Fuel Tank Selector Valve

N

nick aron

New member
Jun 16, 2015
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I am working on my fuel system. I still have the factory original fuel tank selector valve. Do I need this valve, or can I connect the two tank fuel
lines to the one line going to the front of the coach? I realize I will not have a fuel reserve capability but I don't run the tanks down to empty
anyway. Let me know if there is a function I am missing, or if can I take it out.

--
Nick Aron
Burlington, WI;
1975 Glenbrook - all original;
1964 Bonneville;
1966 VW Camper
 
You won't be able to access the fuel in the rear tank below the crossover tube. That's the only reason I can think of.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Source America First
 
> but I don't run the tanks down to empty anyway.

Famous last words :d

--
Cary, NC

No Coach yet but decided it will be wet bath with Sully or 4 bag system.
perhaps a 1978 Kingsley....
 
If the fuel is low (~~ 1/4) and you start up a hill, you'll uncover the front pickup and pull air. The engine will stop even though you have fuel in
the tanks. You might consider running on the rear alone, which will allow you to run all the gas out except about a fourth in the front tank.

--johnny
--
'76 23' transmode Norris upfit
Braselton, Ga.

"Sometimes I wonder what tomorrow's gonna bring when I think about my dirty life and times" --Warren Zevon
 
Nick,

For reasons that may not be intuitively obvious, if you just T the delivery lines together, you will not always be pulling fuel from the most full
tank. (Ask any low wing pilot.) The system actually works very well as it is (except for the old rubber and alcohol issues discussed here ad
nauseum). The biggest issue is that the replacement valve that is available is upside down and backwards from the original and that complicates
mounting.

We also kind of like the 450+ mile tank range that lets us work GasBuddy.com to great advantage.
One big advantage seldom mentioned here is that it allows you to reserve fuel for the APU.

Matt

> I am working on my fuel system. I still have the factory original fuel tank selector valve. Do I need this valve, or can I connect the two tank
> fuel lines to the one line going to the front of the coach? I realize I will not have a fuel reserve capability but I don't run the tanks down to
> empty anyway. Let me know if there is a function I am missing, or if can I take it out.

--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
A picture is worth a thousand words....

http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/tank.html

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist On Behalf Of Matt Colie
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 2015 8:58 AM

Nick,

For reasons that may not be intuitively obvious, if you just T the delivery
lines together, you will not always be pulling fuel from the most full tank.
(Ask any low wing pilot.) The system actually works very well as it is
(except for the old rubber and alcohol issues discussed here ad nauseum).
The biggest issue is that the replacement valve that is available is upside
down and backwards from the original and that complicates mounting.

We also kind of like the 450+ mile tank range that lets us work GasBuddy.com
to great advantage.
One big advantage seldom mentioned here is that it allows you to reserve
fuel for the APU.

Matt

> I am working on my fuel system. I still have the factory original fuel
> tank selector valve. Do I need this valve, or can I connect the two
> tank fuel lines to the one line going to the front of the coach? I realize
I will not have a fuel reserve capability but I don't run the tanks down to
empty anyway. Let me know if there is a function I am missing, or if can I
take it out.
 
Matt, you get 450 miles out of a tank(s) of gas? I must be doing something wrong.
--
Bryan Hayes
'76 Eleganza II
Salt Lake City, Utah
 
> Matt, you get 450 miles out of a tank(s) of gas? I must be doing something wrong.

Bryan,

Work on it....
We do 400s any time we want.

Our coach runs at 9.2 all most of the time, We have done several 53 gallon fills.
9.2*53 ~ 490

Remember, this is 9600# 23' coach. I'm sure that doesn't hurt.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Am I dreaming or did Jim Bounds connect the two fuel tanks with steel
tubing attached where the drain plugs are.

> > Matt, you get 450 miles out of a tank(s) of gas? I must be doing
> something wrong.
>
>
> Bryan,
>
> Work on it....
> We do 400s any time we want.
>
> Our coach runs at 9.2 all most of the time, We have done several 53 gallon
> fills.
> 9.2*53 ~ 490
>
> Remember, this is 9600# 23' coach. I'm sure that doesn't hurt.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCES
> '73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
 
You're not dreaming. Maybe one a these days he'll get his archives back
online. (I hope for all our sake).

