fuel line help

[David Anderson]

I have two fuel tanks. the OEM Eagle tank and a 135 gallon aux tank in my back bay for the genny and Webasto.  I want to run a 2nd line from the aux tank and plumb it to  a 3 way valve at the inlet port of my engine's first fuel filter. 
My plan is to use my main tank until it is down to 1/4 then switch over the to the aux tank and let the engine draw from there. 

I will not run a return line.  I want it to suck from the aux tank and let it return to the main depleting the aux tank until it reads 1/2 on the dash gauge then  I can manually go and swing the valve back to the main tank. 

I found the valve I think I need:

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--multiple-tank-draw-valve-3-way-3-8-npt-female--13854765

I can get stainless braided fuel lines made locally and all the fittings at NAPA. 

Do I need a check valve at the fitting at the aux tank?  If so what kind of valve do I look for?  I'm not sure what type.

Any advice on this?

I've gone through 5 fuel pumps over 20 years with modest results in trying to electrically transfer fuel from the aux to the main and I'm giving up at that.  The coach was using the aux tank to fuel the engine when I bought it from Houston Metro.  The main tank was disconnected.  I don't remember if it had a check valve on it when I took out the lines and replumbed the main tank.  It sure does seem like it should since the aux tank is lower than the fuel filter. 

David

[TomC]

The more plumbing you do, the more likely you get a leak. I would just maintain the system you have-use the main tank for the bus engine and use the auxiliary tank for the warmer and genset. Forget about the valve, plumbing and all. If you want to do anything, just carry a transfer pump. Good Luck, TomC

[rancher]

Years ago we had that style valve on old gas burner truck tractors and they worked ok. I had that style valve on a diesel pickup to pull out of a aux tank and it ended up with a air leak at the stem and would cause the truck to lose prime. Took some time to find the problem. We just added a pump to the aux tank and took the valve out. I would just use a pump.

[David Anderson]

Years ago we had that style valve on old gas burner truck tractors and they worked ok. I had that style valve on a diesel pickup to pull out of a aux tank and it ended up with a air leak at the stem and would cause the truck to lose prime. Took some time to find the problem. We just added a pump to the aux tank and took the valve out. I would just use a pump.

Bummer.  2 votes for a pump.  That's ok. I just need some wise advice. 

Ok, what kind of pump?  I have gone through 5 pumps, the small 1/4" ported type that just continually fail.  I just replaced it two weeks ago and it never pumped a bit.  I bought it at Lake Havasu and am back home now so I can't get my $70 back. Similar to the type below:
 
https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecId=9807&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=FAC-40109&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2aTCh6OC9gIVwhitBh3iqwC_EAkYAyABEgJ5PfD_BwE

I carry 250 gallons of fuel but cannot get 135 of it to the engine.  I inherited the aux tank from Houston metro, so I'd like to use it.  All that fuel gives me great options for fuel planning on the road.  I generally save $80 to $100 per load with efficient fuel stops while on the road, so I'd like to make this work. 

What I have now has not worked. 

[rancher]

David I used one of those small electronic ones on that pickup and it always worked well. The one I used was from surplus center Lincoln Ne part number 28-1896. Another rig we had that had an aux tank that we transfer fuel on we use a Fill Rite brand pump. It was a model FR1612. Not cheap but I transfer thousands of gallons of fuel with it. I have a larger Fill Rite on my farm fuel trailer that has been on there forever and never had a problem. That trailer transfer's a bunch of fuel a year. 

[Bill Gerrie]

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to run an equalizing line at the bottom between the two tanks so no need for a pump

[David Anderson]

Wouldn't it be a lot easier to run an equalizing line at the bottom between the two tanks so no need for a pump

I wish.  the OEM tank is higher than the aux tank. 

[Bill Gerrie]

Not the same height let's that out. I use a high volume pump to prime the system every time I start the engine. It was $400 so a long way from cheap but will last forever.

[rusty]

David on my 05 I have a 40 gallon
tank for my heater and generator.
I have a small 12 volt fuel pump that I use at the end of every trip that I pump the fuel from that tank to the main tank. That way I always have fresh fuel in the aux tank. It has worked fine for almost 20 years. On the 15 I plumbed the 2 tanks together with a ball valve. The only thing I don't like is I can only drain the aux tank to the level of the main tank.
Wayne

[buswarrior]

Quality pumps, intended for the service you inflict on it, will perform up to expectations.

Too many cheap pumps out there, being sold to unsuspecting peeps, that the duty cycle is being broached transferring fuel to a lawn mower out of a jerry can.

If there are no specs available for the pump, don't buy it. Continuous duty cycle.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[David Anderson]

Quality pumps, intended for the service you inflict on it, will perform up to expectations.

Too many cheap pumps out there, being sold to unsuspecting peeps, that the duty cycle is being broached transferring fuel to a lawn mower out of a jerry can.

If there are no specs available for the pump, don't buy it. Continuous duty cycle.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

I agree.  The post above from Rancher seems promising using the Fill Rite brand from Northern Tool.  Using it just requires alot of fabrication on my part because of space and porting the tank.

David

[David Anderson]

I got the fuel pump installed.  Had to move some plumbing, but I am happy with the results.  That Fill Rite pump is so fast I have to open the main tank cap to keep it from whistling when I engage the pump to transfer fuel.  I should have done it this way from the beginning. 

This is the 6th pump I have put on here in 20 years.  This one is much more robust than the little 1/4" line pumps I had on it before.

David

[rancher]

David   Glad the fill rite  pump worked out. It should work for years problem free. Just was using mind on my fuel trailer yesterday filling up my skid loader.