260 Fuel system...(again)

[outboard-rob]

This is gonna sound like a dumba$$ rookie fuel system question but thats just what it is,so here it goes.I have a 20' Eliminator with twin 10 gal tanks.Up to now I was running a carbed 200 so fuel return wasnt an issue.My tanks converge at a fuel selector valve then go to the engine.I did a search for this but everyone has a different opinion and I was more baffled after the search then before.I thought I would just run the return to the Merc water seperator but a lot of you state thats not such a good idea.My engine just got back from JSRE and has new everything and I want to do this right the first time.Its a stock 260 and if possible I wish NOT to drill the tanks for a fuel return....Any suggestions are appreciated....Thanks Rob ;)

[Dean Dorsey]

I will just speak from my own personal experience. The main reason I have heard not to do it is the possibility of sucking air instead of fuel through the pump. My boat has dual 17 gal. tanks it is set up with one fuel/water separator per tank, return line is branched off and returns to each separator which then both feed into a single line running to the pump. I personally have never had a proplem related to air in line set up this way, though I never turn the motor beyond 7,500 rpms, could be a different story if I were turning 9K. Another option guys use is to install a small slosh tank for the return line, as little as a 1 gal. tank. Either way you don't have to return to your main tanks. May want to get more from the guys that know I believe most run a second inline fuel pump when the slosh tank is used. Dean

[david laser86]

If you aren't turning a lot of rpms. Use the seperator. I have a bud that turns his 8000 every outing and has never had a problem. I'm sure someone will disagree. My $.02.
Dave.