Gravity feed is a system of fuel feed in which the fuel tank is positioned above the injection pump or carburetor. The system is very common in bikes, small two-stroke engines, and fuel generators.
An auxiliary diesel tank is stationary in a diesel engine and directly transfers diesel to the main tank or the fuel line. It is a system that requires no fuel pump or lifts pump because gravity’s force is sufficient for fuel supply.
Gravity-feed fuel Systems can be used in many applications, such as farmland, generator, and areas.
For the system to work, the diesel tank must be placed above the original tank, so gravity can force it to come down.
Originally, the diesel tank was placed in a lower position, and with the help of a fuel pump, it was lifted to the injection pump.
But gravity feed is a direct system and requires no assistance from the fuel pump. It is a system that can survive perfectly without a fuel pump.
It would help if you connected a diesel hose from the tank above to the main tank to make it work. Or sometimes, it can be used directly with the injection pump.
The system is straightforward to maintain and design but has a disadvantage; the tank must be placed above the carburetor or injection pump.
But why do you have to use gravity feed for your engine?
What Conditions Necessitate The Use Of Gravity Feed
Some situations make you to used gravity feed. Below I will 3 main reasons that can make you use gravity feed for your fuel line.
1. Damage fuel pump: If the fuel pump is bad, and the Injection pump is starve of diesel, you can introduce a gravity feed system that requires no fuel pump.
You can do this until you sort out the issue with the fuel pump. This method can be seen as a temporary means.
2. As Auxiliary Tank: Gravity Feed system may be for the fuel system to serve as Auxiliary Tank that supplies the main tank.
3. It can be used to diagnose the fault, especially when you have air lock issues in the diesel engine.
What Is The Difference Between Gravity Feed System And Fuel Pump System
As discussed above, a gravity-feed fuel system is a system that does not need a fuel pump, and it is a direct supply.
In this fuel system type, the tank is above the injection pump so it can supply it directly without assistance from the fuel pump.
While in the fuel pump system, the diesel tank is below the injection pump. Therefore fuel pump aids the injection pump by supplying it with pressure.
Fuel pump systems remain the most effective but more complex than gravity-fed fuel systems.
The Gravity Feed system stresses the injection pump by supplying it fuel without pressure, unlike the fuel pump system that pressurizes it before supplying it.
Gravity Feed System Components
Gravity feed is a simple fuel system that requires few components compared to a fuel pump System.
As listed above, you can see the components involved in a fuel pump system.
Gravity feed components are listed below:
1. Auxiliary Tank: Instead of the main tank, the gravity feed system uses an auxiliary tank that places the injection pump or carburetor. Because it is placed above the injection pump, the force of gravity helps the fuel to flow down, and it requires no lift pump.
2. A filter: A filter is usually placedd between the auxiliary tank, the injection pump, or the carburetor—the filter help to filter the fuel before it gets to its destination.
3. injection pump
What Are The Advantages Of Gravity Feed Fuel System
1. It is simple to design: For manufacturers the system is not complex, making it easy for manufacturers to implement.
2. Simple to maintain: For end users, the system’s maintenance is cheap. It only required you to change the filters. Valves and other components are not involved
3. Easy fault diagnosis: Tracing the fault of the fuel line in this system is easier than other feed systems with complex components.
4. Required little technicality to maintain: You can do it yourself. It is pretty easy to carry out maintenance.
Conclusively, gravity feed is a system that is cheap and easy to maintain.