Small Single Engine Aircraft Fuel Systems

Small single-engine aircraft fuel systems vary depending on factors, such as tank location and
method of metering fuel to the engine. A high-wing aircraft fuel system can be designed
differently from one on a low-wing aircraft. An aircraft engine with a carburetor has a different
fuel system than one with fuel injection.

Gravity Feed Systems

High-wing aircraft with a fuel tank in each wing are common. With the tanks above the engine,
gravity is used to deliver the fuel. A simple gravity feed fuel system is shown in Fig

 The space above the liquid fuel is vented to maintain atmospheric pressure on the fuel
as the tank empties.
 The two tanks are also vented to each other to ensure equal pressure when both tanks
feed the engine.
 A single screened outlet on each tank feeds lines that connect to either a fuel shutoff
valve or multi position selector valve.
 The shutoff valve has two positions: fuel ON and fuel OFF. If installed, the selector valve
provides four options: fuel shutoff to the engine; fuel feed from the right wing tank only;
fuel feed from the left fuel tank only; fuel feed to the engine from both tanks
simultaneously.
 Downstream of the shutoff valve or selector valve, the fuel passes through a main
system strainer. This often has a drain function to remove sediment and water. From
there, it flows to the carburetor or to the primer pump for engine starting. Having no fuel
pump, the gravity feed system is the simplest aircraft fuel system.
 Carburetor-Mixing of fuel and Air
 Primer- injects vaporized fuel directly into one or more of the engine's cylinders
Pump Feed Systems

 Low- and mid-wing single reciprocating engine aircraft cannot utilize gravity-feed fuel
systems because the fuel tanks are not located above the engine. Instead, one or more
pumps are used to move the fuel from the tanks to the engine.
 A common fuel system of this type is shown in Fig Each tank has a line from the
screened outlet to a selector valve. However, fuel cannot be drawn from both tanks
simultaneously; if the fuel is depleted in one tank, the pump would draw air from that
tank instead of fuel from the full tank. Since fuel is not drawn from both tanks at the
same time, there is no need to connect the tank vent spaces together

From the selector valve (LEFT, RIGHT, or OFF), fuel flows through the main strainer where it
can supply the engine primer. Then, it flows downstream to the fuel pumps. Typically, one
electric and one engine-driven fuel pump are arranged in parallel. They draw the fuel from the
tank(s) and deliver it to the carburetor. The two pumps provide redundancy. The engine-driven
fuel pump acts as the primary pump. The electric pump can supply fuel should the other fail.

The electric pump also supplies fuel pressure while starting and is used to prevent vapor lock
during flight at high altitude