I have a new owner of an 81 Catalina 30 with a faulty fuel gauge. The engine is the Atomic 4. How easy is it to repair/replace? What brand of fuel gauge should I replace it with, if needed? Thanks, Juan
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Who Needs Fuel Gauges at All?
Juan Why bother? Fuel gauges are inside the tanks and have immensely high proportions of failure and need for replacement. If you have a working engine hour meter, and are careful on recording the amount of refill fuel you use with engine hours, you can easily find out how much fuel your engine uses per hour. Our diesel is 0.423 gallons per hour. This is over four and half years. I'd guess your A4 does about 1 gallons per hour. Who needs a fuel gauge? Plus, when you consider that the fuel tank isn't flat on the bottom, the gauge is misleading you to begin with. Give it a try, it ain't a car. Stu
Juan Why bother? Fuel gauges are inside the tanks and have immensely high proportions of failure and need for replacement. If you have a working engine hour meter, and are careful on recording the amount of refill fuel you use with engine hours, you can easily find out how much fuel your engine uses per hour. Our diesel is 0.423 gallons per hour. This is over four and half years. I'd guess your A4 does about 1 gallons per hour. Who needs a fuel gauge? Plus, when you consider that the fuel tank isn't flat on the bottom, the gauge is misleading you to begin with. Give it a try, it ain't a car. Stu
Sending unit problem
I am in the process of replacing the sending unit(it is sitting on my chart table). Your gauge may be ok but your sending unit may be faulty. I understand that the bulb in the sending unit could develop a leak and it no longer functions. You might want to check the sending unit first before buying a new gauge.
I am in the process of replacing the sending unit(it is sitting on my chart table). Your gauge may be ok but your sending unit may be faulty. I understand that the bulb in the sending unit could develop a leak and it no longer functions. You might want to check the sending unit first before buying a new gauge.
It's pretty easy
I replaced my sending unit two years ago for about $20. I bought the tempo unit. The hardest part is cutting the support bracket to the right length for your tank so that the unit reads properly. Follow the directions and you'll be all set.
I replaced my sending unit two years ago for about $20. I bought the tempo unit. The hardest part is cutting the support bracket to the right length for your tank so that the unit reads properly. Follow the directions and you'll be all set.
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