Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

[westwon]

Hi folks.
I need to get fuel to my new outboard from my main tank. Has anyone had any success using the existing fuel spigot and just splitting the flow? Someone told me I would have problems because the main engine (4.3 Litre GL) would drain fuel from the outboard line and get air in to the main's carb.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

As long as you don't run both at the same time, I see no problem. If you really want to isolate them, you could use a 3-way valve like this:

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

Is your new outboard a fourstroke engine or have its own oil injection and resevior system?

If not you can't use the fuel from the main tank.

 

[westwon]

Re: Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

Thanks for the help folks. I do want to be able to run both engines at the same time (a couple of docking attempts with a spluttering engine have made me a bit overcautious perhaps). I am running a four stroke, so I can use the same fuel.
Thanks again.
Steve

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

Then I'd run a separate portable tank for the kicker....

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

Westwon, Since you won't be running both engines at high speed at the same time, you can plumb in a tee or y, at your fuel tank, and run a fuel line to each motor. Better yet, most water seperators have fittings for dual engines. Just remove the plug and add the OB fuel line.

PS while it is better to have a seperate fuel supply for the kicker, in case the main fuel is contaminated, you need to balance the likelyhood of this occurance against the inconvenience of carrying all the kicker gas you will need in a seperate tank. I vote for the common tank, and would monitor the gasoline's quality and water content closely.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

Westwon, The check valves in the OB fuel line should prevent the I/O from sucking any fuel(or air) out of the OB hose.

 

[westwon]

Re: Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

Thanks for the input folks. Actually, I ran out of time and had to hook up a seperate tank for now just like Rick suggested! I agree that I'm probably OK at lower RPMs with a 'Y' connection. Regarding the dual inputs/outputs at the water separators, for some reason, Volvo-Pentas only have one output, while most other manufacturers (it seems) have two.
Thanks again!
Steve

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

I'd reiterate what Chris1956 said - water separating filters have connections for two outgoing fuel lines. If you don't have one, I really think they're essential (for the filtering - the two outgoing fuel lines is just a bonus)

I have my main outboard and kicker running off the same built in tanks. Tank goes into water filter and two fuel lines go to engines. I run mine together all the time without problems. Mainly when I'm trolling with the kicker, but need to fire up the main to move the boat in heavy current or wind to get on a new trolling tack or in heavy traffic when maneuvering needs to be more precise. Anyway, short story is that I don't have any problems at all. Both fuel line bulbs are after the water filter so I'm guessing that the check valves prevent any issues.

I don't like the idea of having an auxillary fuel tank under foot. Floor space is at a premium when I have 4 guys trolling out of the back of my boat and have coolers for the fish, food and beverages, spare fuel cans, etc. I happen to have two built in tanks (t'd into the water filter with the brass valve illustrated above), so I have redundancy in fuel supply. If I didn't I'd probably go with a separate portable tank for the kicker. Good luck.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Fuel for main and outboard from one tank

I have a 3-way fuel valve like the one pictured above. On one port I added the brass male outboard connector. Now I can switch between main and an aux tank if I want with the flip of a switch.

Of course, I could just unplug the fuel line from the outboard and plug in the aux tank, but that would be too easy 8) Plus having the extra input on the 3 way is just fun and makes things easy.