When I recently bought the C-30 (1988) I went about cleaning electrical contacts, checking hose clamps, etc. and planned on checking the fuel guage tank float to see if the fuel guage on my panel gave an accurate reading. Getting to the float system in the tank was near impossible. It appeared to be welded on! So with that I have noted for the last several months that my fuel guage has not budged a nano-inch from the full position despite putting several hours on the engine since the purchase. So, am I to believe my Universal M-18 sips so little gas that it will take forever to use 18 gallons? Or is my guage stuck? Just how can one check the fuel level without accessing the tank, or am I missing the way to properly access the tank float system so I can peer inside the tank. Regards Bob Breezin II C-30
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Don't Bother
Bob It'll just break again even if you fix it. I keep track of my engine hours, and started by using 1/2 gallon per hour. With our 23 gallon tank, every twenty hours I fill it up with 10 gallons of diesel. Much easier way to do it, and avoids dependency on a fuel gauge entirely. Some C36 folks actually did an analysis of their non-rectangular tanks to find out how much they had left in the narrow bottom end, since the fuel gauge itself is only linear. I put our actual fuel fills on a spreadsheet, and we're using 0.473 gallons per hour on an M25. You should do just as well. Read all about it on the link from a forum archives search on fuel gauge. Stu
Bob It'll just break again even if you fix it. I keep track of my engine hours, and started by using 1/2 gallon per hour. With our 23 gallon tank, every twenty hours I fill it up with 10 gallons of diesel. Much easier way to do it, and avoids dependency on a fuel gauge entirely. Some C36 folks actually did an analysis of their non-rectangular tanks to find out how much they had left in the narrow bottom end, since the fuel gauge itself is only linear. I put our actual fuel fills on a spreadsheet, and we're using 0.473 gallons per hour on an M25. You should do just as well. Read all about it on the link from a forum archives search on fuel gauge. Stu
Agree w/ Stu
I have an M-18 in an O'Day 31. I think it uses about 1/3 gallon per hour. Once a year fill up is enough for me.
I have an M-18 in an O'Day 31. I think it uses about 1/3 gallon per hour. Once a year fill up is enough for me.
In effect, yes it will take forever to burn 18
gallons in your M18, I have same engine in a C270 and it will only use .5 g./hr. if you are pushing it full out, every time I get fuel it is because I no longer believe the gauge. Last time I thought it was stuck for sure but turned out I only used 4 gallons all summer and I sail 4 or more days a week..
gallons in your M18, I have same engine in a C270 and it will only use .5 g./hr. if you are pushing it full out, every time I get fuel it is because I no longer believe the gauge. Last time I thought it was stuck for sure but turned out I only used 4 gallons all summer and I sail 4 or more days a week..
stick
Cal 29 I have has a stick with marks to delinieate 5 gallons at a time (20 ga). Fill her up and mark the top I would guess that half way down from that mark would be close to half full...
Cal 29 I have has a stick with marks to delinieate 5 gallons at a time (20 ga). Fill her up and mark the top I would guess that half way down from that mark would be close to half full...
best kept secret
I have the M-18 on a Newport 30 and believe me it is great. I have a 35 gal. tank and in 3 seasons ive used 18 gals. When i bought the boat we had to transport it from Wilson NY on Lake Ontario thru the Welland canal ( never shut the engine off for 12 hours straight while in the canal) to buffalo, NY then to Tonawanda Ny total of 87 miles. the gauge went from just after 1/2 to just before 1/2. Great engine and when fuel reaches $3 next summer all the power boats will be at the dock. we'll just put put out and sail all day for pennies. Have a great off season and a better next
I have the M-18 on a Newport 30 and believe me it is great. I have a 35 gal. tank and in 3 seasons ive used 18 gals. When i bought the boat we had to transport it from Wilson NY on Lake Ontario thru the Welland canal ( never shut the engine off for 12 hours straight while in the canal) to buffalo, NY then to Tonawanda Ny total of 87 miles. the gauge went from just after 1/2 to just before 1/2. Great engine and when fuel reaches $3 next summer all the power boats will be at the dock. we'll just put put out and sail all day for pennies. Have a great off season and a better next
Plug the Gauge Hole and Move On!
Our B321 had a fuel gauge, but doesn't any more. It seldom worked until one day it didn't work at all. To get to the tank and sender meant dismantling half the stern innerds. The Gauge mounting hole now houses a monitor for the starter battery. As an ex-pilot I never had any confidence in the gauge anyway! Get a good idea of your fuel consumption per hour, fill it up, then watch the Hobbs meter. This will give a far better idea of fuel remaining than any gauge that I have ever seen. Good Luck! s/v Parrot Tales, B321
Our B321 had a fuel gauge, but doesn't any more. It seldom worked until one day it didn't work at all. To get to the tank and sender meant dismantling half the stern innerds. The Gauge mounting hole now houses a monitor for the starter battery. As an ex-pilot I never had any confidence in the gauge anyway! Get a good idea of your fuel consumption per hour, fill it up, then watch the Hobbs meter. This will give a far better idea of fuel remaining than any gauge that I have ever seen. Good Luck! s/v Parrot Tales, B321
Basic Engine Gauge Theory
From a discussion @ http://cruiserforum.com ENGINE GAUGES (Fuel, Pressure,
From a discussion @ http://cruiserforum.com ENGINE GAUGES (Fuel, Pressure,
Testing Fuel Gauges
Testing Fuel Gauges: 1. Disconnect Pink Sender Wire from Gauge, and turn power ON. The Fuel Gauge should read ZERO Scale (< Empty) 2. Short the Gauge Sender Terminal to Ground. The Gauge should read FULL Scale (> Full). 3. Measure resistance of Pink Sender Wire to Ground. American Floats: 240 Ohms (Empty), 103 Ohms (½ Full), & 33 Ohms (Full) European Floats: 10 Ohms (Empty), 95 Ohms (Half), & 180 Ohms (Full) Automotive & other Float Switches may use other resistances such as 0 - 90 Ohm, 73 - 10 Ohm, & etc. 4. Disconnect Pink Wire from Sender on Fuel Tank. 5. Test continuity of Pink Wire. Zero Ohms from Tank End to Gauge End - If not, repair or replace Wire. 6. Measure Resistance from Sender Terminal (on Tank) to Ground on Tank. Should read as per (3) above - If not, replace Sender.
Testing Fuel Gauges: 1. Disconnect Pink Sender Wire from Gauge, and turn power ON. The Fuel Gauge should read ZERO Scale (< Empty) 2. Short the Gauge Sender Terminal to Ground. The Gauge should read FULL Scale (> Full). 3. Measure resistance of Pink Sender Wire to Ground. American Floats: 240 Ohms (Empty), 103 Ohms (½ Full), & 33 Ohms (Full) European Floats: 10 Ohms (Empty), 95 Ohms (Half), & 180 Ohms (Full) Automotive & other Float Switches may use other resistances such as 0 - 90 Ohm, 73 - 10 Ohm, & etc. 4. Disconnect Pink Wire from Sender on Fuel Tank. 5. Test continuity of Pink Wire. Zero Ohms from Tank End to Gauge End - If not, repair or replace Wire. 6. Measure Resistance from Sender Terminal (on Tank) to Ground on Tank. Should read as per (3) above - If not, replace Sender.
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