Engine dieing at high alt. with torpedo tank?

[D4n]

After quite some time (maybe the moment that my torpedo tank went empty?) my engine just switched off (fuel pump was enabled since start), prop kept turning. Any idea what might've caused it to switch off? Temperatures were all fine... (used auto-start procedure, had fuel drop tank handle to "on" since start)

[razo+r]

I usually turn on the elctric fuel pump and then it works. Did you turn that one on too?

[D4n]

I usually turn on the elctric fuel pump and then it works. Did you turn that one on too?

yep,

... (fuel pump was enabled since start), ...

[razo+r]

Then a little checklist:

 

Did you overboost the engine?

Did you run out of fuel?

Were the temps too high (Maximum temps changes with altitude. White one specific temp. would be good at sea level, it could be too high at let's say 20K feet)

Did the fuel pressure warning light turn on?

[grafspee]

I would jump in to Plane's manual, iirc spitfire require some weird setup for drop tanks ussage.

[Art-J]

I seem to recall the manual says once drop tank goes empty, you have to flip the fuel lever to mains... The plane will not pick it up automatically. Never fiddled with it myself, though.

[D4n]

Uhm... I guess you mean the "external fuel tank on/off" lever?

Are you saying there is another way of finding out that your drop-tank is empty instead of suddenly hearing your engine switch off??

[grafspee]

What i read in manual, there is no indicator for drop tank fuel level, so engine.

So, i don't know how you set up your plane, as diagram shows, after take off, drop tank fuel cock should be open and main fuel cock should be closed, when engine will cut out, drop tank should be closed and main open again.In this way you should drain drop tank first.

[Art-J]

Uhm... I guess you mean the "external fuel tank on/off" lever?

Are you saying there is another way of finding out that your drop-tank is empty instead of suddenly hearing your engine switch off??

 

Looks like there is no another way. Below is the excerpt I was recalling. I don't know how it applies to fuel system modelling in "our" Spit, though, or how the levers get arranged in auto-start sequence.

 

When you think about it, Mustang doesn't have any drop tanks supply indicators either. You can only wait until your engine runs rough and switch immediately.

[D4n]

thing is, my engine didn't run rough, it died instantly. grafspee, I had main fuelcock open the entire flight, also while droptank lever was set to on.

[grafspee]

You should have main fuel cock shut off while using drop tank, but i don't know if this contribute to your problem.

[Reflected]

yep,

 

Are you sure it was the electornic fuel pump (the switch under the trim tab on the left side), nd NOT the pressurizing pump near the fuel gauge? Just making sure.

[D4n]

Are you sure it was the electornic fuel pump (the switch under the trim tab on the left side), nd NOT the pressurizing pump near the fuel gauge? Just making sure.

yes.

 

 

Would be cool to get a real Duxford (or from wherever) Spitfire pilot in here to answer what would happen with main fuel cock on while also having external tank switch to "on". :)

[Mud]

From the Spitfire manual (not DCS):

 

At no time must the drop tank cock and the rear fuselage tanks cock be on together or fuel from the rear fuselage tanks will drain into the drop tank since the connection from these tanks joins the drop tank connection below the non-return valve.

[D4n]

So the drop tank has an in- and an out-going connection, not only outgoing (for transfer from tank to airplane), interesting.

[-0303-]

There's no rear fuselage tank.

[D4n]

hm, maybe just a mistake by Mud?