Fuel tank - wikipedia Fuel tank For other uses, see Tank ( disambiguation ). A fuel tank ( or petrol tank ) is a safe container for flammable fluids. Though any storage tank for fuel may be so called, the term is typically applied to part of an engine system in which the fuel is stored and propelled ( fuel pump ) or released ( pressurized gas ) into an engine. Fuel tanks range in size and complexity from the small plastic tank of a butane lighter to the multi-chambered cryogenic Space Shuttle external tank. The fuel tanks for B - 25 bombers Fill caps on a BMW automobile for hydrogen ( left ) and for gasoline ( right ) fuel tanks Contents 1 Uses 2 Fuel tank construction 3 Automotive fuel tanks 3.1 Reserve tank 3.2 Racing fuel cell 3.3 Placement and safety 4 Aircraft 5 Water supply 6 Safety 7 See also 8 References 9 External links Uses Typically, a fuel tank must allow or provide the following : Storage of fuel : the system must contain a given quantity of fuel and must avoid leakage and limit evaporative emissions. Filling : the fuel tank must be filled in a secure way, without sparks. Provide a method for determining level of fuel in tank, gauging ( the remaining quantity of fuel in the tank must be measured or evaluated ). Venting ( if over-pressure is not allowed, the fuel vapors must be managed through valves ). Feeding of the engine ( through a pump ). Anticipate potentials for damage and provide safe survival potential. Plastic ( high - density polyethylene HDPE ) as a fuel tank material of construction, while functionally viable in the short term, has a long term potential to become saturated as fuels such as diesel and gasoline permeate the HDPE material. Considering the inertia and kinetic energy of fuel in a plastic tank being transported by a vehicle, environmental stress cracking is a definite potential. The flammability of fuel makes stress cracking a possible cause of catastrophic failure. Emergencies aside, HDPE plastic is suitable for short term storage of diesel and gasoline. In the U.S., Underwriters Laboratories approved ( UL 142 ) tanks would be a minimum design consideration. Fuel tank construction Fuel tank for the Apollo Lunar Module, 1960s While most tanks are manufactured, some fuel tanks are still fabricated by metal craftsmen or hand - made in the case of bladder - style tanks. These include custom and restoration tanks for automotive, aircraft, motorcycles, and even tractors. Construction of fuel tanks follows a series of specific steps. The craftsman generally creates a mockup to determine the accurate size and shape of the tank, usually out of foam board. Next, design issues that affect the structure of the tank are addressed - such as where the outlet, drain, fluid level indicator, seams, and baffles go. Then the craftsmen must determine the thickness, temper and alloy of the sheet he will use to make the tank. After the sheet is cut to the shapes needed, various pieces are bent to create the basic shell and / or ends and baffles for the tank. Many fuel tanks ' baffles ( particularly in aircraft and racecars ) contain lightening holes. These flanged holes serve two purposes, they reduce the weight of the tank while adding strength to the baffles. Toward the end of construction, openings are added for the filler neck, fuel pickup, drain, and fuel - level sending unit. Sometimes these holes are created on the flat shell, other times they are added at the end of the fabrication process. Baffles and ends can be riveted into place. The heads of the rivets are frequently brazed or soldered to prevent tank leaks. Ends can then be hemmed in and soldered, or flanged and brazed ( and / or sealed with an epoxy - type sealant ) or the ends can be flanged and then welded. Once the soldering, brazing or welding is complete, the fuel tank is leak - tested. Automotive fuel tanks The maximum distance a combustion - engine powered car with a full tank can cover is the product of the tank capacity and its fuel efficiency ( as in miles per gallon ). While larger tanks increase the maximum distance, they also take up more space and ( especially when full ) add to the total weight, requiring higher fuel consumption for the same performance. Fuel - tank capacity is therefore the result of a trade - off in design considerations. For