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Connecting both sides of the fuel tank
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tonyvaccarella



Joined: 10 Sep 2014
Posts: 68
Location: Australia

PostPosted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 1:50 pm    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Hi All,

Im reaching out to get opinions about this. I recently found that the previous builder had kindly installed a fuel drain on both the Port and Starboard sides of the fuel tank.
I then started to wonder that I could easily connect the two sides together which would 1) negate the need for a fuel cock - i.e. just the main tank all the time 2) Allow easier calibration of the fuel sender 3) only one fuel drain point required.
So Im asking if anyone else has done this and what problems, if any, can there be if I connected the two sides of the fuel tank?
Best regards to all
Tony


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Mascot NSW 2020
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SteveIvell(at)pestproof.c
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PostPosted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 2:08 pm    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

The idea of the split tank is to provide a reserve tank. If you run the two sides together you could much more easily run out of fuel as you'd have no advance warning.


I asked the same question and when I got the answer it made perfect sense. šŸ˜


Steve Ivell

G-STES
90% Finished...90% left to do
From: owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com <owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com> on behalf of tonyvaccarella <tony(at)weimagine.com.au>
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2020 9:50:49 PM
To: europa-list(at)matronics.com <europa-list(at)matronics.com>
Subject: Europa-List: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank  

--> Europa-List message posted by: "tonyvaccarella" <tony(at)weimagine.com.au>

Hi All,

Im reaching out to get opinions about this. I recently found that the previous builder had kindly installed a fuel drain on both the Port and Starboard sides of the fuel tank.
I then started to wonder that I could easily connect the two sides together which would 1) negate the need for a fuel cock - i.e. just the main tank all the time 2) Allow easier calibration of the fuel sender 3) only one fuel drain point required.
So Im asking if anyone else has done this and what problems, if any, can there be if I connected the two sides of the fuel tank?
Best regards to all
Tony

--------
Tony Vaccarella
Mascot NSW 2020
Sydney Australia




Read this topic online here:

http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=499021#499021


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Paul M 383



Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Posts: 97
Location: United Kingdom

PostPosted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:35 pm    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

The idea of the split tank was because Europa had to split it in order to route the pitch push-rod down the middle of the fuel tankā€¦ a (happy?) side effect was the ā€œreserveā€ tank thus created.
 
Many (most?) light tourers and trainers have a single tank selection (C152), or dual tanks with a [Both] setting (C172) so you have to manage your fuel correctly.
 
If you *rely* on the ā€œadvanceā€ warning of running out of fuel in the main tank as your reserve, then, IMHO, you havenā€™t done your fuel planning.
 
Connecting both sides of the fuel tank in the Europa puts you equal with most other light singles and simplifies the thought processā€¦
 
My Ā£0.02ā€¦
 
Paul Mansfield
G-PLPM
Mono XS 912S
 
From: owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com <owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com> On Behalf Of Steve Ivell
Sent: 29 October 2020 15:06
To: europa-list(at)matronics.com
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank


 
The idea of the split tank is to provide a reserve tank. If you run the two sides together you could much more easily run out of fuel as you'd have no advance warning.
 
I asked the same question and when I got the answer it made perfect sense. 😁
 

Steve Ivell
G-STES
90% Finished...90% left to do

From: owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com) <owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-europa-list-server(at)matronics.com)> on behalf of tonyvaccarella <tony(at)weimagine.com.au (tony(at)weimagine.com.au)>
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2020 9:50:49 PM
To: europa-list(at)matronics.com (europa-list(at)matronics.com) <europa-list(at)matronics.com (europa-list(at)matronics.com)>
Subject: Europa-List: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank
 


--> Europa-List message posted by: "tonyvaccarella" <tony(at)weimagine.com.au (tony(at)weimagine.com.au)>

Hi All,

Im reaching out to get opinions about this. I recently found that the previous builder had kindly installed a fuel drain on both the Port and Starboard sides of the fuel tank.
I then started to wonder that I could easily connect the two sides together which would 1) negate the need for a fuel cock - i.e. just the main tank all the time 2) Allow easier calibration of the fuel sender 3) only one fuel drain point required.
So Im asking if anyone else has done this and what problems, if any, can there be if I connected the two sides of the fuel tank?
Best regards to all
Tony

--------
Tony Vaccarella
Mascot NSW 2020
Sydney Australia




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http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=499021#499021


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Rick Moss



Joined: 21 Sep 2014
Posts: 96

PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:00 am    Post subject: Re: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

ā€œI have a friendā€ who has linked the 2 sides of the tank with a Y-piece.

