accurate fuel level for 85 gallon tank

[striperking]

Looking for a accurate fuel level sending unit the fuel gauge is never in the same place i never go too far so really not worried about running out and with fuel price i won't be filling the tank unless i am going to be using it. I estimate i have approximatly half a tank. Now that i just got the tabs and engine adjusted i will having to worry about fuel levels even less.

[NCangler]

I used the NavMan 2100 and liked it very much. You can track how much fuel you've put in the tank, how much you've used, how much is left, how much you're using while underway to track the more fuel efficient cruising speed, etc.

Check them out here: Navman Fuel solutions

[OspreyVic]

I had the folks at Merritt Marin install a Floscan model 5410-20A-1 0-10 GPH scale for a single engine before I picked up my new boat. This model is recommended for all 4-cycle outboards PLUS 2-stroke Ficht, Optimax, and HPDI outboards (76 hp - 150 hp). Chad Merritt liked it so much, he installed one on his boat.


The latest generation of super-efficient 4-stroke and 2-stroke outboard motors literally sip gas at trolling speeds. At engine speeds around 1000 RPM they consume as little as 0.3 GPH. How many fuel flow sensors are capable of reliably measuring fuel consumption at such low flow rates, or even functioning? There's one that can, the FloScan. This means that every drop of gas the engine burns is counted; you can rely upon the accuracy of the instrument reading.

In these days of high fuel prices an AccuTroll also helps a boat owner to operate at maximum fuel efficiency. Fuel savings of 20% to 30% are common and can actually pay for the system in 200 hours of operation or less. To cover all high efficiency outboard engines AccuTroll systems come in three dial ranges 0-5 GPH, 0-10 GPH, and 0-20 GPH.

Check them out at http://www.floscan.com/html/index.asp

[Putershark]

Pending which engine you now have?

Some of the Honda engines like my 150 http://www.honda-marine.com/acc.aspx# (which only uses a total of 2 digital gauges) and the newer 06 Yamaha gauges now from what I have read http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/commandLink/page02.aspx The fuel management signal (burn rates) is handled by a simple ECU input to the gauge that is counting the pulses of the #1 fuel injector. Such systems “may” be retrofitted to your present engine pending on make, model, year, and of course the ECU that is installed.

These systems though is carry over automotive technology, and has been the standard for automotive applications for quite a few years is very accurate. It only requires just pulling up the correct harness (no fuel line splices) to get such data from the engine to the gauge. So you may want to look into such systems for "your" engine and see if your engine OEM can make one work for you?

Dave

[striperking]

I looked at the different ideas which are really nice but expensive. The independent system like that flow scan is probably what i need but that price tag would have me in devorce court after the wife find that receipt. I have a lowrance fishfinder/gps and lowrance sells a Lowrance - EP-15 Fuel Level Sensor - LowranceNET & NMEA 2000 Compatible. I am looking at that the sensor is about $50 and the gauges around $200. That would be the most i would like to spend but don't know how well that works

[Putershark]

Pending how the Lowrance - EP-15 Fuel Level Sensor part works? I would say that anything tied into the and works in concert with the GPS "should" be pretty close or as about as close as you are going to get at that price point.

Now IF that level sensor is just that, a fuel tank "float type" sending unit. Then I would suspect that the fuel slosh in these tanks (that have no baffles in them) is going to bounce up and down in your "real time" burn rates quite a bit as you crash through the waves, and pitch the hull back and forth... It would just depend how the software is written (if it even has any?) to take into account for such radial input changes? Smooth water though it should not matter as much...

Need to do more research into how that system really works and how much actual "brains" it has, before I could really give you some solid feedback It does though sound like a simple and cost effective (I love that) way to secure such data. I just don't know how accurate it would work on a Offshore type of boat? It would though make a for a GREAT chat room tech topic sometime that is for sure....

Dave