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I have a Quicksilver with a 582 blue top. I am thinking about installing the 4.5 gal fuel tank (sold by air-tech out of Louisiana) on the back of one of the seats. The installation uses fuel line and a valve to connect right into the existing fuel line.

Since the added fuel line connects to the bottom of the added fuel tank, there is about 4' of fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump.

Is the fuel pump that comes with the 582 sufficient to suck fuel vertically up a 4' hose?

If anyone is using this added seat tank, please respond and let me know how it's working.

Thanks!
  • Re: 582 fuel pump and extra fuel tank

    by » 12 years ago


    So far there have been two replies but I guess both of them went straight to my email because I don't see the replies here???

    Both said that they were familiar with using an electric fuel pump to pump fuel from the extra tank to the wing tank.

    Has anyone done this? Can you provide details? Is there a kit that I can buy?

  • Re: 582 fuel pump and extra fuel tank

    by » 12 years ago


    Mike,

    Don't know how the new tank wil be rigged, but having tanks that are higher or lower than each other can be a problem to plumb. You will have to supply fuel to the engine from the bottom of the lowest tank so that the upper tank can drain down into the lower. This in itself can cause another plumbing problem. If both tanks are full, the lower tank can overfill and leak out of its vent or gas cap. you would need to use an unvented cap and run a separate vent up higher than the upper tank. If Air Tech sells a tank with a separate vent (they probably do), that would be the way to go without an electric pump. Even then, you could never open the gas cap on the lower tank with gas in the upper unless you had extra cutoff valves installed in the lines. There would also always be the possibility of the lower gas cap leaking and losing all the fuel from the upper tank.

    The simplest system would be to treat the new tank as a separate system and run a fuel line from the lower tank into the top of the upper tank with an electric fuel pump inline. Your existing plumbing stays just as it is. No unvented caps or separate vents necessary. Just one fitting into the top of your wing tank for the new tank fuel line. No kit is necessary. All you need is the tank, the pump, and one hose barb fitting installed in the top of the upper tank. (plus a little wiring for the pump).

    I have a 1946 ercoupe which came from the factory with this system. My upper tank feeds the engine and when the fuel gets low, I just turn the electric pump on and top off the upper tank from the lower wing tanks. It has been operating flawlessly for 67 years this way.

    Bill.

  • Re: 582 fuel pump and extra fuel tank

    by » 12 years ago


    Cool, Bill, thanks for all that. That was my original plan until the guy at Air-tech said that their system did not work that way but rather, a line comes up from the new tank and when a valve is opened, the existing engine driven fuel pump sucks from the added tank.

    I was concerned about the capability of the fuel pump to suck the fuel up the new line. Also, I have a question about air that might be in the line when the valve is switched to the new tank.

    I'm planning to talk to the guy this week and get more info. But I think I'd rather go with your method (my original idea). So what I need to find is the 12V electric fuel pump with the right specs.

    How does the fuel line go into the upper tank? Does it go in through the cap or did you put a hole in the top of the tank?

  • Re: 582 fuel pump and extra fuel tank

    by » 12 years ago


    Mike,

    Just about any small automotive type auto fuel pump will work. Facet makes several that are used frequently in homebuilts and are available at any auto parts store. Even the smallest pumps will lift the fuel three or four feet and still have the volume to empty the lower tank in just a few minutes. A hole in the top of the wing tank is the easiest way to mount the fuel line. If the tank wall is thick enough, you can drill it, thread it and screw a hose barb directly into it. If it is a thin walled tank ( it probably is) you can drill a 1/2" hole and pop in one of the rubber grommet and push-in type hose barbs. They are available at CPS, Lockwood, LEAF, or Bear Perkins. I wouldn't drill the cap as that could interfere with the vent and make it harder to unscrew the cap for refueling.

    The valve system would be a little more complicated and you would have som air in the line from the aux. tank, but it would work. I personally like the simpler system. Murphy's law states: "parts that aint there cost nothing, weigh nothing, and never break down."

    Bill.

  • Re: 582 fuel pump and extra fuel tank

    by » 12 years ago


    Mike,

    Just checked the Lockwood Aviation catalogue and they have the push in hose fittings for $2.95 and the rubber grommets for $1.00. They also have the Facet pumps, 4-6 psi. for $49.00.

    Bill.

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