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2 Answers

Fuel stick for 172

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Aircraft Systems

I bought a fuel quantity test stick for the C172. Not sure where the bottom is when measuring the tank. If you put it straight down, you hit a raised area in the tank. If you angle it slightly to the side, it goes deeper. Which is the accurate depth to measure the tank quantity? Thanks.

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2 Answers



  1. Tim Smolen on Nov 22, 2011

    You must first calibrate the fuel stick, even if you bought it for a specific make and model plane. Fill up your tanks and insert the stick. See if there is a difference between what’s indicated and what’s in the tank. 
     
    I would not hold the stick at any angle because liquids can travel upwards due to surface friction and by angling the tube you’d increase the likelyhood of that happening.
     
    Fill up the tanks, insert the stick straight down, make a note of the offset and use that from now on.

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  2. Nathan Parker on Nov 22, 2011

    “Which is the accurate depth to measure the tank quantity?”
     
    I recall that that the instructions with the stick warn you about hitting raised area.  You can probably move the stick around enough to miss it while keeping it vertical;  if you can’t, a slight angle shouldn’t affect the accuracy.

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