F40 FUEL BLADDERS

ATL in the UK has the F40 bladders listed on their website. Dont but any replacements that werent made in the last several years, especially the NOS Ferrari parts. The major failure mode in the original bladders was the nipple fitting on the bladder for the crossover pipe. It was originally made as part of the bladder and sealed with a hose clamp to the crossover pipe. The new superseded FIA mandated design has a bulkhead fitting that attaches to the bladder with a section of pipe attached. This attaches to the crossover pipe on both ends with a section of hose and clamps. You will have to modify or make a new pipe and modify the bladder can. Make a new pipe with a drain fitting and save the old one. Much better design and reduces the chances of ripping out the crossover fuel pipe in a crash. Bladders are also available from Premeire, Pirelli, Fuel safe and others. ATL is the best available in my opinion. Save those old bladders, theyll be valuable in the years to come. Last time I looked they were over $10,000 USD for the ATL.

 

Very interesting to see the effect of gasoline on the aluminum fittings of fuel cells after several years.

I'd check alloy fittings, tanks and bladders.
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Can someone post some more information about what it costs to replace the fuel tanks and possible the fuel lines every 10 years?

Thanks in advance from hopefully a future F40 owner

 

See post 26 final sentence which probably means EUR 10000 by now plus fitting

 

mclaren fuel cell = 5 years

 

FAA approved, lasts longer, costs less.
See previous thread on same, scroll all the way down.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=238006&page=2

 

One more stupid question , I noticed that on F40 there are 2 fuel fillers , so I can refuel the car from left or right side ? Doesn't matter from what side ?

Cause on Bugatti on one side is OIL and on another Fuel filler )) that's why I get interested.

 

There are two tanks each with a filler and connected by a cross feed pipe. You can fill both tanks from from either side. However, I normally find that just filling through one side takes a long time because of the air on the opposite tank take a while to clear through the breather. So opening both fuel fillers and filling from one side is faster.

And the fuel gauge generally underreads - my fuel warning light comes on after 85 litres (out of 120)

 

Thanks

 

Had ATL tanks fitted to my F40 (Euro spec). Quality of the tanks was excellent.

 

Good to hear. Were the ATLs are straight swap or was any plumbing/mounting work required?

 

Don't think so. Can't remember DK mentioning any issues. Two pics attached. One was the new excellent ATL tank, the other the dreadful UK made tank which came with the car. The indie dealer I bought the car from had claimed "new tanks". New perhaps but awful and dangerous. Not all tanks are the same.
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Thank you - very useful. I have a fuel smell in the garage which others have reported before. The dealer has put this down to the pressure release valve, but I have never been satisfied. Even though my tanks (which are OE) are in-date, I am tempted to change out sooner rather than later. Thanks for the info.

 

No worries, a pleasure. In my case, the smell of fuel was finding its way into the house from the connected garage. The smell of fuel in the garage was almost overwhelming. The car bluntly was a bomb on wheels given how crap the "new tanks" were and their proximity to the turbos. The ATL tanks dramatically reduced the smell of fuel but they can't eliminate it as some vapour will inevitably find its way out given the design. I put an small extractor fan into the garage wall to help remove it. If the strength of the smell in your garage is extremely strong I recommend you have the tanks checked by proven specialists like DK as soon as possible.

 

Thanks very much for the advice. Will get them checked out as part of the annual service.