Why is my gas gauge pessimistic?

[erniecarpet@...]

Hi Scott- I have close to the same- mine will stay full for an hour then go to 1/2 and stay there for a couple days before dropping. I gauge my fuel by my robust 5 mpg. Works for me, and I don't have to tear up my wood floor in the kitchen to replace the sending unit.

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston, Montana

---

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[Scott Forman]

My gas gauge reads full when it is full, but proceeds to fall much
faster than the actual fuel level. The gauge will be at E and the 'low
fuel' light on with 60-70 gals remaining.

Anyone else experiencing this? No matter how "sure" I am of fuel level
using my mileage log, it is still disconcerting...

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

[Pete Masterson]

The fuel tank is a cylinder, laying on its side. The level of the fuel moves quickly during the first quarter tank and much less quickly during the middle half, then much more quickly during the last quarter tank. (Think about the shape.)

I would describe my fuel gauge as neither pessimistic nor optimistic. I would also describe it as being generally misleading. 

Since I have some trouble with the fuel spitting with some fuel dispensers, I try to make a guess about how much fuel I expect to take on so I can avoid the diesel bath. Using the gauge has proven futile. Making a guess based on the miles since the last fill up at about 5 mpg gives me a better estimate.

Since the 300 gallon tank gives me about 1500 miles range, I usually plan fuel stops about every 1000 miles.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Feb 28, 2008, at 3:28 PM, Scott Forman wrote:

My gas gauge reads full when it is full, but proceeds to fall much 

faster than the actual fuel level.  The gauge will be at E and the 'low 

fuel' light on with 60-70 gals remaining.

Anyone else experiencing this?  No matter how "sure" I am of fuel level 

using my mileage log, it is still disconcerting...

Scott Forman

86 PT38

[Eric Perplies]

The fuel level sensor (in mine and probably in your coach) Looks like
toilet float. It's a roundish brass sphere at the end of a long rod.
On my coach the rod is about 3 feet long. The control end of the
fuel gauge contains the electrical contact that remain outside your
tank. If the length of the float arm is too short it could cause the
symptoms that you have mentioned.

The two possibilities that comes to my mind are that the float at the
end of the arm has somehow slid on the shaft making the shaft arm
shorter than it should be. A second thought is that a fuel level
sensor for another (shallower) fuel tank has been installed on your
coach. My tank is a large rectangular box with the fuel level gauge
mounted to street side near the top close to the center of the tank.

Good luck,
Eric Perplies
currently at CCW in Riverside
96' 42' WBWL








--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <sforman@...>
wrote:
>
> My gas gauge reads full when it is full, but proceeds to fall much
> faster than the actual fuel level. The gauge will be at E and the 'low
> fuel' light on with 60-70 gals remaining.
>
> Anyone else experiencing this? No matter how "sure" I am of fuel level
> using my mileage log, it is still disconcerting...
>
> Scott Forman
> 86 PT38
> Memphis
>

[Mike Hohnstein]

I wouldn't complain. First trip with my FC pulled in for fuel with quarter tank showing. Took 142 gallons to fill the 150 gallon tank. Whew!!

MH

----- Original Message -----

From: "sforman@renasant.com"

To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"

Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 5:28 PM

Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Why is my gas gauge pessimistic?

My gas gauge reads full when it is full, but proceeds to fall much
faster than the actual fuel level. The gauge will be at E and the 'low
fuel' light on with 60-70 gals remaining.

Anyone else experiencing this? No matter how "sure" I am of fuel level
using my mileage log, it is still disconcerting...

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

[Gregory OConnor]

Scott I wonder if the Empty calibration is at the level where the
genset pickup will run dry???

My gauge is optimistic, 70 gallons on empty is a free 350 mile
weekend trip.

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman"
<sforman@...> wrote:
>
> My gas gauge reads full when it is full, but proceeds to fall much
> faster than the actual fuel level. The gauge will be at E and
the 'low
> fuel' light on with 60-70 gals remaining.
>
> Anyone else experiencing this? No matter how "sure" I am of fuel
level
> using my mileage log, it is still disconcerting...
>
> Scott Forman
> 86 PT38
> Memphis
>

[Curt Sprenger]

FWIW...we all need to monitor/understand our gauges from day one of ownership. Pay attention to the readings, and then become familiar with what the gauges are telling us as we fill our tanks, temperature reading, etc.



Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 3:28 PM, Scott Forman <"sforman@renasant.com"> wrote:

My gas gauge reads full when it is full, but proceeds to fall much

faster than the actual fuel level. The gauge will be at E and the 'low

fuel' light on with 60-70 gals remaining.



Anyone else experiencing this? No matter how "sure" I am of fuel level

using my mileage log, it is still disconcerting...



Scott Forman

86 PT38

Memphis

--
Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, CA

[Ryan Wright]

Scott,

Probably typical for the year, as my '86 is similar. I've never run it
down to E, but I can get down just below 1/4 of a tank and only put
~180 gallons in. It should take 225+ gallons at that mark, which, if
the thing is linear, would leave me with 45+ gallons remaining on
empty.

The most I've ever put in was 197 gallons. Don't recall where the
gauge was, but was probably 1/8th or so. Should have read 1/3rd at
that point, so quite a bit off. Anyway, at least it's inaccurate in a
good way. Would rather this than running out with 1/4 tank "remaining"
... also nice to stop for fuel expecting a thousand dollar bill and
only wind up paying $600. I know better but it still makes me smile
every time.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 3:28 PM, Scott Forman <sforman@...> wrote:
>
> My gas gauge reads full when it is full, but proceeds to fall much
> faster than the actual fuel level. The gauge will be at E and the 'low
> fuel' light on with 60-70 gals remaining.
>
> Anyone else experiencing this? No matter how "sure" I am of fuel level
> using my mileage log, it is still disconcerting...
>
> Scott Forman
> 86 PT38
> Memphis

[Hugh Turner]

Hi Everyone

This seems to be a fairly common problem with the mid 80s PTs. My PO told me that when the gauge reads E it still has at least 50/60 gallons left. I have never got a low fuel light. I base mine fuel time off the generator since it has a shorter pickup. When the generator shuts off and will not start back it time to get fuel. When I was in the Air Force working on airplanes ,we had to physically dip the tanks to check the quantity.

Hugh & Lexie Turner

1984 Wanderlodge PT 40 “OUR DREAM”

FMCA F393612 Bluebird Chapter

FCRV #75760 Pollywogs chapter

Good Sam Life Member 057729600

Thomaston, Ga 30286

hturner12@...

[Eric Perplies]

I once had to fully drain my fuel tank to have it welded. I pulled
into the shop a few miles after the low fuel light came on. We
drained my tank. When my low fuel light comes on I have 30 gallons of
fuel in the tank. 70 additional gallons (a total of 100 gallons)
caused my gauge to read 3/8 tank. An additional 100 gallons makes my
gauge read about 5/8 full.

Eric Perplies
96' 42' WBWL