Fuel Tanks Cross Flow

[Reinassance]

I have recently purchased my 1986 Hi-Star and was told by the owner he never fuels from the port side only starboard side and allowed the fuel to cross flow. What I have noticed recently living on board this winter that the starboard fuel sight glass is now reading 20+ inches lower than the port side. Is it possible that the tanks only cross flow in one direction? Using my gen and wabasto heat this winter I’m assuming they pull fuel from the starboard tank.
Anyone have any experience with this or thoughts as to why my starboard tank would be that much lower than the port side?

Thanks
Steve

[steve77]

Are there any valves in the system? I would think there would be some way to isolate one tank from the other, or perhaps to select which tank you are taking fuel from.

If there are valves, they should be in some place that's easy to access and see, so it shouldn't be too much of a search to find them if they exist.

Cheers!

Steve

[ggray]

Is this gasoline or diesel?

If diesel--which i assume it is-- the return line should return the fuel to the tank from which it came.

[rsn48]

When I bought my older gas sedan cruiser, I was told by the previous owner that filling and using the tanks, the crossover would work. If I filled from one side, the other tank filled as well. When I was burning fuel, the fuel would come from both tanks.

The reality? There was no crossover anything. In the years he owned the boat, he never used the fuel out of one of the two tanks. You had to go down to the ER and do a manual switch over.

PS: I had to get rid of the fuel from the unused tank, I couldn't risk burning fuel that had sat for years without use.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Steve.