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist On Behalf Of Bruce Hart

Am I dreaming or did Jim Bounds connect the two fuel tanks with steel
tubing attached where the drain plugs are.
 
> Matt, you get 450 miles out of a tank(s) of gas? I must be doing something wrong.

I was about to say that too. I refill at around 250-275 miles which is when the gauges start moving toward "E" in my GMC. I should be able to go
about 400-450 miles on a full tank to empty assuming 8+ MPG. I've never tried to do that however and don't plan on starting now. I also almost never
top it off in order to avoid gas burping. I will try and top it off when I get $1 off per gallon at Kroger.
--
Richard
76 Palm Beach
SE Michigan
www.PalmBeachGMC.com


Coop Roller Cam 455, Howell TBI + EBL, 3.42 FD, Quadra Bag, Macerator, Manny Tranny etc.
 
Nick,

I'm presently working on my fuel system (new lines, etc). I found that my fuel tank selector valve had been removed by a PO and the two tanks teed
together. The gauges were still reading for both tanks and pretty accurate. The switch on the dash determines which tank gauge is being viewed. I
suspected that something was wrong because I never had to switch tanks. Both tanks would drain equally according to the gauges. Before I removed my
tanks I let the engine run until it stopped for lack of fuel. I then opened the drain plugs and drained out about a sum total of one quart of fuel
(clean with no rust or dirt). During normal operation I never experienced fuel starvation even on 100+ degree days and going up and down hills. I
always refueled around 1/8 tank which gave me about 6 gallons between both tanks, unless the generator was being used and then refuel at 1/4 tank.

I have a new selector valve to install with a mounting bracket that I fabricated that mounts to the frame and reverses the valve so that the inlet and
outlet ports are in the correct position. However, the fuel lines are 3/8 inch and the connections on the switch are 5/16. I hope I can tighten the
clamps tight enough. If the lines leak at the valve or the valve causes a restriction in fuel flow, then the tee goes back on.

Anyway, just my experience so far.

Jerry
--
Jerry Sitzlar..... 77 Eleganza II, Twin bed, dry bath......
Lenoir City, TN
 
> You're not dreaming. Maybe one a these days he'll get his archives back
> online. (I hope for all our sake).
>
>
>
YES, YES, YES


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gmclist On Behalf Of Bruce Hart
>
> Am I dreaming or did Jim Bounds connect the two fuel tanks with steel
> tubing attached where the drain plugs are.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>


--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
 
Richard,

There are some huge differences in our coaches and operational modes.

The biggest is that Mary drives most of the time. That leaves me free to navigate, pull refreshments and find cheap fuel. That later cam often
instigate and early stop as fuel prices vary widely by state.

A big difference between our coaches is also the high T fuel system. I can run the pump at the fast hook until I am a few gallons short of full with
out it burping. On the press-up aka top off, the only time I get a burp that spills fuel is with real high ethanol content. Even then, it isn't much
- just enough to be annoying.

We also use an interesting fuel management mode. We start on the main (aka combined tanks) and switch to the auxiliary at the half tank indication.
This gets run until the low fuel warning glares at the driver. At that point the switch is back to main and the remaining one-half tank. If a fuel
stop is not in the plan at that point, the navigator gets real busy. It is not as tough as single pilot IFR, but the cooperation does make thing much
more relaxed.

Matt

> I was about to say that too. I refill at around 250-275 miles which is when the gauges start moving toward "E" in my GMC. I should be able to go
> about 400-450 miles on a full tank to empty assuming 8+ MPG. I've never tried to do that however and don't plan on starting now. I also almost
> never top it off in order to avoid gas burping. I will try and top it off when I get $1 off per gallon at Kroger.

--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
> Am I dreaming or did Jim Bounds connect the two fuel tanks with steel
> tubing attached where the drain plugs are.
> --
> Bruce Hart

Bruce,

You are correct, he does. This is not a mod that I think is all that good for two reasons:
One is that both my fuel tanks and my transmission pan show strike damage. If the fittings required to a hit, you have the potential to loose all
your fuel overboard.
The other is that this mod removes any possibility of fuel inventory management.
Still, it is your decision to make and it is your coach.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - Members GMCMI, GMCES
'73 Glacier 23 - Still Loving OE Rear Drum Brake with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
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