GT40s.com - View Single Post - Plumbing the EFI fuel return for twin tanks

12-01-02, 03:05 PM

Gary, yes the housing is plastic. To clarify for Jim, the valve is not an aircraft valve, it is made for EFI powered trucks where an auxiliary fuel tank is desired. It is designed for fuel and EFI pressures of up to 65psi though. The valve is made by Pollak and available from J.C Whitney for $54 (81UV2705U) and is the 6 port model. It has 3 3/8" ports for primary flow and 3 5/16" ports for return flow.

The reference to aircraft was with respect to the procedures followed in use of the fuel from two tanks separate tanks. As you state, fuel management is serious business in an aircraft and so is the balance of the aircraft. Our procedure was to fly for 1 hour on the first tank (in a GT40, I would presume this to be the passenger side). Then you switch to the opposite tank and run it down until it is effectively empty, keeping track of the time it provided. At this point you know you have the time the second tank lasted minus 1 hour. Fuel gauges in an aircraft were only rough indicators not to be trusted, the clock was considered the primary indicator of fuel remaining.

[ December 01, 2002: Message edited by: Lynn Larsen ]

12-01-02, 03:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
Join Date: Dec 1969 Posts: 0 Rep Power: 0	Re: Plumbing the EFI fuel return for twin tanks - need ideas Gary, yes the housing is plastic. To clarify for Jim, the valve is not an aircraft valve, it is made for EFI powered trucks where an auxiliary fuel tank is desired. It is designed for fuel and EFI pressures of up to 65psi though. The valve is made by Pollak and available from J.C Whitney for $54 (81UV2705U) and is the 6 port model. It has 3 3/8" ports for primary flow and 3 5/16" ports for return flow. The reference to aircraft was with respect to the procedures followed in use of the fuel from two tanks separate tanks. As you state, fuel management is serious business in an aircraft and so is the balance of the aircraft. Our procedure was to fly for 1 hour on the first tank (in a GT40, I would presume this to be the passenger side). Then you switch to the opposite tank and run it down until it is effectively empty, keeping track of the time it provided. At this point you know you have the time the second tank lasted minus 1 hour. Fuel gauges in an aircraft were only rough indicators not to be trusted, the clock was considered the primary indicator of fuel remaining. [ December 01, 2002: Message edited by: Lynn Larsen ]