Fuel gauge

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John_F

John_F

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Feb 24, 2009
34
Beneteau 31 Buffalo
We have a 2010 Beneteau 31. The electronic fuel gauge doesn't seem to work, or I'm getting great "mileage". I've run the engine about 20 hours and it's still on full. I've got a Yanmar 21 hp, diesel.

I'm keeping track so I can figure gallons per hour, but anybody have an estimate?
 
dparilla

dparilla

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Jan 22, 2008
597
Oday 35 and Mariner 2+2 Alexandria, VA
I would estimate 3/4 gal per hour at cruising rpm. My universal 21 HP burns about that much, and only 1/2 gal an hour at lower rpm.
 
Mike B

Mike B

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Apr 15, 2007
1,013
Beneteau 43 Baltimore, MD
John_F said:
We have a 2010 Beneteau 31. The electronic fuel gauge doesn't seem to work, or I'm getting great "mileage". I've run the engine about 20 hours and it's still on full. I've got a Yanmar 21 hp, diesel.

I'm keeping track so I can figure gallons per hour, but anybody have an estimate?
Click to expand
The fuel gauges in the newer models are notoriously inaccurate. TheVDO display seems to be the culprit. It's a good idea to track as you plan. BTW keep in mind the tanks are not square at the bottom. Theyre tapered to fit against the hull So a 1/2 tank on the gauge is actually less than that.
 
Caboteur

Caboteur

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Feb 21, 2010
349
Beneteau 31 016 St-Lawrence river
Hi, I also have a Bénéteau 31. Because of the shape of the tank it is very logn getting off full. The same is true of the water tank gauges.
Depending on what RPM and wind and wave situation my fuel consumption will vary from 1 to 2.5 liters per hour; the way I cruise it is about 1.3 liters per hour... with a 130 liter tank that is about 100 hours in the tank.
If it were just going in and out of my mooring here it would take me three to four seasons to go through the tank. I wouldn't worry too much if after 20 hours the gauge hadn't moved.
Pierre
 
M

mattkling

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Oct 3, 2008
59
Beneteau 361 Seattle
My fuel gauge on my 361 reads full until it is about half empty, then it works its way down to an empty reading. Not ideal, but once you know that you can keep track. I roughly assume I use .75 gallons/hr as a backup.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,051
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Good advice there. The next time you add fuel, keep track of the gallons and the engine hours. Do this a few times and you'll know exactly how much you use. Then you'll know to never reply on a fuel gauge in a boat ever again.
 
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