He is very much happier to have a nicely calibrated fuel gauge and a simple on/off fuel valve.

How low are you willing to run any single tank? For me, the answer is about 15 litres. Less that that, and Iā€™m getting nervous. With (effectively) 2 tanks, I donā€™t know how to decide at what point to change the feed side; so end up not using either ā€œlegā€ of the tank.


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Richard Wheelwright



Joined: 15 Sep 2008
Posts: 111
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK

PostPosted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 12:03 pm    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Why complicate things. There is no need. 

All you need to to get acupuncture fuel tank contents is MGL fule computer you donā€™t have to connect to gps or a flow meter. It can be used as a simple fuel gauge. https://www.aeroshop.eu/en/mgl-velocity-asx-2.html
It is simply connected to a fuel float
https://www.floatyourboat.co.uk/wema-fuel-and-water-sender-sae5?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlvT8BRDeARIsAACRFiU6aaAbrNI-JWonDYMcQvn_D8bOog5yjK2uNjY-7tDeAxJXjsDbq6gaAgilEALw_wcB
You simply add fuel at 5 x 11 Lt intervals and add it to the settings on the fuel computer. First fill the reserve side if the tank first.
9 Lt. in reserve
5 X 11 Lts
Total 64 Lts. Tank full
The fuel computer now will display accurate fuel contents in 1 x 1 Lts intervals
Job dun.
Richard
On 31 Oct 2020, at 16:00, Rick Moss <Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com (Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com)> wrote:
Quote:
--> Europa-List message posted by: "Rick Moss" <Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com (Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com)>

ā€œI have a friendā€ who has linked the 2 sides of the tank with a Y-piece.

He is very much happier to have a nicely calibrated fuel gauge and a simple on/off fuel valve.

How low are you willing to run any single tank? For me, the answer is about 15 litres. Less that that, and Iā€™m getting nervous. With (effectively) 2 tanks, I donā€™t know how to decide at what point to change the feed side; so end up not using either ā€œlegā€ of the tank.


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Rick Moss



Joined: 21 Sep 2014
Posts: 96

PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 12:31 am    Post subject: Re: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

I have precisely that system Richard (MGL FF1), although also connected to a red-cube fuel flow meter, and it is superbly accurate.

Richard Wheelwright wrote:
Why complicate things. There is no need.ļæ½

All you need to to get acupuncture fuel tank contents is MGL fule computer you donā€™t have to connect to gps or a flow meter. It can be used as a simple fuel gauge. https://www.aeroshop.eu/en/mgl-velocity-asx-2.html
It is simply connected to a fuel float
https://www.floatyourboat.co.uk/wema-fuel-and-water-sender-sae5?gclid=Cj0KCQjwlvT8BRDeARIsAACRFiU6aaAbrNI-JWonDYMcQvn_D8bOog5yjK2uNjY-7tDeAxJXjsDbq6gaAgilEALw_wcB
You simply add fuel at 5 x 11 Lt intervals and add it to the settings on the fuel computer. First fill the reserve side if the tank first.
9 Lt. in reserve
5 X 11 Lts
Total 64 Lts. Tank full
The fuel computer now will display accurate fuel contents in 1 x 1 Lts intervals
Job dun.
Richard
On 31 Oct 2020, at 16:00, Rick Moss <Rkwmoss> wrote:
Quote:
--> Europa-List message posted by: "Rick Moss" <Rkwmoss>

ā€œI have a friendā€ who has linked the 2 sides of the tank with a Y-piece.

He is very much happier to have a nicely calibrated fuel gauge and a simple on/off fuel valve.

