Aux fuel tank - gravity feed?

[dutch6]

I am researching aux fuel tanks. It seems that gravity feed is the preferred method of transferring fuel to the main tank. Somewhere I read that gravity feed can overflow the main tank.

Can any of you using this setup relate your experiences?

 

[steved]

I've been running a gravity/siphon for over 1. 5 years (and 50k miles)... the only overflow issues I've ever had is when I forget to turn the pump off...

The siphon/gravity is on all the time, and it never loses a drop.

 

[JWelch]

gravity feed

I don't know about other states but in TX they have banned gravity feed setups. The only option I know of is the pump that can be manual or automatic. I only saying this because a friend built his own and mad a gravity system. Got pulled over by State Troopers and got a hefty ticket.

 

[RDusch]

I think its only a problem if you gravity feed to the engine, no problem to another tank.

Rick

 

[RBaldwin]

check with northern tool, they have a gravity feed kit that has a float valve in it to shut off the fuel as the main tank gets full

 

[CKelley1]

i gravity feed through a 2 micron filter no problem, we made our own but bought the northern to look at. it does not work like you are led to believe in the add it does not cut off fuel as the tank gets full we had dot pull up the law and you are right you can gravity feed the tank but it is not legal to go to the motor if the texan had his set up to the tank he was ok

 

[ironbutt]

i have been gravity feeding tank to tank since 2003, and havent spilled a drop in 130k miles.

 

[carson6]

not dot approved...

Aluminum Tank & Truck Accessories LLC. - Fuel Tanks & Fuel Systems

click the whats legal button.

 

[tom sweeney]

i used a gravity feed system for a short while,then i found a 12v Purolator fuel pump for $30. 00 and tied it to a Ford tank selector switch so they both activate at the same time!... . the pump flows 35gph,so i just watch my factory fuel gauge and when it shows full,i turn the switch off!!!..... the gravity system was too slow to fill when towing the 5'er IMHO... . the switch works works in acc. position or full on... i also have a small Fram G3 fuel filter prior to the pump..... this system has worked well for nearly 250k miles in 2 trucks!!!! the pump can be found online,or common auto shops... . good luck!

tom

 

[JTCrow]

I'v been gravity feeding my tank for two years. No problems at all.

 

[MMeier]

i used a gravity feed system for a short while,then i found a 12v Purolator fuel pump for $30. 00 and tied it to a Ford tank selector switch so they both activate at the same time!... . the pump flows 35gph,so i just watch my factory fuel gauge and when it shows full,i turn the switch off!!!..... the gravity system was too slow to fill when towing the 5'er IMHO... . the switch works works in acc. position or full on... i also have a small Fram G3 fuel filter prior to the pump..... this system has worked well for nearly 250k miles in 2 trucks!!!! the pump can be found online,or common auto shops... . good luck!

tom

Maybe the '08's are different, but on my '03 the gauge will not reflect whats actually in the tank until a key cycle is made. First trip I made with the aux in the '03 was back to Ms. a few years back, outside Little Rock Ar. I hit the switch to fill the main, thought maybe filter was plugged seeing as how the gauge was not moving past 3/8. A few miles down the Interstate I hear some way ****** off trucker screaming over the CB that he just washed his truck and now some red oily "stuff" is all over his rig, when asked where he was and i heard I was 2 vehicles in front of him, I'm like " oh ****! Now i know where my fuel is going, turns out the main tank was getting overfilled and squeezing out anywhere it could. #@$%!

 

[WalterRyan]

Gravity feed is NOT illegal.



This keeps coming up here. I am not a fan of gravity feed and would not do it myself but I do not condemn those that do. It is just my preference. That being said I feel ATTA and Transfer flow both are somewhat dishonest and mislead potential customers with these statements in an attempt to make money off of peoples fears. I say this after living 25 miles from Transfer Flow and knowing several people who worked there. They make a quality product but are way too arrogant in their attitude that only we do it right.



Notice when pulled directly from the federal government site in entirety the ATTA claim stops just short of an outright lie in my opinion. Specifically the deletion of the “directly to” and “Except for diesel” portions.



Sec. 393. 65 All fuel systems.



(d) Gravity or syphon feed prohibited. A fuel system must not supply

fuel by gravity or syphon feed directly to the carburetor or injector.



Sec. 393. 67 Liquid fuel tanks.



(5) Fuel withdrawal fittings. Except for diesel fuel tanks, the

fittings through which fuel is withdrawn from a fuel tank must be

located above the normal level of fuel in the tank when the tank is

full.



You can see it all here



http://edocket. access. gpo.gov/cfr_2002/octqtr/pdf/49cfr393. 65.pdf

http://edocket. access. gpo.gov/cfr_2002/octqtr/pdf/49cfr393. 67.pdf



Walt

 

[Jrissler]

I've got gravity on my 08 and I wouldn't have it any other way, just fill er up and drive for 7-800 miles. My hired men run it so it works good for me, I fill it saturday and it usally last all week, and they don't have to stop any.



Love it!!!!!

 

[steved]

Maybe the '08's are different, but on my '03 the gauge will not reflect whats actually in the tank until a key cycle is made. First trip I made with the aux in the '03 was back to Ms. a few years back, outside Little Rock Ar. I hit the switch to fill the main, thought maybe filter was plugged seeing as how the gauge was not moving past 3/8. A few miles down the Interstate I hear some way ****** off trucker screaming over the CB that he just washed his truck and now some red oily "stuff" is all over his rig, when asked where he was and i heard I was 2 vehicles in front of him, I'm like " oh ****! Now i know where my fuel is going, turns out the main tank was getting overfilled and squeezing out anywhere it could. #@$%!

I can watch my guage go up and down as I drive and pump across... usually doesn't move since the tank is always full. Never needed a key-cycle to "reset...

 

[JVantreese]

I put a gravity feed system from Northern Tool in my truck about 30,000 miles ago. I have had no problems with the system but I do have a shutoff at the aux tank just in case of any issues. I put a locking cover on the OEM fuel fill and only unlock it about every two months to make sure that the lock is not rusted shut. The fuel gauge reads full until I empty the aux tank of its 70 plus gallons. Its an 80 gal tank but I shut down the fill at the first click so that there is some expansion room in the tank. When the qauge moves I know I'm working off the 35 gallons in the OEM tank. This combo gives me about 100 gal range with a 5 gallon reserve. The aux tank has a fill on the dirver side of the truck which is just level with the top of the bed rail and my capper has side windows that flip open. This allows me to open the capper side window and fill the aux tank. The capper windows are all lockable and are tied into my alarm system so anyone who wants to "borrow" some fuel will get a nasty surprise. I also cut a peace of plywood that fits from the top of the drivers bed rail to the passenger bedrail and sits over the top of the aux tank. I cut a hole to expose the fill cap and a cutout to reach the shut off on the side of the tank. This gives me a nice shelve to store items that I don't want rolling around in the bed of the truck.