Another bad fuel tank

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Pack Mule

Pack Mule

TF Site Team
Joined
Jan 24, 2013
Messages
3,749
Location
USA
Vessel Name
Slo-Poke
Vessel Make
Jorgensen custom 44
Well I lost another fuel tank. Both of my 75 aft tanks, one port and one starboard. The last tank that went out was plumbed to my generator only. This leaves me with two tanks left. These two tank are on the starboard side in engine room and plumbed to the engine only. I want to dedicate one to the generator to get through the season.

These tanks are basically level with each other and they are connected at bottom with hose and valves for leveling out. There is a single sight glass in the middle of this hose that’s plumbed at the top to one tank return line. The sight gauge worked fine before but both tanks were dedicated to the main engine only.

Do I need to disconnect the top of the sight glass from the return and install a shut off valve just so I can keep up with level?
 
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Why bother? How much do you run the genny?

pete
 
We run it mostly for ac only when out. Pretty muggy here in Tennessee. May just have to toughen up rest of the season.
 
I ran into a similar problem. Just T off of the tank supply, one line to the engine racor, one to the generator racor. The return line from the generator gets T'd into the engine return line. Wouldn't bother changing the tank interconnects.
 
Right now I have the engine supply running from one tank and generator supply running from the other tank. The returns for both generator and main engine are tied together going to both tanks. The generator will only run about 3 or 4 minute then quit.
I just changed all my generator filters prior to my tank going out and did 4 hour run with no problems. I guess my filters on generator could be bad again.
Could one return be over powering the other and starving generator for fuel ?
 
The returns should play no part in that as long as the line is sufficiently large enough to handle the flow back to the tank. I have always had my 8kw westerbeke and my Lehman 135 returns on a common return line.
 
Small diameter copper tubing ? 1/4". Same as refrigerator ice maker.
 
Are both tanks vented? Is the connection between them open or closed? How is the gen hooked into the tanks?. Sounds like fuel starvation or air getting in the line.
 
mike66 said:
Are both tanks vented? Is the connection between them open or closed? How is the gen hooked into the tanks?. Sounds like fuel starvation or air getting in the line.
Click to expand...
I’m going back out to check on it today. Both tanks are vented to same vent. I could have a the valves at the bottom of each tank to connecting line open. Thanks
 
Pack Mule said:
Well I lost another fuel tank. Both of my 75 aft tanks, one port and one starboard. The last tank that went out was plumbed to my generator only. This leaves me with two tanks left. These two tank are on the starboard side in engine room and plumbed to the engine only. I want to dedicate one to the generator to get through the season.

These tanks are basically level with each other and they are connected at bottom with hose and valves for leveling out. There is a single sight glass in the middle of this hose that’s plumbed at the top to one tank return line. The sight gauge worked fine before but both tanks were dedicated to the main engine only.

Do I need to disconnect the top of the sight glass from the return and install a shut off valve just so I can keep up with level?
Click to expand...


What do you mean "lost another tank" Is it leaking or do you mean it quit feeding fuel to the gen. or engine.

If it is leaking from corrosion that's a big headache.
If the fuel is simply not feeding reliably for some reason then some effort and noodling should sort out the cause.

But which is it as it is not clear, to me. Maybe not enough coffee yet.
 
Simplist thing to do is return everything to how the tanks were set up with engine alone and operating the way you wanted. Then just T in the supply and and return lines for the generator. Should work fine
 
C lectric said:
What do you mean "lost another tank" Is it leaking or do you mean it quit feeding fuel to the gen. or engine.

If it is leaking from corrosion that's a big headache.
If the fuel is simply not feeding reliably for some reason then some effort and noodling should sort out the cause.

But which is it as it is not clear, to me. Maybe not enough coffee yet.
Click to expand...
The tank is leaking. That makes two this year. I transfer all the fuel to a neighbors boat. He was pretty happy. I’ve got to bite the bullet and breakout the checkbook this time. I’m down from 450 gallons (which’s was way too much) in 5 tanks to just 125 total in two tanks for both generator and main engine.
 
Does the genny cut off when running by itself or just with the main running ? Sounds like a fuel supply problem to the genny.
 
Solly said:
Does the genny cut off when running by itself or just with the main running ? Sounds like a fuel supply problem to the genny.
Click to expand...
Cuts off by itself. I’ve got another fuel filter for generator boat t I’m out of racors for primary. I’m out here now and fixing pull filter on generator.
 
Ok I just found something. On the tank that went bad that I disconnected also has it’s vent tied into the other two tank vents . I emptied this tank yesterday and disconnected the supply and return lines . I thought it was vented on it’s own . This tank has no fuel in it and it is totally disconnected from anything but the vent is tied to my last two good fuel tanks . Could this be it ? The generator was running fine before I started the rerouting. It’s tank just went bad .
 
I clamped the vent off and changed fuel filter on engine.It still doing the same thing. I didn’t have an extra racor so I couldn’t change it . This one only has about 8 hours on it but it could be nasty . The last one was just two weeks ago . The electric fuel pump is fairly new. I notice the fuel pump doesn’t sound as loud as before when preheating engine. Must be a clogged racor. I hate to take it off with out a new one ready to go on. It’s always the simple things first. It sure was running good till I rerouted to different tank . Coincidence maybe .
 
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I edited last post so maybe it kinda makes sense now. :facepalm: I could use a rum and coke about now.
I can’t help but think I made some kind of mistake when rerouting hose.
 
Have a rum and coke. Make sure your engine still runs. Make sure the generator didn't shut down due to overheat or low oil. Buy two T fittings.
 
mike66 said:
Have a rum and coke. Make sure your engine still runs. Make sure the generator didn't shut down due to overheat or low oil. Buy two T fittings.
Click to expand...
So your saying T the supply to generator into both tanks and generator return to same return as main engine?
 
No, T the supply to the engine to make it supply the generator also. T the generator return line into the engine return line.
 
mike66 said:
No, T the supply to the engine to make it supply the generator also. T the generator return line into the engine return line.
Click to expand...
Ok both tanks are feeding the main engine . So I need to T in the single line running to engine supply to supply generator? Ok I was thinkIng one would starve the other for fuel that way. Thanks for hanging with me . I’ll eventually get it .
 
You got it. Same for the return. I would tap into the supply line before the engine racor if you want to use the generator racor. That way they both have their own filter, and no worries about flow.
One thought. If you have a large engine that needs a lot of fuel, the fuel line from the tank to the T could be made larger to accommodate the extra fuel flow, and place the T as close to the tank as possible. My setup didn't require it.
Have fun, hope it works. It's starting to get a little warm[emoji6]
 
Thanks, the engine is a Perkins 6.354na . All lines , supply and return for Perkins and generator are 3/8”.
 
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