fuel gage

[none]

I,m wondering where the dash board GPS gets the fuel information as to how much fuel is in the tank from. When I fill up I program the computer to full, but what happens in the rare event someone sifphons the tank will it still show full or is there a float swich in the tank????????
Jens

 

[Bruce Moore]

Your Yanmar gauge will show you the approximate fuel levels for the main (Tank 1) and auxiliary (Tank 3) tanks. Burn fuel, add fuel, and it will show you what it sees.

The Garmin multi-function display tracks consumption (gallons per hour, miles per gallon), but it shows fuel tank level based on what you tell it. In our case, it only tracks tank1 (main). If we top off, we tell it it's full (120 gallons). If we transfer 15 gallons from the aux tank (#3) or add 15 gallons from a pump, we tell it we added 15 gallons.

If someone siphons fuel from your tank, the Garmin MFD won't know unless you tell it.

 

[captain's cat]

I believe the Garmin registers fuel burn, not level. If it flows to your engine, it goes through the sensor and registers. If you siphon it, or transfer it, it does not. Hence, you must tell it manually.

The Yanmar gauge actually measures tank level with a float.

Charlie

 

[knotflying]

The last post is correct. The Garmin registers fuel burn so if you use fuel via another source like the generator or wabasto heater you will not have an accurate reading. The Garmin is spot on as long as you put in the correct initial information. My experience is the Yanmar guage is only accurate when standing still and is based on fuel level in the tank.

 

[Todd]

Have not had much chance to play with Garmin, or read manual, sohow do you tell it you added fuel.

 

[sleepyboat]

Not to be a smart guy, but I ended up going to the book and and it takes you to where you need to go in a few steps. Or you can fumble your way through as I was doing until I READ THE BOOK.

 

[Levitation]

The other way is to keep a run time log in a cheap spiral notebook...
I do this for both the boats and the plane... In spite of megabuck electronics on the panel I measure fuel burned/remaining by my watch... The notebook and a $19.95 watch hasn't let me down yet no matter how much magic smoke starts leaking out of the megabuck electronics (happened again - arrrggghhhh)

 

[Bruce Moore]

Have not had much chance to play with Garmin, or read manual, sohow do you tell it you added fuel.

Page 54:

Synchronizing Fuel Gauge Readings with Fuel Levels
1. From the Home screen, select Information > engines > Menu.
2. Complete an action:
• Select Fill Up All tanks when your tanks are full. The fuel level is reset to maximum capacity. Adjust if necessary.
• Select Add Fuel to Boat when you have added less than a full tank. For the GPSMAP 6000 series, use the Rocker or the Numeric Keypad to enter the amount of fuel added. For the GPSMAP 7000 series, use the on-screen keyboard. Select Done. An estimate of the fuel added appears. Adjust if necessary.
• Select Set total Fuel onboard to specify the total fuel in your tanks. For the GPSMAP 6000 series, use the Rocker or the Numeric Keypad to enter the fuel amount. For the GPSMAP 7000 series, use the on-screen keyboard. Select Done.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[Todd]

Thanks for the info. I will be reading the books as soon as I can but right now I am still learning all the mechanical systems so I have not focased on the electronics. Just basic GPS radar and autopilot.

Glad I ran across this thread. I thought something was not working right. Now I know to look deeper into the system.

 

[JerryE]

You can do a search on this topic as most of us have commented on this before. The earlier Garmin 5212 manual was completely wrong in its description of how to reset the fuel tank and I could not intuit it. I had to replace my Garmin so I got a newer manual and it was correct. The Yanmar display has an analog (needle) fuel gauge and also shows an percentage left. It's very inaccurate and very hard to see; Baz' brilliant idea of sticking a computer keyboard flexible LED light into a USB-to-cigarette lighter adapter works great! I copied his idea. I'd link you to his pictures here, but the photo's are missing :cry: from his post. Anyway, you would just be able to see an inaccurate gauge.

The 5212 communicates with many engine sensors over an NMEA 2000 network and allows things like engine warnings to be displayed on the big screen (often with more information) than on the little Yanmar digital engine information display. You set the Garmin with how much fuel you add, or just set it to 75 (or a little less) gallons when you fill up. The Garmin will then use engine information such as rpm and load to compute how much fuel is left. Keep in mind that this is an estimate (albeit its probably a pretty good estimate).

