PA34 Owners Organization Forum Forums Aviation Interests Maintenance Fuel selector position while parked

OK, I have another operational question. Where do you guys leave the fuel selectors while parked? Do you turn them off?

I am still getting to know my new Seneca II but am suspicious that there might be fuel flowing from the right tank(s) into the left tank(s) while the airplane sits. I've been leaving both fuel selectors "on"; the POH doesn't say anything about switching them off after shutdown. Perhaps my fuel control valves need some servicing, since in theory there shouldn't be any path for fuel to flow between the wings.

Any thoughts here?

Thanks,
Dan

My Seneca II POH directs the fuel selectors ON on both the normal checklist and expanded normal procedures 4.15. This would infer then that the selectors would be OFF after shutdown.

I would consider it to be good practice to turn off the fuel supply to guard against leaks and subsequent fire hazard.

Fire hazard? From what?

I don't like to touch the fuel selectors... except to exercise the crossfeed ...and I do that during taxi. So I try not to mess with them. Superstitious? Perhaps. But them being on the floor and not within my regular scan, I don't like to even begin to think I've forgotten to move them. So I keep movement of them to a minimum.

"My Seneca II POH directs the fuel selectors ON on both the normal checklist and expanded normal procedures 4.15. This would infer then that the selectors would be OFF after shutdown."

No - that is only a check for you and your safety that the fuel selector valves are really open for your flight; may be a mechanic or whoever shut them off in the post flight...

Jet aircraft typically have high and low pressure fuel valves. The high pressure valves are located in the fuel control at the engine and the low pressure valves are closer to the fuel tanks. All those valves are closed when engines not running. This supports the idea of isolating fuel sections in case of leaks.

As far as not touching fuel selectors, the POH directs an exercising of the the crossfeed before flight.

Both of mine in the ON position at all times, except for turning it to crossfeed when I’m taxing in after a flight. This exercises the valves but avoids having to change the fuel selector during initial taxi or run-up before takeoff.