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The Day Tank - a fuel system for higher reliability, page 3
and several thousand gallons of fuel from Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Colombia should be proof enough for anyone. Our tanks and fuel are clean a whistle and there has never been an air leak, air purging issue or loss of engine power. Also, from experience, it is relatively easy to change filters in a rolly sea with confidence and only a little mess.
There is yet another important advantage of the system. With fuel prices at high levels and rising, it was important for us to understand how to operate our engines for the best range and best practical range. The day tank, properly plumbed with a sight tube, provides a simple and precise means to make fuel consumption determinations.
Now let’s get to the particulars of the system. I made the dubious decision to fabricate a custom day tank out of fiberglass (internally sealed with POR15 tank sealer). It turned out well, but took many hours and there was a modest risk of infant failure. A simpler alternative would have been to install an off the shelf tank or have one fabricated to specifications from aluminum. With a
Engine room mounting of Racor filters, gauges, valves and plumbing. The valves are not numbered as in the schematic.
The overall fuel system was schematically configured as shown.