Separate fuel feeds from main tank?

[freds]

My bus has a diesel heater and generator which seem to have their own separate fuel intakes off of the main tank.

Kind of curious as to why that is necessary?

Currently dealing with a problem with the diesel heater drawing air and fuel on it's supply line (main tank is full to the brim).

It looks like I will have un-rivet stainless steel panels on the bus to get access to the top of the fuel tank. Where as my primary fuel filter for the bus is right next to the heater...

Also thinking of DIY fuel totalizer to track all fuel consumption.



 

[Nova Eona]

I think that in many cases this is so that the auxiliary systems draw from a higher point in the tank, preserving a certain amount of fuel dedicated only for the engine's use in case you're running low.

[buswarrior]

Just imagine the fun, if they were tied together, and there was air getting in...

Separate pick-ups allow for trouble to stay isolated, and so nobody starves one another, or otherwise sucks the prime back thru, that otherwise would have maintained on its own.

As for measuring, put hour meters on 'em and call it "close enough" ?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[richard5933]

Just imagine the fun, if they were tied together, and there was air getting in...

Separate pick-ups allow for trouble to stay isolated, and so nobody starves one another, or otherwise sucks the prime back thru, that otherwise would have maintained on its own.

As for measuring, put hour meters on 'em and call it "close enough" ?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

That exact thing happened on my 4106. The Webasto was out for service, and the generator sucked air into the fuel system. Because it was separate from the main engine in the bus the bus was unaffected.