Garman Fuel Guage

[JSimmons]

I have been cruising for 3 days in my C30S. I filled my fuel tank before we departed and think it was full (although the marina I fueled at had a very high volume pump and I was having fuel burping issues). When I filled, I reset the fuel level on the Garmin to 100%. Now, after 3 days of light cruising (perhaps 45 nm) the Garmin still says Full. I don’t think this can be true so will stop and top up today. My question is…. Has anyone else seen this issue? Have any advice for me?

 

[JunieBird]

Following… same issue with 2023 c-288. Know I burned 90g…

 

[Full_O_Fish]

The tank level sender is usually connected to either the Volvo or Yamaha harness (depending on your engine style) and is bright into the Garmin system through the engine to n2k gateway. Calibration of the sender needs to be completed on the engine display's interface, however overall accuracy is really not great since the sender is at the back of a long narrow tank. When the vessel is sitting perfectly even keeled it reads pretty accurately, but anything from loading weight in the stern or bigger rise from being underway will cause the tank to read anywhere from much higher or completely full till the tank is quite low. My C30 while underway will show 55% remaining when actual level is 8-10%.

Most accurate way to read the fuel is from the calculated fuel remaining value assuming that your flow sensor has been properly calibrated.

 

[Mastercraft]

I have had the same issue. I filled the tank and then rest gauge to 100%. I cruised 50 miles and it was still 100%. Thought gauge was broken. Took gauge out of tank. The float height is maxed out two inches before top of tank. So there is two inches of air at 100%. Fill more fuel and you can easily have the tank filled “110%” and no air. Solution, stop filling when Garmin read 100%

 

[Chimo]

There’s a wealth of discussion on this topic you will find with search. It includes some ideas of calibration of the tank, depending on model. I find the best guide is to use the fuel consumed feature. At one point I filled the tank. With a diesel you have to go slow and I find it good to use a surge device. To ensure it was really full I used a spare diesel can and a syphon . That added an extra gallon or so. I then set the tank setting on Garmin to full and zeroed the trip fuel used. When I had run for a couple of days the Volvo gauge displayed by Garmin showed full. Fuel used showed 12.8 gallons. I refilled again as a check and was within 0.2 gallons. Since then I seldom fill the tank since I don’t want to carry the extra weight. When fuel remaining on Garmin (one of my standard displays) gets down to about 30 gallons I add some fuel and enter the amount under ‘add fuel’ in Garmin. That adjusts fuel remaining to the new level. I did another check last time I filled for a long trip and was within 0.4 gallons. Close enough. I generally find the tank gauge shows full until I’m down around 80% depending on how I’m loaded.

 

[Dmullen]

I have a 242 with the 300 Yamaha, and like I'm reading in this blog, I can fill the tank, yet one of my Garmin fuel gauges pages says I'm empty, while another page shows a percentage full. What's my problem?

 

[RThorn]

I found in the setup that there are two options for the sensor. One says Yamaha and the other was something like ABCY.

When I bought the boat it was set to the Yamaha fuel level sensor. I filled up with fuel and it never budged off of 40%. After i selected the other sensor it seems to be reading correctly. Wont know for sure until I fill up again

My thought is that someone selected Yamaha only because of the Yamaha motor. THe fuel tank and sensor could have come from another source.

Anyone with more knowledge on this have any thoughts?

 

[Full_O_Fish]

My thought is that someone selected Yamaha only because of the Yamaha motor. THe fuel tank and sensor could have come from another source.

Anyone with more knowledge on this have any thoughts?

You would likely be correct in assuming that someone selected the wrong sender type. The selections are just changing the reference ohm range, as Yamaha manufactured senders usually go from 5-105, ABYC goes from 33-240, and EU (European) goes from 0-180.

Most senders used in the US are the ABYC variety because of location and availability.

 

[LMRanger]

I own a 2015 R25SC with the Volvo D-3 150 engine and I have the same problem.
Whoever the gallons burned total is always right on. So when I fill my 80 gallon tank and my gallons burned tells me I have burned 30 gallons, I know I have 50 more in the tank.

Ralph

 

[Sandro]

+1 I go by the Volvo/engine display for gallons burned. I reset the trip after adding fuel. It’s always spot on. Also always remember to power up the Garmin fully first and then turn on the ignition. (And in reverse order when powering down). Doing this and the Garmin fuel remaining will be very accurate because it pulls data from the engine computer. I never look at the the garmin fuel/ tank gage

 

[JeffreyAC77]

I did not read all the subsequent posts, but did the originator and others make sure that their vessel setting for a FULL TANK was the proper amount of gallons? Our R31-CB is 180 gallons when full (which I had to set up).

 

[Dmullen]

Post: "I have a 242 with the 300 Yamaha, and like I'm reading in this blog, I can fill the tank, yet one of my Garmin fuel gauges pages says I'm empty, while another page shows a percentage full. What's my problem?"...

I called Garmin about not reading the fuel and they indicated that the Yamaha 300 in my boat was not set up to send the information to the Garmin....it needed to be programmed (?). Wouldn't that be done when at the factory if that's true? for Some reason it doesn't sound correct. Anyone know what's going on?

 

[Mws]

I just bought a 2012 Range R-27. (have dreamed of owning a ranger for years) It also has the same issues. I suspect it is a setup or sensor issue.
on my Yanmar i5601e engine control gauge - it reads empty when the tank is full and drops to full as fuel is consumed.
On my chart plotter - Gramin 5212 - fuel consumption is read (correctly I presume) but the fuel used and remining at read ---
The tank capacity (100 gal.) is set on the Garmin correctly

the previous owner passed away before I had a chance to ask questions.

questions:
1- Is the incorrect read a setup issue or a sensor issue (wired incorrectly?)?
2- How do I reset the fuel amount in the Garmin?

thanks in advance
MWS

 

[LMRanger]

I have the same problem on my 2015 R25SC with the D-3 Volvo.
However, on the Garmin 7212 under the trip odometer the gallons burned is very close to being accurate.
So when I go for fuel I look at the trip odometer and is it says I've burned 43 gallons, that's what goes back in and it usually fills it to the point of overflow.
After refueling I reset the trip odometer so I'm ready for the next time.