btrjillo Posted February 15 Report Share Posted February 15 Hi fellow Phoenix flyers, I have not yet run a tank dry, and am hesitant to do so…does anyone have experience with this, specifically restarting? Thanks, Bryan #29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Babovec Posted February 15 Report Share Posted February 15 Hi Bryan, Running a tank dry (on the ground), will not pose a problem, especially if you have an electric fuel pump for restart. Not sure why an electric fuel pump is an option on a Phoenix, (If anyone doesn't have one, it can be retrofitted). I've run the tank(s) dry many times to recalibrate true fuel volumes, not in the Phoenix, but with other aircraft. What's your reasoning for doing so, if you don't mind my asking? Some people do this to evacuate the carbs of fuel for storage. Remember, with a cold engine use full enricher (in reality not a choke, an enricher simply adds fuel for starting purposes), and zero throttle. On a warm engine start, no enricher and 1/4" throttle +/-. If carbs are balanced, and all settings are good, this should work every time. After soaring, engine restart technique become more important, knowing engine temperature is critical, otherwise flooding can becomes a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btrjillo Posted February 15 Author Report Share Posted February 15 Hi Ed, thanks for the reply. The reason is mainly for general knowledge, so I don’t have to worry about being able to restart easily if I use all the fuel in one tank, and therefore the carburetors. The fuel gauges on my ship aren’t particularly accurate, and, for example, if I have an hour (or less) total fuel left, I’d like to have it all in one tank rather than split, especially if I don’t accurately know how it is divided. Being able to draw down a tank a to a known amount -zero- , would give me useful info. Also, knowing if a restart is quick and easy (or not) after switching to the other tank (with dry carbs), would be valuable info also. So far I’ve had no trouble restarting in flight after soaring. I usually start cranking and pull the ‘choke’ out slowly if It doesn’t immediately start. My ship does have both the mechanical and electric fuel pumps. Thanks! Bryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 I had a problem restarting after a ran a dry tank on my Phoenix. No way I got fuel to the engine, even with the e fuel pump. Tried everything. I had order a connector from Pure Flight, disconnect the fuel line from the wing tank, attached the connector, lifted the line plus connector above the cockpit, put fuel into the connector and let it run down to the carburator…….Lots of fun! Since then I NEVER set the tank switch to zero!! Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Babovec Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 Thanks for that info, I stand corrected. Looked through the POH, and found nothing regarding. The factory is working on a new POH, so I'll send a note. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Posted February 24 Report Share Posted February 24 Yes, and they will also change the run up procedure in the POH to avoid a prop strike like I had! Again, never full throttle while standing still with brakes on…..!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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