How low are you willing to run any single tank? For me, the answer is about 15 litres. Less that that, and Iā€™m getting nervous. With (effectively) 2 tanks, I donā€™t know how to decide at what point to change the feed side; so end up not using either ā€œlegā€ of the tank.


Read this topic online here:

http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=499042#499042
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Duncan McFadyean



Joined: 18 Jan 2011
Posts: 220

PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 12:51 am    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

<<...He is very much happier to have a nicely calibrated fuel gauge and a simple on/off fuel valve....>>
That's the thing. How do you know (when you're down to 4 gallons with both sides of the saddle full) whether there is 4 gallons in there or just 2 gallons (one side full only)?
The same is also true to a lesser extent for the split system, but teeing both together also risks introduction of air locks when one side becomes preferentially empty (through spillover or the effect of the fuel return line, etc).

Duncan McF.

Quote:
On 31 October 2020 at 16:00 Rick Moss <Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com> wrote:




Ć¢Ā€ĀœI have a friendĆ¢Ā€Ā who has linked the 2 sides of the tank with a Y-piece.

He is very much happier to have a nicely calibrated fuel gauge and a simple on/off fuel valve.

How low are you willing to run any single tank? For me, the answer is about 15 litres. Less that that, and IĆ¢Ā€Ā™m getting nervous. With (effectively) 2 tanks, I donĆ¢Ā€Ā™t know how to decide at what point to change the feed side; so end up not using either Ć¢Ā€ĀœlegĆ¢Ā€Ā of the tank.




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roddyeuropa(at)aol.com
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 1:44 am    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Another advantage of a 'twin' tank is that it gives you options if your fuel filter gets blocked - which has happened to me (on the ground at least).
Roddy Kesterton G-IKRK

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clivesutton



Joined: 23 Jan 2013
Posts: 187
Location: KENILWORTH

PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 2:21 am    Post subject: Re: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

I would echo Roddy's comment on this topic.

I can see the logic and simplicity benefits of connecting both sides of the tank but i suggest that the safety case for being able to switch over to a 'different' source of fuel - and more importantly, to a little-used fuel filter in the case of an engine problem, trumps it.

For normal operations, I leave mine pretty much selected on the LH/Min lobe all of the time and simply consider the RH lobe to be the emergency ~1/2hr of fuel.


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Monoman



Joined: 01 Nov 2020
Posts: 22

PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:57 am    Post subject: Re: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Reading this thread has prompted me to calibrate my contents gauge over the winter and maybe invest in a red cube flowmeter.
My question is while calibrating should I jack the tail to approximate the flying attitude?
Thanks


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clivesutton



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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 8:55 am    Post subject: Re: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Hello Monoman,
I have a Capacitance probe in the RH tank only that points a little outboard and forwards from its installation hole to avoid the accomodation shape for the tunnel in the tank shape. I checked its calibarion last year and was surprised to find that the attitude made very little difference. I also find that the calibration is only really valid for quantities below the vent hole in the upper part of my probe - ie, the extended tank volume above ~45 litres does not really register on my probe - i.e. it sees quantities above that as 'full' (which is a bit useless). I hope useful. Clive


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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 9:13 am    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Yes. Although if you don't you will at least be erring on the safe side! David Joyce, GXSDJ


On 2020-11-01 15:57, Monoman wrote:
Quote:
--> Europa-List message posted by: "Monoman" <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk (mike(at)nyumba.co.uk)>Reading this thread has prompted me to calibrate my contents gauge over the winter and maybe invest in a red cube flowmeter.My question is while calibrating should I jack the tail to approximate the flying attitude?ThanksRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=499151#bsp;--> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator= &nbspf="http://forums.matronics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferf="http://wiki.matronics.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferre========================http://www.matronics=====================


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Duncan McFadyean



Joined: 18 Jan 2011
Posts: 220

PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 10:42 am    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

I calibrate in both positions (and have two sets of colour-coded marks), so that I know how much is in there before takeoff.

