I am a new hunter 336 owner and when the gas gage was getting below about 1/4 I refueled. I was expecting to take on about 20 to 24 gallons. The tank topped off at 17 gallons and the fuel indicator indicated it was full. I talked to the previous owner and he said he thought the tank was about 22 gallons and not 30. What I would like to know is the standard dimensions of the tank and actual gallons. The fuel tank looks about the same size as the holding tank, which is roughly 27" long by 19" wide and 13 inches high. This comes to about 6669 cubic inches which would be about 29 gallons. It appears that the fuel gage is incorrect when it gets to the low end of the indicator. Before I "assume" that at zero I still have another ten gallons to go, I would like a more exact size of the tank and any information as to the false read I am getting from the fuel tank indicator. Tanks in Advance, frank
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Use a stick to measure the amount of fuel.......
Frank: When you get ready to refuel again, just get a stick an put it into the tank to determine how much fuel you have left. This is how our fuel guy determines how much oil we have in our furnace tank. Then you can do your own calculation. I do not think that it is uncommon for the guages to be in error.
Frank: When you get ready to refuel again, just get a stick an put it into the tank to determine how much fuel you have left. This is how our fuel guy determines how much oil we have in our furnace tank. Then you can do your own calculation. I do not think that it is uncommon for the guages to be in error.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Did a little calculating
Based on your dimensions, the tank capacity is 27-28 *useuable* gallons (outside dimensions, so you have to allow for wall thickness...and you can't use every cubic inch without overflowing the tank into the vent. It's a fairly shallow tank...long and flat. Assuming your measurement is close to correct, every inch of depth holds about 2 gallons. The further your width and length measurements are short of actual, the more each inch of depth holds. So how much is left in the tank when the gauge reads "empty" depends upon how close to the bottom the float or sender is--there has to be a little room, 'cuz it can't touch the bottom and still work. 3" leaves 6 gallons. If the tank bottom is v-shaped, it could leave even more. Assuming 27 useable gallons...gauge said 1/4 tank left...that would be about 20 gallons. Subtract +/- 2" of depth below the sender and you're left with about 17-18 gallons.
Based on your dimensions, the tank capacity is 27-28 *useuable* gallons (outside dimensions, so you have to allow for wall thickness...and you can't use every cubic inch without overflowing the tank into the vent. It's a fairly shallow tank...long and flat. Assuming your measurement is close to correct, every inch of depth holds about 2 gallons. The further your width and length measurements are short of actual, the more each inch of depth holds. So how much is left in the tank when the gauge reads "empty" depends upon how close to the bottom the float or sender is--there has to be a little room, 'cuz it can't touch the bottom and still work. 3" leaves 6 gallons. If the tank bottom is v-shaped, it could leave even more. Assuming 27 useable gallons...gauge said 1/4 tank left...that would be about 20 gallons. Subtract +/- 2" of depth below the sender and you're left with about 17-18 gallons.
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David L
All I know on the subject
On my 336 when the tank is full it still has about 2 to 3 inches to the top. Not sure about the empty level. Had the sending unit out of the tank last month but did not measure it. I would hope it left 2 or 3 inches in the tank when it read empty. What you can do is shine a light on the tank to see the level in the tank at various level indications to get a feel for what the gauge is telling you. Hope this helps. Dave
On my 336 when the tank is full it still has about 2 to 3 inches to the top. Not sure about the empty level. Had the sending unit out of the tank last month but did not measure it. I would hope it left 2 or 3 inches in the tank when it read empty. What you can do is shine a light on the tank to see the level in the tank at various level indications to get a feel for what the gauge is telling you. Hope this helps. Dave
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Bob Peters
don't trust gauge
I have come to not rely on the gauge. Well, it was not working for awhile so I was in habit of estimating hours on the engine and filling tank after 20 hours (allowing a large safety factor). It did take awhile to get used to how little diesel the 3GM30F on my 336 uses. At cruising speed, it uses less than 3/4 gallon/hour. I am at the fuel dock no more than 3 times a season and it is usually 10 to 15 gallon fill-ups. I've since fixed the gauge; actually it was the sensor which required a wire to be resoldered in place. But it isn't real accurate so I continue estimating and use the gauge as a sanity check. Bob Pilgrim
I have come to not rely on the gauge. Well, it was not working for awhile so I was in habit of estimating hours on the engine and filling tank after 20 hours (allowing a large safety factor). It did take awhile to get used to how little diesel the 3GM30F on my 336 uses. At cruising speed, it uses less than 3/4 gallon/hour. I am at the fuel dock no more than 3 times a season and it is usually 10 to 15 gallon fill-ups. I've since fixed the gauge; actually it was the sensor which required a wire to be resoldered in place. But it isn't real accurate so I continue estimating and use the gauge as a sanity check. Bob Pilgrim
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
You need those 2-3" at the top
To allow for fuel expansion in hot weather. And "empty" has to leave a couple of inches at the bottom because a) when the level in the tank reaches the top of the discharge fitting r the end of a pick-up tube--which has to have some space under it), the fuel pump (also a water pump in a fresh water tank and a pumpout for a holding tank) starts sucking air, which causes it to lose prime and stop pumping fuel...and b) the fuel pick-up has to be far enough off the bottom to prevent picking up sludge and dirt from the bottom of the tank. So the amount a tank can theoretically hold and the amount of useable fuel it can hold can vary by several gallons. The flatter/shallower the tank, the more gallons every inch of depth above "full" and and below "empty" represents. So I THINK your fuel gauges may be a lot more accurate when it comes to measuring USEABLE fuel capacity than you think they are.
To allow for fuel expansion in hot weather. And "empty" has to leave a couple of inches at the bottom because a) when the level in the tank reaches the top of the discharge fitting r the end of a pick-up tube--which has to have some space under it), the fuel pump (also a water pump in a fresh water tank and a pumpout for a holding tank) starts sucking air, which causes it to lose prime and stop pumping fuel...and b) the fuel pick-up has to be far enough off the bottom to prevent picking up sludge and dirt from the bottom of the tank. So the amount a tank can theoretically hold and the amount of useable fuel it can hold can vary by several gallons. The flatter/shallower the tank, the more gallons every inch of depth above "full" and and below "empty" represents. So I THINK your fuel gauges may be a lot more accurate when it comes to measuring USEABLE fuel capacity than you think they are.
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