Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
I wanted to have a thread that was specific to this question. It has been talked about in other threads but I'm not sure how to/if I can group the responses together. Don't want to cause anyone heartburn with a useless thread, just looking for info. - Dwain
I installed one of these a few months ago. There were several ordered (and installed?) at the same time. I am still doing pattern work, so I leave mine on the "Both" position and fill up after 2 lessons. I never have to put over 12 gal. in, so I've not been close to the 1/3 of a tank situation. I am curious about how others use the valve and their experiences managing fuel. One question I have is: Has anyone left their valve in the "Both" position and flown until both tanks had less the 1/3 (I know that 1/3 is a placard amount, and YRMV, but it's what we use) before landing? Any and all comments are welcome.
Re: Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
I don't have the Dakota valve, but when I flew the Pacer a lot I treated the right tank as the intended auxillary tank and took off and landed on the left tank and cruised on the right.
The 1/3 tank limitation was just the right tank because of the routing and the original (like mine) had no pickup in the rear of the tank.
I never felt compelled to replumb the system, but when I re-rebuild 7011K I probably will go with the Dakota valve and reroute the lines.
Re: Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
I have flown about 200 hrs since the dakota valve install. when I am flying local I keep it on both and I dont have a problem with the engine losing power with fuel starvation at any level. when on long flights I still do fuel mgmnt switcching back and forth between tanks.when the dakota cub guys got the ok to use this valve in shortwings, they did not test specifically on both tanks to relieve us from the 1/3 tank problem on the right tank, but they also say that if you have fuel in both tanks and the valve is on both that it is highly unlikely that you will suffer fuel problems. so the best hting for you to do is go high and play around with it at low fuel levels and see what happens. I have and never ever experienced a problem as I had before with the old valve. nRLM
Re: Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
I flew the Dakota Cub Super 20 a lot including a trip to Sun & Fun. I used both at all times with no problems. It had Dakota Cub site gauges in the wing roots like a Super Cub. I went on a cross country with partial fuel and hit some un-forecast headwinds and got nervous and switched to the right tank and timed it. Ended up landing and taking on some fuel to be safe. Might be a good test to go up high and run it down and see how it does on both and then switch to the left tank.
Re: Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
I installed a Dakota Cub valve several months ago. I did some initial checks at the time and then continued my old practice of flying on individual tanks with no problems.
Last weekend I decided to leave the fuel selector on both. I started with full tanks, flew 1 hour, ate lunch and then a 1 hour return. I noticed that the fuel gauges were tracking very differently so I sticked the tanks when I landed. Surprise:icon_confused: I had 6 gallons in the left tank and 12 gallons in the right tank.
I'm sure there is some more flow resistance from the right tank, but I didn't expect this much difference. Is this normal? Should I be looking for some partial blockage from the right tank?
BTW, the next morning the left tank had 8 gallons and the right tank had 10 gallons. So I suspect the wings aren't exactly level.
Re: Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
I did the same with the Super 20 Pacer and the more I burned down the closer the levels got.
Re: Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
I have had the dakota cub fuel valve for 6 plus years and some 750 hrs flying. when on long distance flights I manage my fuel one tank at a time. when I am flying local ie 1 hr or so to a destination and and 1 hr return, I leave it on both, and I find the tanks crossfeed and level out when I am parked. I have on occasion left it on both with low to no fuel indicated on the left and some indicated in the right and have experienced no fuel problems at all, although I would not recommend making a practice of it. the best thing you can do to a PA22 is get rid of the original leaking AD prone valve and replace with a dakota cub valve. easy installation and works very smoothly.
Re: Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
Interesting. Does the Super 20 Pacer have the original fuel routing from the right tank?
I did a quick calculation of head pressure between tanks. The difference between 6 gallons and 12 gallons was less than 2 inches on the measuring stick. 2 inches of water (yes I know gas is lighter than water) is only 0.07 psi. I could believe that the original right tank convoluted routing could cause 0.07 psi of flow restriction.
I'm quickly coming to the conclusion that, on flights when I need to tightly manage fuel, I will continue to use one tank at a time. It may not be necessary, but it's predictable:roll:
Re: Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RLMessenger
easy installation and works very smoothly.
I absolutely agree. It was a good investment:icon_exclaim:
Re: Has the Dakota Cub fuel valve changed your fuel management?
Mine burns uneven in both as well. I usually just fly R-L-R-L-...
Surprised me the first time I noticed too!