REFLECTOR: Fuel imbalance

[Mark Magee]

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over this issue, the boys in Sebastian have
already put a slide-rule to it. We are fairly unique in having the sump and
no selector valve(s). As long as your caps have good o-ring seals you can
fight a crosswind for many a mile, with gas transferring 'naturally' to the
low tank, all the while the sump staying topped-off; and that's all anyone
should care about. John A's instruction to me in transition training is
only to worry about draining the sump on steep descents with a low fuel
state.
I'll tell you it was little freaky to take off in Phoenix with topped tanks
and a little beyond El Paso I'm Port side nearly full and Starboard side
almost drained. I was thumping gauges...  I love steam gauges, they are
designed to be thumped.... :)
After landing I showed about 15 gallons Port and 0 STBD side. Next morning
they were equalized at about 7,5 gals each (estimated).

Mark Magee
N34XL XLFG

On Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 2:57 PM, Dennis Martin <dennis.doc at gmail.com> wrote:

> I've got less than 40 hours and no fuel issues so far but this thread
> makes me wonder. Assume you're carrying 30 gallons, and most or all of that
> gravitates to the left tank, won't that tank still feed the sump assuming
> your vents are working properly and you have no leaks in either cap? Also.
> assuming you are not flying with the left wing pointed down.
>
> Dennis Martin
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 1:17 PM, <gstull at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
>
>> My FG Velo always has about a 7 gal differential in cruise. I pressure
>> checked the tanks, no leaks and no bubbles from the gas caps. I even flew
>> with a vacuum gauge hooked to each tank, first the left tank and then the
>> right tank, to confirm there was no leak creating a vacuum. Ball is
>> centered and I taped a string to the canopy so I could visually assure
>> myself it was flying straight and level. I ran the tanks dry until the low
>> fuel light came on from the sump tank. It actually drained all the fuel
>> from both tanks, even though most of the time the left tank was fuller then
>> the right. Virtually all Cessna's I've flown have a split between tanks in
>> flight, but I always thought it was just bad gauges. Since I have sight
>> glasses in the Velo I know that's not the case. I've finally just accepted
>> this as normal and of no concern. Especially since it will drain all the
>> fuel from both tanks. Still a mystery but not worth worrying about.
>> ---- "Richard J. Gentil" <richard at naples-air-center.com> wrote:
>> > Last Sunday I was flying back to Naples, FL from Augusta, GA in my
>> SERG. I took off with 25 a side.
>> >
>> > As I flew down the right tank was the only tank feeding fuel to the
>> sump tank. When I hit the VNAV point for Naples the right tank was at 6
>> gallons.
>> >
>> > When I stated to descend the left tank started to feed the sump tank
>> and actually transfer fuel to the right tank.
>> >
>> > Any ideas what could have been going on?
>> >
>> > Richard
>> >
>> > Sent from my iPhone 5
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