most compact cars, the capacity is in the range 45 -- 65 litres ( 12 -- 17 US gal ) ; the original model Tata Nano is exceptional with its 15 litres ( 4 US gal ) fuel tank. SUVs and trucks tend to have considerably larger fuel tanks. For each new vehicle a specific fuel system is developed, to optimize the use of available space. Moreover, for one car model, different fuel system architectures are developed, depending on the type of the car, the type of fuel ( gasoline or diesel ), nozzle models, and region. Two technologies are used to make fuel tanks for automobiles : Plastic high - density polyethylene ( HDPE ) fuel tanks made by blow molding. This technology is increasingly used as it now shows its capacity to obtain very low emissions of fuel ( see Partial zero - emissions vehicle ). HDPE can also take complex shapes, allowing the tank to be mounted directly over the rear axle, saving space and improving crash safety. Initially there were concerns over the low fracture toughness of HDPE, when compared to steel or aluminum. Concern for safety and long term ability to function should be considered and monitored. Metal ( steel or aluminum ) fuel tanks welded from stamped sheets. Although this technology is very good in limiting fuel emissions, it tends to be less competitive and thus less on the market, although until recent times automotive fuel tanks were almost exclusively made from sheet metal. Modern cars often feature remote opening of the fuel tank fuel filler flap using an electric motor or cable release. For both convenience and security, many modern fuel tanks can not be opened by hand or otherwise from the outside of the car. Reserve tank Sometimes called the reserve tank is a secondary fuel tank ( in many cars / bikes it contains around 15 % of the capacity of the primary tank ) these are more commonly found on bikes, older cars ( some without a fuel gauge ) and vehicles designed for long distance or special use. A light on the instrument panel indicates when the fuel level dips below a certain point in the tank. There is no current standard, although some efforts are made to collect this data for all automobiles. In vehicles modified for endurance the primary tank ( the one that comes with the car ) is made into a reserve tank and a larger one installed. Some 4x4 vehicles can be fitted with a secondary ( or sub-tank ) by the dealership. Racing fuel cell FIA FT3 safety fuel bladder in the Porsche GT3 Cup racing car A racing fuel cell has a rigid outer shell and flexible inner lining to minimize the potential for punctures in the event of a collision or other mishap resulting in serious damage to the vehicle. It is filled with an open - cell foam core to prevent explosion of vapor in the empty portion of the tank and to minimize sloshing of fuel during competition that may unbalance the vehicle or cause inadequate fuel delivery to the motor ( fuel starvation ). The designation `` racing '' is often omitted due to familiarity and because this type of gas tank is also used on street vehicles. The omission can lead to confusion with other types of fuel cells. See Fuel cell ( disambiguation ). Placement and safety For safety considerations, in modern cars the fuel tank is usually located ahead of the rear axle, out of the crumple zones of the car. Automobiles such as the Ford Pinto or the models that still use the Ford Panther platform ( Ford Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Car, and Mercury Grand Marquis ) are notorious for having the fuel tank behind the rear axle. Since 1980 new Ford models corrected this problem and had the fuel tank in front of the rear axle. General Motors 1973 - 1987 C / K pickup trucks have the fuel tank located outside the frame. According to the Center for Auto Safety this creates a fire hazard. In automotive applications, improper placement of the fuel tank has led to increased probability of fire in collisions. Circa 1990, General Motors faced over a hundred product liability lawsuits related to fires allegedly caused by GM 's decision to place the fuel tanks in its pickup trucks outside the protection of the vehicle 's frame. In 1993, reportage on this matter for NBC News created a scandal over vehicles rigged to catch fire for the television camera. Ford 's Pinto also sparked