Cutwater fuel gauge problems?

[rmsbwt]

Please let me know if any other Cutwater owners have been having problems with getting a near accurate fuel level reading.
Our Cutwater 28 fuel gauge has never worked properly.
For instance, it will be reading 48 gallons. Then 5 minutes later we getting a 0% fuel warning.
The fuel tank solenoid has been replaced.
And, the fuel system has been calibrated.
Any help would be appreciated.
I am getting sick of laying on the floor with my head down next to the fuel tank with a flash light and a tape measure.

Thanks, Ralph from VT.

 

[Levitation]

I cross reference the fuel gauge on the boat by elapsed time since last fill up.
Your boat tank is a pancake. It only takes a minor amount of tip/sloshing to make the gauge vary a bunch.
Know your fuel burn and know your engine running time since last fill, and life will be good.
A simple pad of paper at the helm where you can jot down things like: 20 minutes at 3000 rpm / 10 minutes at 1200 rpm / 15 minutes of idling in the channel / etc.
After a few trips and comparing to how much it takes to fill up again versus your running calculation, and you will be master of your fuel.
Master of your boat.
Maybe evne master of the universe :mrgreen:

 

[linedoctor]

Hi Ralph,

I assume we all have the same setup and you're talking about the digital fuel gauge on your Yanmar display? If so, mine reads pretty steady with just a moderate amount of variance when under way. At rest the gauge is rock steady. You shouldn't be having variances like yours. The system is pretty simple, so maybe a ground or connection issue?

The Garmin fuel burn rate is pretty accurate, and as long as you fill the tank now and then to reset what "full" is, the estimated fuel level is also pretty accurate. Not that that makes your problem better of course!

Dave

 

[circusmar]

same boat same plant, the gauge is accurate on average not on instant due to changes in boat pitch:

as previously stated, burn rate and trip time are your friends.

rule of 3rds - on third there, one third back, one third "just in case"... and yes,your 100 gallon tank starts to feel small.

by "solenoid" I am assuming "sender". next step check ALL of the connections. I suspect a bad termination in the run from the tank to the *MATRIX* / Garmin integrated boat intra-web thing.

 

[rmsbwt]

The problem is with the boat at rest.
The gauge is the Volvo digital gauge.
And, the wiring/connections look good.

The gauge will read 48 gallon (at rest).
Run for a very short time, then the 0% warning comes on.
Yes, I know I am in a low fuel situation and have spare fuel on board.
I am trying to gather data for the dealer.
When you pay this much money for a new boat.
It would be nice if the fuel gauge could have an accuracy tolerance of maybe +/- 10%, not 50%.

If anyone has had the same problem and hopefully a fix.
Please respond.

 

[circusmar]

What does the fuel display on your garmin do (I am assuming the volvo boats are rigged to provide fuel data to the garmin-web as the yanmars do)? does it mirror the erratic readings on your volvo gauge? If it doesn't it points to a bad volvo gauge (unlikely). if it does the problem lies between the sender and the gauges.

I assume you have already tested the gauge by grounding the sensor lead at the tank. tank ground problems are common culprits in fuel gauge problems.

Have you taken the sender out and bench tested it with an ohm-meter? have you swapped a known good (not just new) sender in. make sure you use the right kind of sender - volvo may need the "euro" 3-180 version.

We had a wandering fuel level when sitting still two boats ago. it was fixed by cleaning and re-seating the connections. even a dodgy crimp can cause problems. IIRC the Volvo's convert tank sender impedance to digits at the ECU.