Connecting 2 fuel tanks,draw from both?

[SCO]

I'm thinking I can connect a fuel line from the connections of 2 6 gal portable fuel tanks and tee off that line to draw from both simultaneously. Seems like it would auto level and draw from the most full tank. Does anybody do this or know why not to?

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Connecting 2 fuel tanks,draw from both?

They used to make tank to tank connecters for this purpose although it worked differently. The tank you were pulling out of more or less siphoned from the other one. I havn't seen one for some time, so don't know whether they still make them. Don't see that it would be too hard to make one up yourself.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Connecting 2 fuel tanks,draw from both?

SCO<br />I used to use a 3-way valve when I had (2) 6 Gal fuel tanks. That way I always new how much I had in reserve, plus if something happened to one tank, I always could just flip to the other. Very simple to install and not too expensive. Check out West Marines site below and put in Part # 282152 in the search box.<br /><br /> westmarine

 

[rons boat]

Re: Connecting 2 fuel tanks,draw from both?

Not as easy as it sounds. If you have a problem in either tank or primer system like running out of gas are a leak, your stuck out with lots of gas but no way to use it. I use a three way valve and even then sun heats up one of the primer bulbs and occasionally causes vapor lock. I have thought about the solution for years, but have not implemented it yet. Two electric fuel pumps,one at each tank of the low pressure type would eliminate the primer bulbs and solve all our problems. Went so far as go to the auto store and locate two pumps and then decided I would do it another time.

 

[SCO]

Re: Connecting 2 fuel tanks,draw from both?

I thought about drilling holes in the gas caps and connecting and priming a line to the bottoms of both tanks to allow a siphon to occur but violates the kiss rule. I might just try the simple idea and see if it works. If it worked, everyone would be doing it already, but maybe no one has been stupid enough to try it

 

[rons boat]

Re: Connecting 2 fuel tanks,draw from both?

Make sure you understand how the fuel pump system works. The fuel pump in a conventional nautical system simply sucks the gas from a height of several feet using an engine driven mechanical pump or a crankcase driven vacumn operated pump. If the fuel level remains below the carb level then air tight is a must and I believe is the source of most problems. The pump must be air tight as well as liquid tight to function and that is difficult to design and maintain. If the fuel level was above the carbs, we could use gravity flow and our problem would be greatly simplified. Electric fuel pumps can be placed at the fuel tank and eliminate most of the problems as in modern cars. Another strength of electric fuel pumps is they provide easy priming and promote quicker and easier starts. Electric fuel pumps are cheap.

 

[SCO]

Re: Connecting 2 fuel tanks,draw from both?

Good points Ron. Will do.