Fuel Cell Foam Breakdown - Chapter II

[Gatorac]

Originally Posted by btwog

We had the Panoz at VIR last weekend. In the afternoon we started experiencing the engine cutting out briefly on mid RPM on the straights. We'd get a low fuel pressure alarm on the Pi. I'm assuming this is the fuel cell foam issue, but we havent checked it out yet.

One thing to try at the track so you dont lose any track time...we found this would only happen when 6 or more gallons of gas were out of the fuel cell. With a full tank, no problems. Just thought I'd pass along our experience. YMMV.

That sound more like a pick up problem than the foam breaking down. The pick up line may have a crack or hole in it that just below that 6 gallon point.

[hooked8]

Understood - that's what we thought for a bit, but it got worse...then a full tank wouldn't help....we fried a motor by not figuring this out in time...the runs super lean on the low pressure....the big problem is that they have a filter in the cell that is preventing particles from getting you your regular fuel filter....it will clog, then unclog and work for a bit...my two cents...do the foam asap...

[Gatorac]

#42 had no filter in the tank. So, all of the cars may not have filters there. Either way, best to pull the tank apart and see what's going on inside of it.

If I where me, I'd get a spare fuel pump, replace the filter and check the tank.

[btwog]

We'll certainly check it for foam breakdown and any problems with the pickup and lines.

But I was just letting everyone know that if it happens at the track, try filling up the tank and see if that helps. We almost packed it in early on Saturday, but figured out the full tank trick and got to continue racing through Sunday.

[Panoz Paul]

Greetings to All ... I ran into the fuel starving / alarm sequence & found out my problem was the in-tank lines were rotted ... The blue line jacket was deteriated to the point of 3/16 chunks to a fine film simular to pool que chalk ... The lines were collapsing under load ; bad deal @ 120mph in corner 2 / BIR ; kept the rear end under me !!!
My foam was OK ; Cleaned up , cleaned in tank screen , changed fuel filter , new lines , go to Go ...

Paul M. Winship / GT-Ra # 37