Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) 1997 +8 fuel tank capacity

Yes the original +8 fuel tank was 12.5 imperial gallons (or 56.8 litres). When fuel injection was introduced the high pressure pump was mounted on the tank boards to the right, this meant the tank width was reduced and the 45/50 litre tank became standard.

When the external high pressure pump was changed to the "in-tank" version , there was an opportunity to increase the tank size to the original , but this was not taken, and the smaller tank was the standard item until the end of production.

A friend of mine who experienced a leaking tank which needed replacement , measure up everything very carefully and got a one-off aluminium tank made which used the full width and a bit more height. The resultant capacity was 73 litres. On the one hand this extra capacity is very useful in times of fuel shortages and driving long distances , but on the other hand I rarely drive more than 120 to 150 miles without a stop when touring, so I figured that I would only go down a similar route if my current tank becomes unusable.

Not quite Andy....
The +8 had 5 or 6 different fuel tanks throughout its production run

The change to fuel injection mounts the fuel pump and filter under the axle- and still allows for a full width tank
I
n 1997 with the introduction of the longdoor models and the prohibition of leaded steel being used in fuel tanks, the tank gains an intank fuel pump. The charcoal canister is mounted along side the tank on the boards and this does mean the tank by necessity got smaller to about 45 litres

There was a further change of tank in 2001 ish again with an in tank pump, but back to full width again, theres also an anti siphon valve in the filler neck

Then there was a different tank again for the final runout models

There's about 40 different Morgan fuel tanks that I know of and have drawings of, to remanufacture, but there's always new ones that keep popping up.....

Filled Belle up just now and with 44 miles to empty showing she took 36 l & the needle show full but is not over the full mark. So assuming the 44 miles = 9 l this makes the tank 45 l but the handbook says 55 l . Very odd. I could probably have got another litre or so by pumping in a a ver very slow speed. Where are the other 8 ls or so?

No. Actually, the high pressure EFI pump was placed on a platform in the axle compartment along with the fuel filter. Plus 8 fuel tanks had always been bigger than those installed in the other models and it stayed that way for almost 3 decades. You can see these differences (with carb and EFI measurement at a glance on GoMoG or the MMC Parts Books. There is one exception. For a short period near the end of the Plus 8 reign, the MMC was required to fit an evaporative emission system in the USA It vasty cut down tank fuel space.to, IMHO, an unacceptable, cruising range. The MMC oddly placed it at the rear right on LHD, which does nothing to help the balance of the car..akin to their battery placement on LHDs as well.



No. AFAIK the oppotunity was never taken because the tanks were always the same size back in the day. Of course, all EFI tanks have an Inlet for the return as well. I used a internal pump for 15 years..decided against them. It is the access which is messy. I dislike setting my Morgan up to inevitably require a sad experience roadside. What can one do when an internal pump assembly fails? I designed mine out with my newer tank. The external pumps can be swapped in or out easily. https://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/propanepetrolconversion.html#Later



That is a pity. Morgan trad tanks are offered, unprotected, likes gift to an evil auto god. The bumpers even guides a rear impact INTO the tank. Aluminium should never be used as a fuel tank unless it is merely a shell holding a fire resistant deformable bladder like savvy enthusiasts and all professional racers use. Aluminum not only tears (rather than dents) on impact but melts suddenly at low temperatures.and scatters like deadly rainsdrops. It is even less safe than mild steel.

I have finally settled on a different design (that I concocted with dear Peter Mulberry's kind cooperation) and had it made locally (rural Quebec is riddled with machine shops) in a type and gauge of stainless steel and manufacture that can dent before breaking or being punctured. Its baffles massively strengthen the structure and it moves the inlet-outlet to the correct side for a LHD which also allows for a right hand battery placement..to balance the car. And, if most Plus 8ers look at their tanks (not the later variants), they will notice that it has been flanged at each side for greater strength. If one uses a better quality metal, the flange is unneccessary and one gains an extra 12% (from memory) by using that space for fuel.

L.

Yes 200 miles on the odometer will never let you down with it's accuracy + a margin for error

We set off today in the 3.0 Roadster with the tank showing 1/2 full. About 20 miles later it was showing almost empty. Panic !!! Which route to take to find the nearest filling station ? Anyhow we made it easily (if cautiously) to a filling station with no E5, and after putting in £20 of E10 it was showing initially still very empty. Then as we set-off, magically 7/8 full. This evening I will do a proper fill-up at my local-ish E5 stockist, log the mileage, and remind myself to re-fill in about 200 miles.

The fuel gauge isn't progressive at all, and shows full long enough to make me think its stuck.

The later cars have a low fuel light, but I don't really trust that. I was once caught out in the middle of nowhere when the light popped on. Its big and orange, and I travelled the next 35 miles on a feather throttle, but filled up safely. I don't recall the numbers, but there was still maybe a gallon in the tank.

The gauge on my 2009 Roadster has been "amazingly" accurate,

When I fill up, it shows just over full and shows about 1/4 full after 300 miles.

Then I can get about 45 litres in so about 30 mpg.

I have run to 330 mile ( close to home and multiple petrol stations) showing close to empty and then got about 49 litres in so about 31 mpg.

Handbook quotes 55 litres which sort of ties up.

My 1987 plus 4 appears to take 13 gallons...is that 59 litres? The car does 30 mpg so its a big range:nearly 400 miles
The sender is broken so I go on mileage. Luckily, being old, it's a simple press of a mechanical button to reset the trip mileage.
I don't seem to be able to buy a fuel sender to fit (it's a fiat engined car) so I guess I'm stuck with the mileage method.
Nick

If its a Smiths bayonet fitting sender then its the same as MGB....