I have two tanks, with a Y type fitting (not a valve) and both lines feed the Y to the single line to the carb.

For some reason the one tank is no sucking much gas out.

I have checked the breather (blew threw it, you can hear the fuel bubbling)

Not sure what else to check, or how?

The tank is a 15 gallon aluminum tank along the side of the boat with an 90 deg elbow connecting the line. Not sure how the gas is picked up, maybe that is blocked?

Please let me know.

Thank in advance.

Boat is a 20'7" Eliminator with 454 Mag

You could have a restricted or kinked fuel line. Or you may have junk gettting caught on the pick up in the fuel tank.. Jamie / Lakeside

Just for a thought, is the pickup in the top of the tank or the bottom? Sometimes if one tank for some reason pulls better it will empty first, then when its empty the second tank will suck air and loose the prime to the fuel pump. I would try to either pinch off the empty tank or remove the hose and block it off temporarily to see if the second tank will pickup. Tractor trailers use a balance tube on the bottom of there tanks and usually only pull from one. Pictures would really help us help you. Most fuel systems in boats have a valve to switch from tank to tank.

Let us know what you find out.

John

I'll take some pics next weekend, I don't know if the pickup is at the top or the bottom.

The fuel line connects at the top, but I assume there is a pipe going to the bottom to suck the fuel.

There is no balance tube at the bottom (that would be a good idea!)

And I don't have the valve, just a Y fitting.

Will also try to block the lines to see if the other side will work.

Thanks for the tips!

I had one of my fuel pick-up tubes come loose allowing air to get sucked into the line which caused the pump to lose prime. Kind of strange since the boat was only 2 years old when it happened. Both pick-ups were replaced with tubes of an 'improved' material. The 10% ethonal fuels may have caused some swelling of the original material. Don't know for sure.

Thanks for the info, and I really appreciate the pic, I had no clue what it looked like.

If I take the out of the tank to inspect, do I need some sort of sealent around the threads? Or is plumbing tape o.k.?

don't use plumbing tape, it will melt down in the tank and someday, it won't suck fuel for some reasons!!!

have you tried plumbing tape before? maybe that is your actual problem?

Yes, like Jeff says, no Teflon tape. I would use something like this -

http://www.permatex.com/products/Aut...ad_Sealant.htm

Let us know what you find. Good luck!

No I didn't, the tanks were installed by a merc mechanic, who knows his stuff.

I just thought if I open it up, that is what I would have used.

But won't now!

Thanks

I know this problem well.The fuel will take the least resistance.In your case,the best thing to do is take the y out and put a 3 way valve or an electric valve so when one tank gets low or runs out,you can switch it over to the other.How you have it right now with the y,it will never work.Ive been there done that, trust me. Alot of jet boat guys will tell you.