REFLECTOR: Fuel Flow Rate

[Chuck Harbert]

When you idealize the fuel tank system who would design a 3 section tank 
with only a 3/8" line connecting the 2 big tanks to a small tank that is 
vented and can draw more fuel than the gravity fed big tanks can supply thru 
the 2 small 3/8" fuel fill lines? It probably was designed for a max 200hp 
Lyco 360 (or 220 hp Franklin). If I ever get a low fuel warning in the sump 
and there's fuel in the strakes, I think I'll put in bigger strake to sump 
fuel lines (at least 1/2"). I'd also just throttle back on fuel flow and see 
if the light goes out in a short time.

On a long climb at full power with a 300 hp Lyco 540 (especially turbo'd), 
you could theoretically empty the sump and pull air into the system. Not a 
pleasant thought.

I now also think that it would be a bad idea not to vent the sump because 
you could collapse it from the suction of the pump.

Chuck H

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Scott Derrick wrote:

Not that I like to admit it, but once I did land with about a gallon of
gas in each strake. I have a 4-5 gallon sump.

I don't have a low sump sensor.  I do have fuel sensors in the tanks
with a low fuel alarm if either tank gets below 5 gallons.  The fuel
sensors were indicating empty when taxing  to the fuel island.

The engine ran fine.

Scott