Won't pull from auxiliary tank

Ridge Runner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2015
Messages
157
Reaction score
30
Points
28
2002 282 Sailfish. Aux tank is full. When I switch over to auxiliary tank, the fuel gage switches over and reads the tank level, but the fuel is still pulling from the main tank. I ran for hours on the auxiliary tank but it never used a drop, but nearly sacked the main dry...

What should I be looking for as a culprit? The pitcocks are in the right locations...

Help?
 
Are you getting really positive clicks when you rotate the tank selection valves from main to reserve? And are you switching both of the switches so the short pointer is pointing towards the reserve label?

My thought is maybe if you're not getting the solid "click" of positive valve movement, you might be just seeing the pointer swivel at the top, and maybe the valve is stuck?
 
Sounds to me like you aren't switching the manual valves to select the aux tank. The switch on the dash only changes which tank the gauge reads.

Look around in the aft bilge for a pair of fuel valves.
 
As previously stated the switch on the dash only changes the sending units. There are valves under your stern seat.
 
gw204 said:
Sounds to me like you aren't switching the manual valves to select the aux tank. The switch on the dash only changes which tank the gauge reads.

Look around in the aft bilge for a pair of fuel valves.

what he said.

if your boat is set up like mine, this is probably the issue.