| Author | Message | ||
| james dean boggs (Jd_boggs)
Registered Member Username: Jd_boggs Post Number: 131 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 71.102.25.171 Rating: N/A |
When my fuel gauge reads 1/4 tank it's really empty. This cost me a $200 tow plus some fuel from the tow operator. Is there an adjustment on the gauge to compensate or do I just replace the gauge itself? If I could fix this problem I can plan my routes and schedule fuel stops better. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 721 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 72.154.191.171  Rating: N/A |
If you could fix that problem, you could make millions (well, trillions is what you'll need, the way we Americans toss billions around). I never drove a bus with a fuel gauge, until I bought my '79 MC9, and that wasn't OEM, it was an add-on. In my opinion, the best thing you could do, is carry a piece of wire long enough to reach the bottom of the tank (through the filler neck), and gauge the fuel that way. I had a length of strapping (the kind with holes punched every 1/2 inch), hanging alongside the tank. I took a reading at every nightly stop. It's easy, fast, and more accurate than any gauge. Less than 1/4, and it's -absolutely- fill time. But why wait? I filled daily anyway. If there's a station with a decent price, why wait? Fill it up. A full tank doesn't generate as much condensation, and that equate to less headaches. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1467 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.166.160  Rating: |
James - IIRC, the Flx Metros have a 125 gallon tank. Figure 90 gallons usable, which translates to about 550 miles between fill-ups. Or just figure 500 miles to be safe. John's idea of fueling every morning isn't a bad one, providing a fuel stop's nearby. As for the gauge, chances are it's the sender that's causing the incorrect reading. Depending on the type, the sender may or may not be adjustable. Or spend the $$ to get a new matched sender & gauge. Your choice. FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 408 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 217.35.103.132  Rating: N/A |
RJ gives good advice, my sender failed so I just replaced it along with the gauge. I still like to "Dip and Check" every once in a while for my own sanity. I dread the day I run it out because of CRS! And besides, don't we all just love the smell of diesel anyway! (Message edited by dreamscape on December 14, 2008) | ||
| James Robinson (Jjrbus)
Registered Member Username: Jjrbus Post Number: 179 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.150.86.101 Rating: |
I was surprised to learn that most buses dont have fuel gauges! Mine does, I do not depend on it. On my MCI I can look in the tank with a flashlight. The price for running out of fuel in a bus is so high that to me it makes no sense to run low on fuel. An out of fuel situation could involve towing to a shop and paying a mechanic $$$$, not to mention the time involved, possibly causeing a traffic hazard while sitting waiting for tow. Not only a hazard to me but to others as well. The only thing worse would be runing out of fuel in a plane. Now you have me thinking, I'll make another post. Jim | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 790 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.34 Rating: N/A |
It has been my experience that very few fuel gages on anything are accurate. Aircraft gages are only required to be accurate at Full and Empty, in between is no man's land!! I've run out of fuel a couple of times with auto gages still showing fuel. I'm a bit slow to learn but finally learned my lesson, now I don't let anything go below 1/4 and try to keep it above 1/2. | ||
| Mel La Plante (Mel_4104)
Registered Member Username: Mel_4104 Post Number: 101 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.180.195.100 Rating: N/A |
when i got my 4104 it had a fuel gauge in it, however have said this i asked the prev. owner what the handle was for on the top of the fuel tank and he laughed at me and said that is the fuel gauge. the one on the dash just gives you an idea if there is fuel in the tank or empty. sure enough when i pulled out the handle it had a flex rod on it for measureing the tank. the dash gauge never seem to be right but that rod is right on every time. so i use the rule --never go below 1/4 tank and always fill the tank every night and never park for any time with out a full tank, this keeps out the condinsation a real problem with pumps and injectures. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1430 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.69.142.79  Rating: N/A |
Old timer saying: "Only those with fuel gauges run out of fuel" happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| John Riddle (Jriddle)
Registered Member Username: Jriddle Post Number: 19 Registered: 3-2008 Posted From: 216.163.110.230  Rating: N/A |
When I was younger I was working on a crew in the mountains. We had just hired a new helecopter company. We were flying home in the dark the first night with this company, about half way home he landed and got a shovel off the skid and dipped the tank with it. I have to say it made me somewhat uneasy but at least he landed and made sure how much fuel he had. I like the dipping idea to be sure of the level. I do a visual check of our airplane tank every time I fly. John (Message edited by Jriddle on December 14, 2008) | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 791 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 208.54.200.238 Rating: N/A |
Since airplanes normally use the same power settings fuel consumption is usually very well known so timing is the best fuel gage. Buses are not so consistent, at least mine isn't. No pilot with any brains ever leaves the ramp without visually checking fuel quantity. Of course the big boys have accurate fuel gages but each gage costs more than a small airplane! | ||
| Frank Allen (Frank66)
Registered Member Username: Frank66 Post Number: 99 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 205.188.117.73 Rating: N/A |
when i insatalled my fuel gauge i held the sender outside the tank and adjusted it so when it reads empty it still has about 20 gals of fuel left, the gauge works just fine, however they can fail like everything else, i also know about how far i can go on a tank, i generally fill it up each day while on the road, works for me. i never rely on the gauge totally. Frank Allen 4106 | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 352 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 69.77.157.42 Rating: N/A |
I set my fuel gauge up the same way. When it shows empty, I should still have over 100 miles left in the tank (measured by the stick.) Also made the genset pickup short it can't maroon us. |