controversy for putting the fuel tank in a poorly reinforced area which can cause deadly fires and explosions if the car got into a rear - end collision, costing Ford US $ 125 million. Condensation may occur in half - filled fuel tanks. Top off the fuel tanks after the engine is operated. Fuel tank should include some consideration for draining and sediment from the bottom of the tanks. Likewise for safety reasons, the filler could no longer be in the middle back of the car in the crumple zone and thus had to be on the side of the car. Which side is a series of trade - offs : driver 's side is easier to access, and mechanically simpler for gas cap locks ; passenger side is safer ( away from passing traffic in roadside fill - ups ). Asymmetric sliding doors may also dictate placement and some minivan doors will collide with a fillup in progress. Aircraft See also : Aircraft fuel tanks and Drop tank Layout of a modern airliner 's main fuel tanks Aircraft typically use three types of fuel tanks : integral, rigid removable, and bladder. Integral tanks are areas inside the aircraft structure that have been sealed to allow fuel storage. An example of this type is the `` wet wing '' commonly used in larger aircraft. Since these tanks are part of the aircraft structure, they can not be removed for service or inspection. Inspection panels must be provided to allow internal inspection, repair, and overall servicing of the tank. Most large transport aircraft use this system, storing fuel in the wings, belly, and sometimes tail of the airplane. Rigid removable tanks are installed in a compartment designed to accommodate the tank. They are typically of metal construction, and may be removed for inspection, replacement, or repair. The aircraft does not rely on the tank for structural integrity. These tanks are commonly found in smaller general aviation aircraft, such as the Cessna 172. Bladder tanks, or fuel cells, are reinforced rubberized bags installed in a section of aircraft structure designed to accommodate the weight of the fuel. The bladder is rolled up and installed into the compartment through the fuel filler neck or access panel, and is secured by means of metal buttons or snaps inside the compartment. Many high - performance light aircraft, helicopters and some smaller turboprops use bladder tanks. One major down - side to this type of tank is the tendency for materials to work harden through extensive use making them brittle causing cracks. One major plus side is the ability to use as much of the aircraft as possible to store fuel. Combat aircraft and helicopters generally use self - sealing fuel tanks. Fuel tanks have been implicated in aviation disasters, being the cause of the accident or worsening it ( fuel tank explosion ). For example : The official `` probable cause '' for the explosion and subsequent crash of TWA Flight 800 is that an explosive fuel / air mixture existed in one of the aircraft 's fuel tanks. Faulty wiring then provided an ignition source within the tank, destroying the airliner. While the accuracy of the official findings is still questioned in this case, similar explosions have occurred in other aircraft. It is possible to reduce the chance of fuel tank explosions by a fuel tank inerting system or fire - fighting foam in the tanks. Burning fuel can explode or set fire to the same airplane or adjacent objects and people. In the 1960 Munich Convair 340 crash, a transport crashed into a major street. Burning fuel set fire to a tramcar. All 20 people aboard the plane and 32 passengers of the tram died. In some areas, an aircraft 's fuel tank is also referred to as an aircraft fuel cell. Water supply Water supply systems can have primary or backup power supplied by diesel - fueled generators fed by a small `` day tank '' and a much larger bulk storage fuel tank. Safety Proper design and construction of a fuel tank play a major role in the safety of the system of which the tank is a part. In most cases intact fuel tanks are very safe, as the tank is full of fuel vapour / air mixture that is well above the flammability limits, and thus can not burn even if an ignition source were present ( which is rare ). Bunded oil tanks are used for safely storing domestic heating oil and other hazardous materials. Bunding is often required by insurance companies, rather than single skinned oil storage tanks. Several systems, such as BattleJacket and rubber bladders, have been developed and deployed for use in protecting ( from explosion caused by enemy fire ) the fuel tanks of military vehicles in conflict zones. See also Electrification Explosion Fast fuel system Fuel filter Fuel leak Fuel line Fuel pump Jettison Fuel bladder References Jump up ^ White, Kent ( November -- December 2010 ). `` Tanks A Lot - Methods for Metal Fuel Tank Development and Fabrication ''. Home Shop Machinist. 29 ( 6 ) : 12 -- 23. Jump up ^ Taylor, Alexander ; Redman, Christopher ; Seaman, Barrett ( 8 September 1980 ). `` Detroit 's Uphill Battle '' ( fee required ). Time. Retrieved 24 December 2012. Jump up ^ `` Tort Liability of Dealers Selling 1973 - 1987 GM Pickups ''. The Center for Auto Safety. 1993 - 10 - 18. Retrieved 24 December 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Mosely vs GM `` Side - Saddle Fuel Tank '' Case ``. Law Office of Roland B. Darby. 2000. Archived from the original on 1 April 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2012. Jump up ^ Torchinsky, Jason ( 27 February 2017 ). `` Why Some Cars Have Gas Tank Fillers On The Left Or The Right ''. Jalopnik. Gawker Media. Retrieved 28 February 2017. Jump up ^ `` Aircraft Fuel Cells ''. Floats and Fuel Cells, Inc. ( FFC ). Retrieved 2014 - 11 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Connecticut Personal Injury Attorney ''. Trantolo Law. Retrieved 24 December 2012. Jump up ^ `` Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee - Fuel tank harmonization working group final report '' ( PDF ). AIA, AECMA, ATA, ALPA, IATA, FAA, JAA, GAMA, API. July 1998. Retrieved 24 December 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Leading Emergency Management Site on the Net ''. emergency-management.net. Archived from the original on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2012. Jump up ^ Maciag, Mike ( 7 June 2007 ). `` Backup Facility to Power Water Works During Outages ''. Erie Times - News. p. 5B. the Erie Water Works is due to have a 20,000 - gallon bulk storage tank and a 5,000 - gallon day tank installed to support two diesel - fueled generators serving as backups to the Sommerheim Water Treatment Plant in Erie, Pennsylvania Jump up ^ Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Section 8, pp 8 - 3, 8 - 4, says that small - and medium - sized pumping stations are to be equipped with fuel storage tanks capable of storing seven days capacity, plus `` floor - mounted packaged system day tanks '' `` Archived copy '' ( PDF ). Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 8 June 2007. Jump up ^ http://ww3.economist.com/news/technology-quarterly/21584446-fire-suppression-engineers-are-finding-ways-reduce-risk-fuel-tanks-will Monitor : Bang but no boom External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fuel tanks. Reduction of Fuel Tank Flammability in Transport Category Airplanes ( U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ). Fuel tank harmonization ( Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee ) U.S. Unveils New Rule On Airplane Fuel Tanks, by United States Department of Transportation. Automotive engine Part of the Automobile series Basic terminology Bore Compression ratio Crank Cylinder Dead centre Diesel engine Dry sump Engine balance Engine configuration Engine displacement Engine knocking Firing order Hydrolock Petrol engine Power band Redline Spark - ignition engine Stroke Stroke ratio Wet sump Main components Connecting rod Crankcase Crankpin Crankshaft Crossplane Cylinder bank Cylinder block Cylinder head ( crossflow, reverse - flow ) Flywheel Head gasket Hypereutectic piston Main bearing Piston Piston ring Starter ring gear Sump Valvetrain Cam Cam follower Camshaft Desmodromic valve Hydraulic tappet Multi-valve Overhead camshaft Overhead valve Pneumatic valve springs Poppet valve Pushrod Rocker arm Sleeve valve Tappet Timing belt Timing mark Valve float Variable valve timing Aspiration Air filter Blowoff valve Boost controller Butterfly valve Centrifugal - type supercharger Cold air intake Dump valve Electronic throttle control Forced induction Inlet manifold Intake Intercooler Manifold vacuum Naturally aspirated engine Ram - air