fuel tank question

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

You know... actually, there IS a way to make it work.. It's one of those simple things that stare you in the face and it's so easy you don't see it...

The answer is simply to cross connect them... plumb the bottom of tank one over to the bottom of tank two. Then, on a second line, plumb tank two to the engine. Do not connect the line running from tank one to tank two with the line running to the engine.

Gas, like water, will always seek it's own level. So, since both tanks are connected together at the bottom, and as long as both tanks are vented so atmospheric pressure is the same inside each tank, and both tanks are sitting at about the same height inside the hull, what will happen is that as tank two is drawn down tank one will replenish it in an effort to stay level with it. The result will be both tanks will be drawn down at the same time!!!

That'll certainly work as far as draining each at the same rate...sounds like a good idea, as long as you can deal w/all the crud that sinks to the bottom of the tank(including water)...aren't conventional fuel pick-ups mounted just above the tank bottom?