Manual fuel tank selection: Does it Really Make a Difference?

[BaldEagl]

There may be reasons to manually switch fuel tanks but it's not going to give you a noticeable edge in performance or suddenly make you an ace.  If you can't overcome what slight differences might exist you have bigger problems.

I just leave every plane on auto switching. 

Also, FLS is correct, the auto switching is programmed to maintain balance.

[FLOOB]

Yeah I remember HTC stating that auto fuel tank select switches automatically to maintain cg. I just wanted to add that drop tanks do not take damage.

[Oldman731]

There may be reasons to manually switch fuel tanks but it's not going to give you a noticeable edge in performance or suddenly make you an ace.  If you can't overcome what slight differences might exist you have bigger problems.

Agreed. 

Reminds me of the people who shoot off all their .30 caliber ammunition as soon as they take off, to save weight.

- oldman

[Ack-Ack]

There may be reasons to manually switch fuel tanks but it's not going to give you a noticeable edge in performance or suddenly make you an ace.  If you can't overcome what slight differences might exist you have bigger problems.

I just leave every plane on auto switching. 

Also, FLS is correct, the auto switching is programmed to maintain balance.

In some cases though it is plane dependent.  IIRC, it's recommended to drain the tank aft of the cockpit first in the Mustang.

ack-ack

[FLS]

In some cases though it is plane dependent.  IIRC, it's recommended to drain the tank aft of the cockpit first in the Mustang.

ack-ack

Unless you have drop tanks the aux tank is auto drained first on the P-51. Since it switches based on CG the sequence varies with aircraft.

[Rob52240]

I like to change fuel tanks before they run dry.  I get shot a lot and this helps me make it back home.

[Zimme83]

In B-17 i always burn down AUX tank to almost empty first of all. Its the one getting hit 90% of the time and it had saved many missions when only a few gallons leak out of the already empty tank.

[Puma44]

In some cases though it is plane dependent.  IIRC, it's recommended to drain the tank aft of the cockpit first in the Mustang.

ack-ack

You are correct.  It improves the C.G. and performance.  If memory serves correctly, the pilot's manual recommends leaving 25 gals in the fuselage tank for optimum performance.

[xPoisonx]

In the 152 I drain the FWD tank dry once LW and RW hit 25% to save me when I get a fuel leak, it makes it slightly more unstable (or so it feels) but that can be used to your advantage.