Duncan McF.
Quote:
On 01 November 2020 at 15:57 Monoman <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk> wrote:




Reading this thread has prompted me to calibrate my contents gauge over the winter and maybe invest in a red cube flowmeter.
My question is while calibrating should I jack the tail to approximate the flying attitude?
Thanks




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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 1:18 pm    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

I too use the two tanks as a single tank with both fuel cocks on all the time(i have two separate taps).Ā  Ā I wonder if anyone has had the engine stop while on the main.Ā  I dare say it's quite exciting.

William Daniell
+1 786 878 0246

On Sun, Nov 1, 2020, 11:02 Monoman <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk (mike(at)nyumba.co.uk)> wrote:

Quote:
--> Europa-List message posted by: "Monoman" <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk (mike(at)nyumba.co.uk)>

Reading this thread has prompted me to calibrate my contents gauge over the winter and maybe invest in a red cube flowmeter.
My question is while calibrating should I jack the tail to approximate the flying attitude?
Thanks




Read this topic online here:

http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=499151#499151






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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 1:39 pm    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Hi all,
Interesting discussion. My fuel indicator probe only goes down as far as the fuel tank saddle. So when my gauge indicates zero, with a pre-warning, then I have 9.5 litres remaining on the Main tank (left) and 9.5L remaining in the Reserve Tank which I take as 30 mins endurance in each to be conservative. When zero indication occurs then I change straight away to the RESERVE TANK to be certain it flows ok, then after 30 mins back to the MAIN TANK for 30 mins.
Has worked well in the past as one flight I was down to 7 litres left on landing! Not a good look for an airline pilot, NOW RETIRED with Early retirement and COVID 19 saga. The financial meltdown in the Airline industry! A changed world.
Cheers,
Tim

Sent from my iPhone

Tim Ward
12 Waiwetu Street
Fendalton
CHRISTCHURCH 8052
Hom 03315166

Quote:
On 2/11/2020, at 07:50, D McFadyean <ami-mcfadyean(at)talktalk.net> wrote:

ļ»æ

I calibrate in both positions (and have two sets of colour-coded marks), so that I know how much is in there before takeoff.

Duncan McF.
> On 01 November 2020 at 15:57 Monoman <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Reading this thread has prompted me to calibrate my contents gauge over the winter and maybe invest in a red cube flowmeter.
> My question is while calibrating should I jack the tail to approximate the flying attitude?
> Thanks
>
>
>
>
> Read this topic online here:
>
> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=499151#499151
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>





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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 1:44 pm    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

William,On the ground the other day while doing a trial engine run on the ground, after installation of my engine I forgot to turn on the fuel tap. Result, continued for 45secs, very rough running and vibrating and then silence! You will certainly know and the first thing to check is fuel tap position!
Tim

Sent from my iPhone

Tim Ward
12 Waiwetu Street
Fendalton
CHRISTCHURCH 8052
Hom 03315166
Quote:
On 2/11/2020, at 10:26, William Daniell <wdaniell.longport(at)gmail.com> wrote:

ļ»æI too use the two tanks as a single tank with both fuel cocks on all the time(i have two separate taps). I wonder if anyone has had the engine stop while on the main. I dare say it's quite exciting.

William Daniell
+1 786 878 0246

On Sun, Nov 1, 2020, 11:02 Monoman <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk (mike(at)nyumba.co.uk)> wrote:

Quote:
--> Europa-List message posted by: "Monoman" <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk (mike(at)nyumba.co.uk)>

Reading this thread has prompted me to calibrate my contents gauge over the winter and maybe invest in a red cube flowmeter.
My question is while calibrating should I jack the tail to approximate the flying attitude?
Thanks




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PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 2:06 pm    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Runs rough plenty of time to change over. 
Kevin Challis
G ODJG 


Quote:
On 1 Nov 2020, at 21:47, Tim Ward <ward.t(at)xtra.co.nz> wrote:

ļ»æWilliam,On the ground the other day while doing a trial engine run on the ground, after installation of my engine I forgot to turn on the fuel tap. Result, continued for 45secs, very rough running and vibrating and then silence! You will certainly know and the first thing to check is fuel tap position!
Tim

Sent from my iPhone

Tim Ward
12 Waiwetu Street
Fendalton
CHRISTCHURCH 8052
Hom 03315166
Quote:
On 2/11/2020, at 10:26, William Daniell <wdaniell.longport(at)gmail.com> wrote:

ļ»æI too use the two tanks as a single tank with both fuel cocks on all the time(i have two separate taps).  I wonder if anyone has had the engine stop while on the main. I dare say it's quite exciting.

