Fuel shut off valves

niceguy · 05-13-2009, 03:02 PM

Ok guys, here's another one for ya!!!

So I have these fuel shut off valves for each tank. They have a "right, "left", and "off". The guy I bought the boat told me he always just left them both in the "left" position. Does it make a difference? I thought one should read right, the other left.... but since there are two different tanks, would it matter? I am so confused

The only reason I ask is because I noticed the other day that one tank used about 1/4 of a tank more than the other.

Can any of you Sonic guys shed some light on this valve?

East Coast B · 05-14-2009, 05:11 AM

You want to run each engine off it's own fuel tank. Port motor have switch on left, starboard motor on right tank.. THis way each tank will empty evenly assuming your motors are consuming fuel equally.... otherwise if both motors are pulling from the same tank, now your affecting the weight balance of your boat as only one will be emptying... when you go to fill, then you put the equal amount of gas into each tank.....

Jim Diesel · 05-14-2009, 06:13 AM

I'll look at mine later today, but should be port-off-star

niceguy · 05-14-2009, 07:59 AM

I'll take a pic today and post it up... wait I can't post pics anymore here.

I agree that it should pull fuel equally to have good weight distribution.... that is what I am worried about.

It just seems odd that this valve has basically two inputs (right and left) and the boat has two tanks. So my thinking is that each tank has two feeds (right and left), so I am not sure if it matters where the switch goes? Or am I way over thinking this?

45sonic · 05-14-2009, 06:59 PM

email me a pic

bill-austin@hotmail.com

I have a few interesting comments on Sonic shutoff valves

niceguy · 05-14-2009, 09:35 PM

Mail sent. Thanks for the help.

Z06 · 05-14-2009, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by East Coast B

You want to run each engine off it's own fuel tank. Port motor have switch on left, starboard motor on right tank.. THis way each tank will empty evenly assuming your motors are consuming fuel equally.... otherwise if both motors are pulling from the same tank, now your affecting the weight balance of your boat as only one will be emptying... when you go to fill, then you put the equal amount of gas into each tank.....

This is how I run mine. I shut the fuel valves off when trailering, but I have always wondered if I'm wasting my time doing so.

East Coast B · 05-15-2009, 05:29 AM

I always shut the fuel valves when trailing also. I have carb motors and found it easier to start when we went to launch. Guess it didn't allow the fuel to empty the lines and back into tank... I'm not sure either if it's necessary, just a safety thing as well..

45sonic · 05-15-2009, 01:09 PM

The two outside hoses are from the tanks, the center should go to an engine. Depending on if they are hooked up right you should be able to run both engines off each tank or both off one tank. I've found that some of the shutoff valves don't really do anything. If you take the hoses off and watch the valve turn if should indicte what position you want to have it in. Some of the indicator plates have been know to be wrong, mismarked or just plain duplicates of each other ie: two starboard or two port.

I have found to find where you are happy draining both tanks equally and leave them alone.

As far as shutting them off -- that's a good idea and up to the individual. For me it's just one more step to remember when launching after coolers, drinks, clothes, dogs, drain plugs, etc. so I leave mine set, plus I have three engines with two tanks and three shutoff valves -- figure that out each time.

Z06 · 05-15-2009, 03:15 PM

Thanks 45Sonic, my sonics shutoff valves are hooked up correctly... I found out the hard way when I ran one tank empty, switched both engines to remaining tank then ran completely dry a mile latter. That made a sailor with a dingy a happy man to pull in a sonic offshore.