Yeah, well, it's the story of my life, I guess.  At any rate, this method works.  I tried it more than once the other way around (i.e., starting ACE first, then FSX) and it has consistently failed to work.

I find it interesting the fuel system diagram and ability to reapportion the amount of fuel in each tank in a chosen aircraft that is such an excellent part of the ACE utility in FS9, and is directly referenced in the FSX C-130Xperience Manual No. 1, is in fact not in the ACE utility for FSX as the manual states.  It's possible they may in future release an updated ACE utility for FSX that includes the fuel feature, but after all this time I'm betting on it staying like it is.

This seems to be the only hangup with what is otherwise an EXCELLENT product, fun to fly, not overly complex in its systems, yet quite realistic.  Having ridden in one years ago, including on the flight deck, I can testify to this.  The only thing I've done to mine is use a different sound set since, from personal experience, I don't hear an Alison turboprop in the FSX C-130.  It's a turboprop, all right, just can't figure out from where.  The P-3 and C-130 use the same engine - any P-3 sound set should give a user an accurate representation of the bird's real sound.  It's unmistakable.