William Daniell
+1 786 878 0246

On Sun, Nov 1, 2020, 11:02 Monoman <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk (mike(at)nyumba.co.uk)> wrote:

Quote:
--> Europa-List message posted by: "Monoman" <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk (mike(at)nyumba.co.uk)>

Reading this thread has prompted me to calibrate my contents gauge over the winter and maybe invest in a red cube flowmeter.
My question is while calibrating should I jack the tail to approximate the flying attitude?
Thanks




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budyerly@msn.com



Joined: 05 Oct 2019
Posts: 287
Location: Florida USA

PostPosted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 6:54 pm    Post subject: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Will,
Two things:
I never had a total fuel delivery failure due to a clogged filter using the two stock Purolator filters supplied in the kit since Mod27 (1996 vintage). Of course I check my filters every 25 hour oil change/inspection per my mx manual.

I believe in redundancy, so I use an easy change fuel filter on the main and reserve sides. I also use the supplied fuel selector (although I prefer the Andair which wasn’t available when my fuel system was designed). I take no chances with assured fuel delivery. I find the Europa fuel system post Mod 33 (water drains) to be sound and reliable so I haven’t done more than change the tank fitting style once in a while to suite a fuel drain install.

History: I’ve only gotten bad gas twice in 50 years of flying. In the Europa I’ve gotten bad gas in Louisiana and during climb it took a bit of time and then engine Manifold Pressure dropped and I couldn’t maintain 5000RPM on the Airmaster, I turned on the aux pump and it cleared up, then at cruise with the aux pump still on, the engine sagged again a few minutes later. I switched to the reserve side and it ran fine. I landed in Texas about 30 minutes later to check and suspected a fuel pump failing or filters. On inspection the main side fuel filter was full of white diatomite like material from the previous FBOs fuel. The reserve side was also quite dirty. I called the Louisiana FBO and informed him. He got back with me and his fuel system had just been cleaned by a contractor and the 0.5 micron final filter was installed improperly. He wanted to pay me for the trouble. I get a free lunch if I ever fly through Hammond Louisiana again for the rest of my life. Too bad he’s retired now.

I always carry a spare filter ready to go. I have quick change fuel disconnects on either end of my filter under my seat which made for a quick change simply by removing the seat cushion and ply support. Since I only had one spare filter on hand, I flushed the reserve side filter out with clean gas and reinstalled it. I pressed on a short way to my final stop and my friend brought some fuel cans to the airport and I flushed the tanks by simply using the aircraft fuel pumps to cycle the gas through my filters, shaking the plane and pointing the nose down a bit and pumped through a short hose attached to the feed line out into the cans then back into the tank until the filters were clean. After a 30 gallon flush, all was clean enough without pulling the fuel bosses off. I flew home from Kansas checking my fuel at all three stops and although there was a tiny amount of white powder, there was nothing worth cleaning out enroute. I checked my carbs and tank on my annual and the reserve side of the tank still had a minor amount of the white filter material. Through this minor ordeal, there was nothing in the carb float bowls. So no debris entered my carbs.

Lessons:
  1. Carry a spare filter (or two) and know how to quickly change the filters without defueling.
  2. Clear filters are best for inspections (my opinion). Mr. Gasket filter for the Europa supplied filter insert is 5 microns or .00002 inches.

Note: Minimum gascolators micron required by the Rotax install manual is .1mm or .004 inches. This is quite large at 100 microns (Andair gascolator is 70 microns). You can see dirt that size as it is about Portland cement sized material. That sized material you can see easily in your float bowls also. Hence I use a fine filter rather than gascolators. Unfortunately, some countries require gascolators. Choose wisely.

