How do you transfer fuel between tanks?

[Michael Jones]

I have four fuel tanks (diesel) and, if on a long voyage and not wanting to use any one of them to the point of sucking air, I leave three or four gallons in them before switching to the next one, then how can I transfer these remaining quantities from each tank to combine them and get a few more miles before running completely out? Do you usually use a portable fuel transfer pump? Brand?

[Pelagic]

Do you have to fill each tank from their own independant deck filler?

If not, then they are probably interconnected to each other by plumbing and naturally are draining empty to the lowest tank which feeds the engine.

Usually there is a valve at the bottom of each tank to open/close so that you can control that tank

[Celestialsailor]

On Faiaoahe I have 2, 40 gallon bilge tanks that I use as ‘storage tanks’. They feed to a 3-way valve then to a 20 micron pre-filter then up to a 15 gallon day, via an electric transfer pump, located under my after deck in the engine room slightly above the injector feed pump. The advantages are obvious… 1) I can suck the storage tanks dry without fear of introducing air to the system, The 20 micron filters out any problems to the day tank. If something were to clog the 20, at least I would still have fuel to get out of harms way. 2) The injector feed pump is under no load due to the day tank being higher. This will increase it’s life also. The day tank has a sight tube easily seen from the engine room opening. 3) From the day tank the fuel goes to a Racor with a 10 micron and finally the primary filter on the engine. These filters last much longer with the 20 micron filtering the storage tanks. It’s just a simple system.

[Palarran]

Celestialsailor, best signiture quote I've read yet. Did you make it up?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by rigamarole

Celestialsailor, best signiture quote I've read yet. Did you make it up?

Yes it is the best I've seen too What a great line to live by!


Mark

[DeepFrz]

Yeah, but it's all in the timing...

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by rigamarole

Celestialsailor, best signiture quote I've read yet. Did you make it up?

No...All the best lines and quotes of the world were exhausted by the turn of the century. I send that quote to friends that continually question my sanity over the adventures I experience.
Hey!!! Is this thread drifting?