Fitting a portable fuel tank

[Nick Hearne]

Thoughts please as I want to fit an extra portable fuel tank to my under deck Tank, I want to be able to plug in a portable tank as a back up or to extend my range!
I was thinking of adding a shut off valve to the existing fuel line
A. to stop fuel draining from the portable tank to the main.
B. if I want to run off the portable I need to isolate the main tank.
C. If I want to run of the main open tap & disconnect portable tank.

First drawing shows as it is second shows how I plan to set it up, any comments?

Great drawings I know & yes my fuel bulb dose piont down which is a pain!!

[captnjack]

Don't put a portable fuel tank in an unvented locker.

If your fuel filter is filled with sediment or water your portable won't work too. Ditto if your primer bulb cracks. So I would have a completely seperate fuel line and just swap them when you want to switch tanks.

[Downhilldai]

Fit an 'L-port changeover valve' in place of the hose connector from your main tank on the filter head and run the feed pipes from each tank to this valve.

[Chris Caton]

i like the pictures, better than i could do

just out of interest, what's a 'L-port changeover valve' ?

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by captnjack

Don't put a portable fuel tank in an unvented locker.

If your fuel filter is filled with sediment or water your portable won't work too. Ditto if your primer bulb cracks. So I would have a completely seperate fuel line and just swap them when you want to switch tanks.

Yes I can see your point, I could plum it in after the fuel bulb & have a separate bulb on it as the portable take is less likely to suffer from water!

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

what's a 'L-port changeover valve' ?

One of these:

L Port Valve 1/4" BSP

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

One of these:

L Port Valve 1/4" BSP

i see where your coming from now, but the description says: "The L port configuration allows one threaded female port to feed in, and two threaded female ports to feed out, which can be operated one at a time, but not together" does it also allow you feed the opposite way, two ports in, but one at a time and one port out?

[mick]

I have these on my fuel water separator so it's a quick change over

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by mick

I have these on my fuel water separator so it's a quick change over

Attachment 67446



Attachment 67447

looks like a good idea, guess i'm gonna be having a look at that setup this weekend

[IndyR1]

All my tanks are external, not lucky enough to have anything in built but best to keep everything separate as much as possible as you don;t want a problem with one section effecting both tanks.

I have a Y splitter with dual taps and each line has it's own bulb and tank connector so it's easy to change tanks etc with no fear of a pipe or connector failure causing an issue with the other tanks.

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by IndyR1

All my tanks are external, not lucky enough to have anything in built but best to keep everything separate as much as possible as you don;t want a problem with one section effecting both tanks.

I have a Y splitter with dual taps and each line has it's own bulb and tank connector so it's easy to change tanks etc with no fear of a pipe or connector failure causing an issue with the other tanks.

suppose whichever way you go with having more than one built in tank there's always for and against, but whatever you choose clean fuel is the priority all i'm after is adding around 40ltrs to the existing 120ltr tank to give a reserve, just in case. i'm trying to keep it simple, and not have too much to go wrong

[Nick Hearne]

I already have every thing I need except the in line fuel tap, I would prefer to fit the fuel bulb before the fuel filter as this would meen it would hange the right way up & then I can fit a second fuel line to the filter this would have quick connector to the portable fuel tank with its own bulb again befor the filter. I can then run off main tank with tape open & portable tank not fitted & to use the portable tank just connect switch off main & pump second fuel bulb.
Thinking about the L port valve would make it simpler to switch Between tanks & just prim the bulb if needed after, but cost a bit more but hay considering how much it costs to fill a tank hay Ho!

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Chris Caton

i see where your coming from now, but the description says: "The L port configuration allows one threaded female port to feed in, and two threaded female ports to feed out, which can be operated one at a time, but not together" does it also allow you feed the opposite way, two ports in, but one at a time and one port out?

Yes, I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise.

I've tried all sort of multi-tank & fuel hose set-ups over the years and the best IMO is an L port valve fitted to the outlet ports of 2 fuel filter units, with a permanent hose from the inboard tank feeding one filter and a second hose from the reserve tank(s) feeding the second filter. The outlet port of the L-port valve connects to the outboard. This way, the reserve tank is separately filtered and the hose can be quickly disconnected from one reserve tank and onto another, if you're on a long jaunt or away for a weekend for example.

Mick's choice of Soozook fittings is good, but the best ones (also Soozook ) for a quick changeover IMO are these:

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

Fitted for a short time around 1990-92.

[Chris Caton]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Yes, I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise.

I've tried all sort of multi-tank & fuel hose set-ups over the years and the best IMO is an L port valve between 2 fuel filter units, with a permanent hose from the inboard tank feeding one filter and a second hose from the reserve tank(s) feeding the second filter. This way, the reserve tank is separately filtered and the hose can be quickly disconnected from one reserve tank and onto another, if you're on a long jaunt or away for a weekend for example.

Mick's choice of Soozook fittings is good, but the best ones (also Soozook ) for a quick changeover IMO are these:

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace

Fitted for a short time around 1990-92.

all makes sense now, but will have to wait till after this weekend, no time to do anything before saturday

[Downhilldai]

Like this:

[mick]

Was just thinking could do with some pics but I am on twins so the simpilar the better.

[9D280]

I am also on portables. Thing is if you fully empty them water build up is not the issue it is in an underdeck setup. I would just forget the filter & Swap connector at the engine.

[Nick Hearne]

If I could I would as this is that I do on my SR4 with 50hp 2 st but with the 115hp 4st yam on my Ribeye you can not just disconnect the fuel line at the engine as it is permanently plumbed in!

[Johnscubanut]

Just sent you a message Nick

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by Johnscubanut

Just sent you a message Nick

Thanks for the input

Nick