" curved black tube that already has another plastic hose shoved down it. It's obvious your daddy fills yours up for you before he drops you in the lake. Thanks Spimothy for adding some rational thought to this. I can hear it if not too windy or other boat traffic. And you have to listen constantly because you don't know when you are getting close. If you can visually see the level you know when to get in a position to be ready to shut it off.

All the gauges are dead on the '96. I'm not going to spend big $$$ to fix it. I just make sure I ride the '97 the same or more and fill them at the same time. This strategy works as long as I know they are filled to the same level. And the '96 is the one that is most difficult to see though the plastic tank.
 
This is just crazy. Trying to ride skis where they run out of gas at the same time. Trying to make your tank see through, when does it stop. Just fill the damn skis up and go ride man
 
There are no dumb questions but there are sure some ignorant answers. Honestly griz, shine a flashlight down a 14" curved black tube that already has another plastic hose shoved down it. It's obvious your daddy fills yours up for you before he drops you in the lake. Thanks Spimothy for adding some rational thought to this. I can hear it if not too windy or other boat traffic. And you have to listen constantly because you don't know when you are getting close. If you can visually see the level you know when to get in a position to be ready to shut it off.

All the gauges are dead on the '96. I'm not going to spend big $$$ to fix it. I just make sure I ride the '97 the same or more and fill them at the same time. This strategy works as long as I know they are filled to the same level. And the '96 is the one that is most difficult to see though the plastic tank.

lol, do NOT shine the flashlight thru the tube... silly goose, and use a powerful LED... helps..

and be careful, don't rag on griz... or you'll find a dead cat in your mailbox (kidding !)

and just to defend him, because I gotta stand up for my boyz....

I can say this with confidence...

1) he fills his own dam tank, and his advise was GOOD ...
2) he's probably run more gas thru his ski(s) in the past 3 months than you have in the last year or two...


shine the flashlight against the side of the gas tank, you will see your fuel level then much easier.
that's what I used to do on my Seadoo XP, then when I swapped to the t-tank, I cleaned it with a pressure washer really cleaned it, and then I could see it with the naked eye... and some sunlight helped.
i don't think your tank will come out for cleaning thru the front hole tho.. so that's not an option

I also found sometimes that rocking the ski a little would help see the fuel line. and again, top off with a 1 gallon tank by hand was the best method to squeeze the last bit of gas in, but ONLY when I was going on a super long ride, if it was a regular ride, that last gallon didn't mean chit to me, i was usually riding for a length, returning to ramp, dump 5 gallons in, even if i needed 7, eat a sammich and wash down with liquid beverage, then heading back out.

if we didn't get tired/lazy after our 2nd trip out, then i'd top off with another 5 gallons, but generally I preferred to NOT do that unless I knew for sure I was going to use up a majority of the gas, i preferred to try to run the tank down as low as possible, park the ski for a week, then fill up at the pump, and fill up the can's with fresh 93 the next weekend, that way my gas never got stale or lost octane... more important for me because I needed 93.

if I had spare gas in the can's after a ride, i'd put it in the truck, so my next weeks ride was always a majority fresh gas...

and ps... lay off the snide remarks... not needed :)
(and that goes to everybody lol) no stupid questions, trust me i've asked some doozies myself over time
 
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GSX tank is 15 gallons

12 gallon + 3 gallon reserve (+-0.5 gallon either way)

run to reserve

go back and fill up

enjoy
 
There are no dumb questions but there are sure some ignorant answers. Honestly griz, shine a flashlight down a 14" curved black tube that already has another plastic hose shoved down it. It's obvious your daddy fills yours up for you before he drops you in the lake. Thanks Spimothy for adding some rational thought to this. I can hear it if not too windy or other boat traffic. And you have to listen constantly because you don't know when you are getting close. If you can visually see the level you know when to get in a position to be ready to shut it of
All the gauges are dead on the '96. I'm not going to spend big $$$ to fix it. I just make sure I ride the '97 the same or more and fill them at the same time. This strategy works as long as I know they are filled to the same level. And the '96 is the one that is most difficult to see though the plastic tank.


daddy fills my ski ????? whats your friggen problem ???? shine the light at the tank, its plastic -- shake your ski and you will plainly see fuel sloshing around, why you being a jerkoff ???? not down the tube
 
daddy fills my ski ????? whats your friggen problem ???? shine the light at the tank, its plastic -- shake your ski and you will plainly see fuel sloshing around, why you being a jerkoff ???? not down the tube

LOL griz.. hey, i'm heading up to jim's peformance next week (maybe) can I stop by and have your daddy fill my truck ?
 
Poor guy got raped. He asked an honest question. No need to rip on him. He has a doubt and wants to clarify. If you don't like hi question. Then just leave
 
My old school red 5 gallon can works just fine for me. I'll stick with that. I'm not too concerned to hit that magical elusive g spot, that most call a full tank.
 
My old school red 5 gallon can works just fine for me. I'll stick with that. I'm not too concerned to hit that magical elusive g spot, that most call a full tank.

I too use 5g cans, my fuel tank is sufficiently large for an entire day on the water, and my fuel gauge works properly, so I can judge how much fuel the tank will accept, however, I have spilled fuel before myself accidentally, but have become proficient over time to the point that doesn't happen anymore.

Regardless, there seems to be at least one inexpensive solution. Perhaps the Terapump TRHD03 could help eliminate these accidental fuel spills of the type the OP had inquired, I have no direct experience with using this particular device myself.
 
The only solution I ever found for this was to have my ear down to the tank and listen to the sounds and keep an
eye on the amount going in and slow down when I think I'm getting close. It IS hard to hear sometimes though.
 
Finally some sympathy. I'm told it's a dumb question and just ride it and MY response is snide!! Did try creating smooth surface with epoxy and helped slightly. NO amount of manmade light (that will fit in the hull) makes a difference. It is very easy to see though if you can get sunlight falling on any part of the tank. Looks like the Terapump holds promise if it shuts off reliably. Reasonable price to just try it. Will try on the one I can more readily see to make sure a few times. Anybody out there with experience with the Terapump to feedback? And griz, my apologies to your Daddy.
 
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