TheTigerMaster
Superstar
Many large airplanes don't have fuel gages either, for reasons unknown to me.
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Steve X
Senior Member
The fuel tank is too large so it might not be accurate to have a fuel gauge, especially when it's on a slope. Fuel gauge sensors work better for smaller tank on cars.
smallspy
Senior Member
The vehicle gets fueled every night. There are no runs that would, in normal circumstances, require that the vehicle would have to get refueled during its run. So if you don't need to know how much fuel is in the vehicle, why do you need a gauge?
There are other methods of figuring out how much fuel is on a plane, plus the crews have a very good idea of how much fuel they have on board at any given time (provided their calculations are correct - see Gimli Glider for instances where they weren't).
Dan
Toronto, Ont.
salsa
Senior Member
We put a man on the moon but we can't solve this problem?
nfitz
Superstar
Given that a plane or bus running out of fuel is a relatively rare sight, then perhaps we have solved this problem.
Steve X
Senior Member
It's all about cost. They can install sensors and complex components but they'll have to fix it when it breaks down. It's cheaper to not have a fuel gauge in the first place.
TheTigerMaster
Superstar
1. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should.
2. I'm sure you can buy a bus with a fuel gauge if you really want it.
Admiral Beez
Superstar
They do, just not in the traditional sense. Airplane gauges take the weight of fuel, which the pilot converts to volume, entering this into the fuel management system, and the gauge subtracts the burn rate from this amount.
D
Duck
Guest
It is probably a question of weight and performance. By removing the mass of the fuel gauge, the acceleration performance of the bus is increased.
(Yes, I'm being silly.)
the lemur
Senior Member
The actual amount in terms of volume is not as important to know on a plane as the weight of it, which sometimes determines whether the plane can land or take off, so it's more about calculating how much flying time is left or necessary.
Do buses get their fuel topped up after shifts? It seems like it would be useful to have a low fuel indicator at least.
Other fuel tank weirdness in motor vehicles: older Jaguars that had two tanks but only one gauge that could show you the level of one tank at a time, by pressing a button ... and the Trabant, which had no gauge at all (presumably so you don't drive too far away, comrade).
nfitz
Superstar
Can we just take it as read that streetcars don't have fuel gauges or tires and move on?
D
Duck
Guest
drum118
Superstar
[QUOTE="Duck, post: 1080304, member: 61775]
Translohr would like a word with you
[/QUOTE]
A few systems are moving from them to full LRT
Translohr would like a word with you
[/QUOTE]A few systems are moving from them to full LRT
D
Duck
Guest
Only one that I'm aware of, and it's not Translohr technology.
nfitz
Superstar
This thread is about Bombardier's Flexities ordered by TTC - all of which, as far as I know, have neither tires nor fuel tanks.Translohr would like a word with you