My 182 has old Monarch tanks, the tops of which are deformed, presumably due to the aircraft living in Arizona for some time. I've been fighting with an issue off an on that I believe to be related to venting problems because of the deformation. I plan to replace the tanks in the next year or two.

My useable fuel is actually pretty close to the book values for the bladders.

If you were in my shoes, would you go back in with the newer rotomolded tanks or bladders? Why?

I understand that there may be some advantages one way or the other with safety, weight, and usable fuel.

CParker wrote:..... If you were in my shoes, would you go back in with the newer rotomolded tanks or bladders? Why?
I understand that there may be some advantages one way or the other with safety, weight, and usable fuel.

I'm not familiar with "rotomolded tanks" for the 180/182.
Can you provide more info or a link?

I believe the rotomolded polyvinyl tanks to be a big improvement from the earlier fiberglass tanks. Do you have the monarch version of extended range with the second tank outboard of the main and accessed thru a large tankbay cover? If yes then bladders won’t be an option for those outboard tanks.

Also I believe to remove your existing inboard tanks you’ll need to remove the wings and then the inboard rib to slide the old tanks out? If that’s the case you might as well go with the tanks, they should last much longer than bladders and have no chance of wrinkles.

Also I believe to remove your existing inboard tanks you’ll need to remove the wings and then the inboard rib to slide the old tanks out? If that’s the case you might as well go with the tanks, they should last much longer than bladders and have no chance of wrinkles.

That's what I'd do too. Not impressed with fiberglass fuel tanks but have used my plastic fuel jugs(sounds like what Monarch's are made of now) for pure gas, 85%ethanol, biodiesel and regular diesel for years and they still look good for years to come.

Halestorm wrote:I believe the rotomolded polyvinyl tanks to be a big improvement from the earlier fiberglass tanks. Do you have the monarch version of extended range with the second tank outboard of the main and accessed thru a large tankbay cover? If yes then bladders won’t be an option for those outboard tanks.

Also I believe to remove your existing inboard tanks you’ll need to remove the wings and then the inboard rib to slide the old tanks out? If that’s the case you might as well go with the tanks, they should last much longer than bladders and have no chance of wrinkles.

Yes, if he has the inboard "replacement" Monarch tanks, the wings have to come off and inboard rib removed. Not too bad a job if your shop is set up to do stuff like that.

I agree that if that's the setup, I'd replace with the hard tank, rather than replace with a bladder. One down side, however, is that the Monarch tanks do hold somewhat less fuel than bladders they replace.

MTV

Thanks guys, and sorry for the lack of clarity, these are the monarch replacements - not the outboard tanks.

I'll work towards getting some new hard tanks ordered and plan for install. The cost is going to be nauseating but there's no avoiding it at this point.

hotrod180 wrote:

CParker wrote:..... If you were in my shoes, would you go back in with the newer rotomolded tanks or bladders? Why?
I understand that there may be some advantages one way or the other with safety, weight, and usable fuel.

I'm not familiar with "rotomolded tanks" for the 180/182.
Can you provide more info or a link?

The newer tanks are rotomolded plastic - think gas can or boat fuel tank. Hartwig sells them. I had a long talk with Butch back when I was first looking into this issue, he said they can attempt to repair these tanks using heat, but with the cost of removing, shipping, attempting repair, and so on.... it just makes sense to get new tanks.

Is there a weight penalty to the newer material? I'm getting a 1960 182 in a little bit here, and I'm considering options for new fuel tanks.

Somebody call up Erich at Hartwig and ask him these questions http://www.hartwig-fuelcell.com/page2.htm#about

How heavy?
How much $?
How available?

I'd do it but I'm busy

Halestorm wrote:Somebody call up Erich at Hartwig and ask him these questions http://www.hartwig-fuelcell.com/page2.htm#about

How heavy?
How much $?
How available?

I'd do it but I'm busy

I talked to Butch about it this spring and last fall, I don't recall the price he quoted but they were not cheap and install is labor is pretty big.

Are the tanks a one-off request build now? Hartwig only advertise caps and bladders/repair I haven't seen anything on the solid tanks besides they will build whatever you want. I imagine there is no longer an STC.

I think that if you reinstall bladders your will have to install fuel pumps for the aux tanks. The plumbing is different.