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Dual Gas Tanks
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| Aloha Dick |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 6:08 AM
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How do I connect 2 gas tanks to the motor? Thanks.
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| Tom W Clark |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 6:49 AM
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One at a time.
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| Jeff |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 6:59 AM
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Most I have seen run both hoses into a selector valve and then a single line to the motor. If you do not want an selector you can easily make a two into one manifold with off the shelf brass fittings from any marine hardware store.
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| Phil T |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 7:09 AM
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Dick - With your question, can you state what model/year hull you have?
1992 Outrage 17 I
2019 E-TEC 90, Viper 17 2+
2018 Load Rite Elite 18280096VT |
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| drandlett |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 7:49 AM
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I am running two 6gal tanks in my whaler. My first setup I did as Tom suggested. I then decided it would be nice to have both tanks connected at once so I used a "t" fitting to connect the tanks and ran a single line to the filter then engine.
This worked well except the engine would suck fuel faster from one tank. This ended up being an issue, when that tank was empty, and would not draw fuel from the other. I have different brand tanks, Yamaha and Moller. Maybe one is easier to draw fuel from, and having 2 of the same may solve the issue.
Instead of getting matching tanks I installed a selector valve instead of the "t" fitting. That way I could select which tank I wanted the the fuel to be drawn from. The only thing I dislike about this setup is the size of the selector valve, its just too big and bulky.
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| Tom W Clark |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 8:54 AM
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I've owned five different Whalers with dual portable tanks. I'm telling ya, it's the simplest and most reliable thing in the world to use one tank until you want to switch, then unplug the hose and switch it to the other tank.
You can control the lateral weight distribution in your boat to some extent by managing the fuel load in one tank vis-a-vis the other tank.
You also have the benefit (when starting with two full tanks) of knowing when you have consumed half your fuel load; one tank runs dry. It's a nice reminder.
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| Aloha Dick |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 12:18 PM
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Tom W Clark wrote:
I've owned five different Whalers with dual portable tanks. I'm telling ya, it's the simplest and most reliable thing in the world to use one tank until you want to switch, then unplug the hose and switch it to the other tank.
You can control the lateral weight distribution in your boat to some extent by managing the fuel load in one tank vis-a-vis the other tank.
You also have the benefit (when starting with two full tanks) of knowing when you have consumed half your fuel load; one tank runs dry. It's a nice reminder.
Thanks Tom, seems much simpler and makes more sense. I have two 6 gallon tanks that I'm going to use. Too many times i have run down to about a quarter tank and was super paranoid of running out of gas.
Phil, I have a 1976 15' Sport, with a soon to be modified 85' Super Sport 
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| Joe Kriz |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 12:26 PM
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I owned a Montuak 17' for 15 years.
It had two 12 gallon tanks.
It was very simple to remove the hose from one tank and put it on the other.
I always preferred 2 tanks.
When one was empty, you knew you had enough to get home.
Or, you knew it was time to fill the one empty tank at the next pit stop.
If you have only one tank, how much fuel do you really have left?
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| Finnegan |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 1:27 PM
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Regarding Drandlett's comments on using a Tee fitting to connect two tanks to one engine, I think you have to close the cap vent on one tank while the other is feeding. Then when that one is empty, cloes the empty tank and open the full tank.
I don't know if this works from experience, but it seems like it would. Has anybody tried this, because I have an application like that I would like to try.
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| Tom W Clark |
Posted on 02/09/09 - 4:33 PM
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If you are going to Tee two tanks together, only do this with a selector valve that closes one tank off. The last thing you would want is to have a fuel system that is capable of sucking air into the fuel line. This could cause serious engine damage.
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| drandlett |
Posted on 02/10/09 - 5:45 AM
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I agree with Tom, 2 tanks plumbed together needs a selector valve.
Finnegan - The method you describe was exactally what I did. Close the vent of the tank you did not want to use, open the vent on the tank to be used. In theory it sounds perfect, in practice it did not work in my situation. The tanks I used were never 100% sealed, they always leaked air (both tanks were 1 season old).
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| theo |
Posted on 02/11/09 - 11:51 AM
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I was a manual tank switcher too. Only drawback was running out with a skier in tow. Got mighty good at switching tanks though!
I use an electrically switched valve on my Land Cruiser and it works great. Might be the Pollak plastic valve - can't remember for sure (but I could go find the receipt). Some of the biodiesel conversion community is current with fuel switching valve options, including aluminum bodies for durability. HTH
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