Also note: Andair was the only experimental gascolator that can be used prior to and after fuel pumps as it seals very well. Cheap gascolators must have some fuel head and will leak air under suction. I inspected a plane once with the gascolator about 6 inches off the floor behind the tank. As the main fuel dropped down to the saddle (below 5 gallons), the gascolators began to leak air from the engine fuel pump suction. Switching tanks did nothing as there was insufficient head to get from the tank up to the gascolators. Since the fuel pump had little suction, it would not pull fuel through the leaky gascolator. I tilted the tail down, the fuel ran aft to the gascolator and the aux pump was able to pull fuel to the engine. It took a while to find that bit of info out. Gascolators should be the lowest point in the fuel system, and at least even with the bottom of the tank and be able to pull suction. Later, when the gascolator was replaced with an Andair, it was moved to the cowl bottom, after the aux pump and prior to the engine pump, lines were covered with fire sleeve, and ample air vented to prevent potential vapor lock, it never gave me another problem in flight test. Cardinal rule, mount the gascolators(s) lower or as low as the bottom of the tank and use a gascolators rated to pull a vacuum.
  1. The clear Purolator filter can loosen and leak unfortunately.  Always tighten to snug, then after fuel has been in it for a while give it another ½ turn. I wait overnight with a paper towel under it on annual change out of the filter. I also have a drain in my seat pan if it leaks.
  2. Consider a filtered fuel funnel (Mr. Funnel) if concerned about fuel quality. It slows refueling on cross country though, but not by much. Mine is a 5 gallon per minute flow rate Mr. Funnel. Which is about half of what the plane will fuel at from the pump on low flow. Micron rating is about 5-6. It is very good at stopping water with a trough for large particles and the filter stops water. (I also have found it is really getting hard to hold a 5 gallon bowser up for that first half minute of fueling the funnel.)
  3. If paranoid about dirty fuel and using auto fuel (10 micron filter is common for auto pumps) there are filters that can hook to the pump from the nozzle to the tank but the flow rate is terrible. Auto fuel pump filter standards are better than your gascolator screen so a car gas pump isn’t all that bad from when purchased from a quality gas station. If concerned use a Mr. Funnel.



Best regards from the Department of Redundant Redundancy.

Bud Yerly

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: William Daniell (wdaniell.longport(at)gmail.com)
Sent: Sunday, November 1, 2020 4:22 PM
To: europa-list(at)matronics.com (europa-list(at)matronics.com)
Subject: Re: Re: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank


I too use the two tanks as a single tank with both fuel cocks on all the time(i have two separate taps). I wonder if anyone has had the engine stop while on the main. I dare say it's quite exciting.



William Daniell
+1 786 878 0246




On Sun, Nov 1, 2020, 11:02 Monoman <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk (mike(at)nyumba.co.uk)> wrote:


--> Europa-List message posted by: "Monoman" <mike(at)nyumba.co.uk (mike(at)nyumba.co.uk)>

Reading this thread has prompted me to calibrate my contents gauge over the winter and maybe invest in a red cube flowmeter.
My question is while calibrating should I jack the tail to approximate the flying attitude?
Thanks




Read this topic online here:

http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=499151#499151






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John Wighton



Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 241

PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 12:18 am    Post subject: Re: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

Reply to Tim.

The return line goes to the reserve side, therefore the last tank you switch to should always be the reserve. As this will receive the excess fuel that is bypassing the carb.

So when your tank/gauge says empty stay on main tank. As soon as the engine faulters switch to reserve, you then have 9 lites remaining. Every drop of that is available to you, including the returned fuel.

Regards
JW


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Rick Moss



Joined: 21 Sep 2014
Posts: 96

PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 1:16 am    Post subject: Re: Connecting both sides of the fuel tank Reply with quote

John Wighton wrote:
Reply to Tim.

The return line goes to the reserve side, therefore the last tank you switch to should always be the reserve. As this will receive the excess fuel that is bypassing the carb.

So when your tank/gauge says empty stay on main tank. As soon as the engine faulters switch to reserve, you then have 9 lites remaining. Every drop of that is available to you, including the returned fuel.

Regards
JW


Certainly true, but I'm not sure I have the cajones to operate on the "run it until it falters" principle of fuel management!


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