Good afternoon everyone:

I am considering the use of a water bottle as a fuel tank in lieu of a standard DuBro tank for a 120 sized plane.

What are the benefits and downfalls of the water bottle fuel tank vs a standard fuel tank.

The only benefits I see is to the water bottle is; cost and weight

I have never had a standard fuel tank fail since 1975, so it is a hard thing for me to change, but I am always open to something new


Thanks
Tom

Fiji bottles are clear so it is very easy to see how full or empty they are. The two rectangular ridges on each end act as a good stop for the plastic wire straps or Velcro straps that hold the bottle in place.


Easy to get when you need a new one, just hop down to your local supermarket , drug store or gas bar.


For my Krill aircraft that has a molded in fuel saddle the Smart Water Bottles are perfect!

Well I too have never had a problem with Dubro but the stopper needs tightening every 6 months. It gets dry and breaks apart after a few years (the red/brown dubro stoppers). I'm about to do my first Fiji tank with a new 35% plane. I think the new tank stoppers and fittings designed for soft drink bottles are much better than the dubro stopper. They use Viton or better for seals which last way longer than the Dubro rubber stoppers. They don't need brass tubing. They have barbs machined into the stopper. You can put your vent and fill line where you want them. Not all jammed into a single stopper. Anyway, it's just gotten better. The soft drink bottle scew on tops are great too. The cheapest part. Fittings are not cheap but they are way better. I will not use glue or sealant on my tanks. I only use screw on fittings.

They are near about impossible to split.

The tanks from Wrongway RC with Vinton lines, shrink wrapped caps, and a chain saw clunk are about as bullet proof a fuel tank as you can install

I know I've put water bottles in at least 12 planes over 4 years! Several ways to install 2 line vs 3 line etc etc.
I know due to a heli flying though a forty % SBACH that the crash is no issue! You can see the first fill up of the first flight of the day and always see if your close on empty on hatch removal or last flight.
Add Viton to the mix and you have 3 years no maintenance .....of flying!




Can't beat-um........ add one of several caps like alum plug vs alum cap!


A

Originally Posted by BarracudaHockey

The tanks from Wrongway RC with Vinton lines, shrink wrapped caps, and a chain saw clunk are about as bullet proof a fuel tank as you can install

+1

I started using them last spring and that is all I will now use.

water bottle for me in all my plane for over 4 years now , I like to see inside and they look really cool I get comments on them all the time. I dont know why Dubro or Sullivan don't make clear tanks

I have been having great experience with clear pop bottles. Viton tubing (thank-you Brian), and very visible interior.
-Snuts-

Dr pepper bottle and a fox cap. 12oz up to 2 liter with no problems..

The guys from Europe have been running water bottles for ever .. I call water bottles " Euro Trash " and have been running them for about 7-8years ..I prefer water bottles as fuel tanks , you never have a tank split and it only takes seconds to service our tanks ..

Who makes the best cap / fittings and what are some of the differences between the various ones? Do they seal with an "O" ring?

I just bought this one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Gas...52743574&rt=nc

With these fittings.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Gas-Tank-Har...29637769&rt=nc
.

PSP MFG has a good one.

Several guys at our field are using this stuff with good results.

Scott

I installed my first Fiji tank in my 35% last year and will not go back. Not only is it lighter, easier to see the fuel etc, etc but in my case the 1 liter bottle was only a few ounces bigger yet I got almost 10 more minutes of flight. This was due to the fact that the OE tank in my plane would not fill completely due to it's shape. It would trap air and not fill completely. I can get the full liter in it now and easily make the 20 minute mark. There are some expensive caps out there but I got a kit from Valley view that includes the cap, filter clunk, fittings and line for about $20.

All I use are the Fiji water bottle tanks from WrongWay RC. Richard builds the best tanks I have ever found.

Bill Hodges