Aluminum Fuel Tank Plumbing Concern

[rankink]

I am having a custom aluminum fuel tank built for my HST and due to space limitations I am considering having a mounting tab built into it so the water separator can be bolted to the back of the tank. This would allow for optimal fuel flow from tank to fiwater separator to hi-pressure fuel pump for my EFI motor.

Is there any potential problem or hazzard I am overlooking here?

[flabum1017]

Actually no, in doing so, you will be bonding the filter to the fuel tank and actually making it safer. I'd also have a tab for the fuel pump (if it's before the engine). The only thing that would be a problem is if the tab is too thin and bends.... just make sure it's at least 1/4" thick.

[FUJIMO]

...the tank material is more than likely .125...or 1/8''...so...

[FUJIMO]

...just keep positive 12 volt wires or connections away from the tank...

[rankink]

...just keep positive 12 volt wires or connections away from the tank...

Of course not. I would have them weld a thicker tab (3/8) to the location specified for the separator to bolt to.

[WaterZebra]

I am having a custom aluminum fuel tank built for my HST and due to space limitations I am considering having a mounting tab built into it so the water separator can be bolted to the back of the tank. This would allow for optimal fuel flow from tank to fiwater separator to hi-pressure fuel pump for my EFI motor.

Is there any potential problem or hazzard I am overlooking here?

You probably know this already but stay far away from using ethanol supplemented fuels. Even if you are having your tank made out if marine grade aluminum, that ethanol goo will chew away at your new tank like mice on a piece of cheese.

[Chaz]

Myth busted ...

These guys are talking about running 85% Ethanol ….

https://www.yellowbullet.com/threads...-cells.352907/

I wouldn't worry about 10% corn , unless you found a good deal on some fuel line from 1995 ..

Mounting tabs .. It's not the thickness , it's how well you distribute the load ..

These "tabs" are a plate that spans the entire back of these sump tanks , and you can see the side gusset goes three quarter's the way across to the front side ..

[lpugh]

I would go to great lengths to avoid a metal fuel tank in a boat for several reasons, but if I did I would use two applications of Red Coat sealer with at least 48 hours between, coats and 7 days of cure time minimum, Phase separation could be a real problem with a aluminum tank using todays fuels. Red coat will prevent aluminum from corrosion. It is imperative for it to be cured properly before use, and even when using stabil I would not go more than 90 days without cycling the fuel out of it

[flabum1017]

all of the tanks we have replaced (and we have replaced 100's) corroded from the outside from sitting in salt water or having water sit on top of them. We had only one tank that had corroded from the inside and that was due to someone dropping a screw inside the tank and the screw being stainless steel (different material), it drilled itself through the tank. You'd have to let a tank sit a very long time without use for the phase separation to be a problem.

[Chaz]

I always had the alumunum tanks that I built for race cars anodized . People let straight methanol sit in them for months ..... no problem.
I'm really suprized that the marine industry never picked up on that little step between calling the tank "done" and bolting it in the hull ..

[Tom Foley]

For the last 20 years I have used nothing but 87 ethanol in my Yamaha 200 on my Mako . Aluminum tank I built , never one spec of anything floating around in the Racor bowl . I would have to say that is a pretty good test over time . All Shields Marine alcohol rated lines .

[lpugh]

No phase separation, no problems with alcohol, but if it does and sets for a while it will rapidly start eating a hole in the tank. Some boats set for quite some time and this is when becomes problematic. I cant count the number of carbs I have seen ruined due to this. The red coat in a tank will help prevent this

[Chaz]

There has to be quite a bit of water present (gallons) to seperate into layers of , water , corn squeezins and gas .
As far as carbs go , you do relies that most carbs are / were built on the cheap and have more zinc and "filler" in them than aluminum ..

[Euroski]

"I would not go more than 90 days without cycling the fuel out of it"

Mine gets that done every time I go boating(LOL)!

[FUJIMO]

...just use your boat every day, or almost every day, like you do with your car or truck at home, and you won't ever have a lick of problems. but we all know that never happens.