Filled the tank and question

[25thmustang]

So I filled the boat tank tonight. The damage...

190.xx gallons and $666.00 plus tax.

Now my question, why do I own a boat with such a large tank? Kidding. The real question, my fuel gauge only reads slightly above half when we filled it till a bit came out the vent line, it's full. Any thing to check and fix? I have access to my tank.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Filled the tank and question

I have access to my tank.

Ayuh,.... You'll have to run it down aways before you pull the sender, 'n see why it won't go Full...
You could meter it, but I don't know the values you'd look for...

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Filled the tank and question

Yeah, I will have to take her apart and see why it reads the way it does.

Anything that could be wrong with the gauge.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Filled the tank and question

Yeah, I will have to take her apart and see why it reads the way it does.

Anything that could be wrong with the gauge.

You can easily test the gauge by taking a wire and jumping the sender side (usually marked with an "S" or is a pink color wire) to ground. This will make the gauge read full. If it doesn't go full, then there is something wrong with the gauge, or the 12 v supply. A bad connection on the +12 volt side of the gauge will make it read incorrect too, same with the connection at the sender on the tank. These connections can all be checked and cleaned without having to remove the sender, and most boat dash gauge clusters have fairly easy access (as opposed to a car!).

BTW, $3.50 a gallon! Ouch! Thats why I don't fill at marinas (trailer-ed boat).

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Filled the tank and question

Chances are the gauge is not the problem -- it rarely is. Either the sender is hung up, the float on the float arm is heavy and doesn't float, or there are other issues. After you check the gauge as was suggested earlier, start with this test. Disconnect the sender wire from the sender at the tank. Using an ohm meter, measure the resistance of the sender (sender post to ground). Since you know the tank is full, the reading should be around 30 - 33 ohms. If it isn't then the sender is the issue. Since the gauge is reading 1/2, don't be surprised if the resistance reading is about 110 ohms as this is what the sender would read if the tank were indeed 1/2 full. That says the float is hung or the float is fuel soaked and can't float properly. At empty, the resistance should be about 240 ohms.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Filled the tank and question

Good suggestions guys.

I have had the dash out a few times and used some advice to get the tachs working properly. The fuel gauge is the only one that doesn't read correct (the speedometer doesn't work at all, the rest are fine). I assume it has to do with the sender, but like to start with the easiest thing to check first before getting into the tank again. Luckily I have access to it via a small hatch below my aft cabin.

$3.42/gallon on the water. I would love to fill for the 2.75 or so it is on land (might be a little more for 89 octane) but that option isn't feasable. Down on LI sound gas is cheaper, but a much longer ride.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Filled the tank and question

get 4 jerry cans, now that you are full, to keep it topped off. Not as painful.
Some marinas don't let you fill your tanks, though.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Filled the tank and question

I'm pretty certain they frown on filling the tank at the dock.

When the boat is on land, at the begining of the season I have access to two 30 gallon tanks. What I did was use our gas card and got the gas for around $2 a gallon. Got 60 gallons worth and filled before splashing her.

I figure this will be a ruitual every season.

I also noticed the boat always had an issue in the port motor, coming up on plane. There was a hesitation around 2500 RPM. The Stbd motor throttle up smooth, the port stumbled a bit and then powered past it. I always just accounted for it and made it work. After fueling and taking her out for a good half hour to 45 min trip I decided to check it out, for ****s and giggles. Sure enough the stumble is almost gone. I noticed a very slight miss, but 100 times better. I'm hoping after another fill this might go away completely.

 

[The Hammer]

Re: Filled the tank and question

Fill the other tank!





Just Kiddin

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Filled the tank and question

Lol, 400 gallons of fuel would scare me!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Filled the tank and question

I'm pretty certain they frown on filling the tank at the dock.

When the boat is on land, at the begining of the season I have access to two 30 gallon tanks. What I did was use our gas card and got the gas for around $2 a gallon. Got 60 gallons worth and filled before splashing her.

I figure this will be a ruitual every season.

I also noticed the boat always had an issue in the port motor, coming up on plane. There was a hesitation around 2500 RPM. The Stbd motor throttle up smooth, the port stumbled a bit and then powered past it. I always just accounted for it and made it work. After fueling and taking her out for a good half hour to 45 min trip I decided to check it out, for ****s and giggles. Sure enough the stumble is almost gone. I noticed a very slight miss, but 100 times better. I'm hoping after another fill this might go away completely.

Put in a new gas filter when you do.

 

[DrLugOD]

Re: Filled the tank and question

I'd run 150 gallons through and fill her up again.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Filled the tank and question

So I filled the boat tank tonight. The damage...

190.xx gallons and $666.00 plus tax.

Now my question, why do I own a boat with such a large tank? Kidding. The real question, my fuel gauge only reads slightly above half when we filled it till a bit came out the vent line, it's full. Any thing to check and fix? I have access to my tank.

Wanna swap? I hold 300 @ 3.49 per gallon!