intake Scroll - type supercharger Short ram air intake Supercharger Throttle Throttle body Turbocharger Twin - turbo Variable - geometry turbocharger Variable - length intake manifold Warm air intake Fuel system Carburetor Common rail Direct injection Fuel filter Fuel injection Fuel pump Fuel tank Gasoline direct injection Indirect injection Injection pump Lean - burn Stratified charge engine Turbo fuel stratified injection Unit injector Ignition Contact breaker Magneto Distributor Electrical ballast High tension leads Ignition coil Spark plug Wasted spark Electrics and engine management Air -- fuel ratio meter Alternator Automatic Performance Control Car battery ( lead -- acid battery ) Crankshaft position sensor Dynamo Drive by wire Electronic control unit Engine control unit Engine coolant temperature sensor Glow plug Idle air control actuator MAP sensor Mass flow sensor Oxygen sensor Starter motor Throttle position sensor Exhaust system Automobile emissions control Catalytic converter Diesel particulate filter Exhaust manifold Glasspack Muffler Engine cooling Air cooling Antifreeze ( ethylene glycol ) Core plug Electric fan Fan belt Radiator Thermostat Water cooling Viscous fan ( fan clutch ) Other components Balance shaft Block heater Combustion chamber Cylinder head porting Gasket Motor oil Oil filter Oil pump Oil sludge PCV valve Seal Synthetic oil Underdrive pulleys Portal Aircraft components and systems Airframe structure Aft pressure bulkhead Cabane strut Canopy Cruciform tail Dope Empennage Fabric covering Fairing Flying wires Former Fuselage Hardpoint Interplane strut Jury strut Leading edge Lift strut Longeron Nacelle Rib Ring tail Spar Stabilizer Stressed skin Strut T - tail Tailplane Trailing edge Triple tail Twin tail Vertical stabilizer V - tail Y - tail Wing root Wing tip Wingbox Flight controls Aileron Airbrake Artificial feel Autopilot Canard Centre stick Deceleron Dive brake Electro - hydraulic actuator Elevator Elevon Flaperon Flight control modes Fly - by - wire Gust lock Rudder Servo tab Side - stick Spoiler Spoileron Stabilator Stick pusher Stick shaker Trim tab Wing warping Yaw damper Yoke Aerodynamic and high - lift devices Active Aeroelastic Wing Adaptive compliant wing Blown flap Channel wing Dog - tooth Droop Flap Gouge flap Gurney flap Krueger flap Leading edge cuff LEX Slats Slot Stall strips Strake Variable - sweep wing Vortex generator Vortilon Wing fence Winglet Avionic and flight instrument systems ACAS Air data computer Airspeed indicator Altimeter Annunciator panel Attitude indicator Compass Course deviation indicator EFIS EICAS Flight data recorder Flight management system Glass cockpit GPS Heading indicator Horizontal situation indicator INS Pitot - static system Radar altimeter TCAS Transponder Turn and slip indicator Vertical Speed Indicator Yaw string Propulsion controls, devices and fuel systems Autothrottle Drop tank FADEC Fuel tank Gascolator Inlet cone Intake ramp NACA cowling Self - sealing fuel tank Splitter plate Throttle Thrust lever Thrust reversal Townend ring Wet wing Landing and arresting gear Arrestor hook Autobrake Conventional landing gear Drogue parachute Landing gear Landing gear extender Oleo strut Tricycle landing gear Tundra tire Escape systems Ejection seat Escape crew capsule Other systems Aircraft lavatory Auxiliary power unit Bleed air system Deicing boot Emergency oxygen system Entertainment system Environmental control system Hydraulic system Ice protection system Landing lights Navigation light Passenger service unit Ram air turbine Weeping wing Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fuel_tank&oldid=808639617 '' Categories : Vehicle technology Fuel containers Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from September 2012 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2012 All articles with failed verification Articles with failed verification from December 2012 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Català Dansk Deutsch Español فارسی Français Bahasa Indonesia Lietuvių 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Svenska Türkçe Українська 粵語 Edit links This page was last edited on 4 November 2017, at 04 : 21. 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Question: where is gas tank located on a car
Answer: rear axle