Given that your manual may be completely wrong Andrew has previously offered these instructions:
From the home screen
1. Configure
2. My Boat
3. Fuel Capacity

Once these steps are done and you confirm the number on the Garmin screen is correctly reading of what size fuel tank you have then you do the following:

1. Fill your tank up to 100% with diesel.

From the home screen
1. Information
2. Dashboard Gauges
3. Fuel
4. Menu
5. Reset total fuel to max capacity.

You will have to repeat the second group of these steps everytime you re-fuel. If you dont fill up completely then you can pck add fuel to boat instead of resetting to max capacity. (End of Andrew's advice)

The Garmin 5212 is also capable of reading the actual level of fuel in tank if you buy the optional GFS 10 Fuel Sensor for $199.99 list from Garmin or a dealer. This gizmo attaches right at the fuel tank's sensor wires either at the tank or further along its path. However, the GFS 10 appears to not work with diesel engines according to the footnote at Garmin's site page describing the unit: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=11561

Of course, using the diesel generator or heater (if you boat is equipped) will screw up your Garmin's estimates. As usual, Levitation offers the best and simplest solution–track it with paper and pencil. Just note stuff like your average consumption (miles x speed) x hours of use in your log and you can figure it pretty easy as a backup or check of your Garmin.

 

[South lake]

I'm somewhat confused by this thread but maybe my R25 has some extra equipment. When I add fuel, the Garmin display shows a change in fuel level and seems to know when the tank is full. We use the generator a fair amount but my fuel levels seem accurate.

 

[knotflying]

Are you looking at the fuel remaining numbers or the gauge? As far as I know the fuel remaining ties to the fuel burn which mathematically deducts from what you manually enter after you fill the tanks or add fuel. I am not sure if the digital guage is tied to the float or not because I don't rely on it, but that may be why it raises and lowers with the tank fuel level. Unfortunately when underway this is the least accurate reading. Denny-O has the most accurate method, which I always use when flying my plane, but since I won't fall out of the sky and I have sea tow I rely on the fuel remaining and monitor it every 1/2 hour so in case the electronics blow I will know what I have left in the tanks.

 

[South lake]

I'm looking at the fuel level shown on the display below. The number goes up when I add fuel and goes down over time as I run the boat. I always assumed it came from a fuel gauge and wasn't concerned with it until I saw this thread.

 

[knotflying]

I have not seen that particular data information, but that may come from the float sensor. The other information is based on fuel burn and will deduct the burned fuel from the original entered quantity to give you fuel remaining. The float reading will be the most inaccurate when underweigh.

 

[none]

Thank You all for all the info regarding fuel level, but from what I see there is no way of knowing the actual level in the tank. Suppose some crook decides to siphon fuel out of the tank how would I know??? Is the tank made of clear material is there a way to see the fuel level???????
Jens Jensen

 

[tugfan]

In reading your first and last posts it seems your fear stems from fuel theft. Why not get a locking fuel cap? Defender has them for diesel for around $50.00. I'm sure others have them as well.
That could solve that issue.

Bill

www.eclecticwonders.com - uncommon art

 

[GulfSailor]

Thank You all for all the info regarding fuel level, but from what I see there is no way of knowing the actual level in the tank. Suppose some crook decides to siphon fuel out of the tank how would I know??? Is the tank made of clear material is there a way to see the fuel level???????
Jens Jensen

If your R29 is the same as many of the other boats in the same family (anyone with specific knowlege please chime in), there will be a float in the main tank which provides information to the square Yanmar instrument.
The Garmin plotter shows the amount of fuel remaining by calculating the amount that's been used, then deducting that from the amount that you've told it is in the tank.

Your main fuel tank should be constructed from the same translucent material that the generator tank at the aft end of the engine compartment is made from. I'm sure there's a way to view the main tank, and the best way to see the level is to shine a light on to it either from the side, or from the top.

If a crook removes some fuel be sure to top it up again, and inform the Garmin accordingly. 😉

 

[captain's cat]

Thank You all for all the info regarding fuel level, but from what I see there is no way of knowing the actual level in the tank. Suppose some crook decides to siphon fuel out of the tank how would I know??? Is the tank made of clear material is there a way to see the fuel level???????
Jens Jensen

You could look and see! :idea: