Fuel is always burned in sequence: externals first, then the feed (wing) tanks, followed by the transfer (body) tanks. Although fuel consumption varies with throttle settings, Hornets burn roughly 10,000 liters an hour on average. A carrier-launched F/A-18C with ordnance and a gross takeoff weight of 40,700 lbs (13,000 lbs of which is internal plus a 330-gallon belly tank) will get approximately .085 nm per pound of fuel.
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There are two types of automatic fuel-level sensors: float and jet level. The former controls tank refueling while the latter controls fuel transfer from tanks 1 and 4 to 2 and 3 during flight/engine run. This frees the pilot from the tedium of manually managing the fuel balance. However, there is no a reserve as such, just monitoring the fuel gauge. Cockpit fuel displays range from 300 to 15,000 lbs/hour.
