Diesel sight glass floating bead indicator type thing.....

[adamstjohn]

Cryptic title, sorry about that, just got up and it sprang to mind...
I have a clear plastic diesel pipe that shows the level of diesel in tank, have replaced the tube to aid visibility but as we use white diesel this isn't really helping, have experimented with background lines too, I have an 8 year old daughter so have lots of coloured beads about of about the right diameter-small-but whilst they all float in water, they don't in diesel. Anybody sourced one? Ta Adam

 

[guernseyman]

Have you tried diagonal lines behind the tube e.g. lines at 45 degrees? Where there is fuel the lines will appear different. It works very well for me as, without the diagonal lines, I can see a meniscus but if it is out of sight the tube looks the same whether the tanks are nearly full or nearly empty.

 

[Dipper]

I have the same problem but I view the level by observing the plastic Vetus tank directly. I was thinking of adding a dye to the fuel (not red!) but it only seems to be available in commercial quantities.

 

[sailorman]

I have the same problem but I view the level by observing the plastic Vetus tank directly. I was thinking of adding a dye to the fuel (not red!) but it only seems to be available in commercial quantities.

any dye will render it as rebated fuel

 

[BabaYaga]

I have just renewed my sight tube hose, this time silicone instead of pvc, and following a tip from another poster I ordered one of these:
http://www.fueldump.co.uk/products/Sight-Gauge-Ball-Level-Indicator.html
Success so far.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have ordered these to use in conjunction with PVC hose. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252717357371 I am currently refurbishing my two fuel tanks and have included valves on each sight tube so I can turn them off when not in use. The push buttons for domestic oil tanks are all too big for my purpose.

 

[Niander]

I have the same problem but I view the level by observing the plastic Vetus tank directly. I was thinking of adding a dye to the fuel (not red!) but it only seems to be available in commercial quantities.

Are you not using red in it?

 

[Niander]

I would like to add sight tubes to my tanks all i use now is a dipstick.
What fittings would be recommended and where from?
for red diesel.

 

[Dipper]

Are you not using red in it?

I haven't used the engine much recently so I tend to buy white diesel and add it to the tank from a can when needed. If I was cruising greater distances, I would fill up in port with red.

 

[adamstjohn]

I have just renewed my sight tube hose, this time silicone instead of pvc, and following a tip from another poster I ordered one of these:
http://www.fueldump.co.uk/products/Sight-Gauge-Ball-Level-Indicator.html
Success so far.

That's the thing , thanks all, have ordered, I did try the diagonal line thing but couldn't make it clear for me. Thanks all. Adam

 

[vyv_cox]

I would like to add sight tubes to my tanks all i use now is a dipstick.
What fittings would be recommended and where from?
for red diesel.

I am using standard 8 mm plumbing fittings. My tanks have a male threaded nipple brazed on, I have used a female T with valves and compression fittings on each arm. The standard PVC hose is a push fit over 8 mm copper pipe for the sight gauge side, the other side is hard copper piped to the filter.