R27 fuel "gages"

T

Todd2

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2015
Messages
78
Fluid Motion Model
C-28
I tried searching, but..... So if I couldn't find the answer to this please post a link to the topic. I have a 2017 R27 (Classic). I know of the Volvo Penta 'fuel meter' that tells you how much fuel the engine used and computes what's theoretically left in the tank. It's great for determining the engines' fuel usage. However, it's pretty much useless for determining the actual fuel level in the tank if other systems are using diesel out of the tank also (generator or heater). I need a way to tell how much fuel is really left in the tank at any given time. I was contemplating adding a fuel sending unit. Well, while poking around I think I saw a fuel sending unit installed in the tank with wires connected and running somewhere. My question is - how do I know I'm reading the actual fuel level in the tank from this fuel sending unit (float), and not the Volvo calculated level? Is it somewhere in the Garmin screen? Do you find it to be accurate? Thanks for your help.

Todd
 
Todd,
On the Garmin I go to the information, engines screen and I see my remaining fuel. I have the reverse cycle heat/air, and an alcohol stove, so the only other need for diesel is my gnerator. The mase 2.7's fuel consumption is .8 gal/hr. So over time I fill up the tank, then subtract 3 gallons from the total and start at 97 gal. This seems to be quite close and usually within a gal or 2 at worst. However my volvo controls are never in agreement with the garmin so I only use the garmin numbers.
Stuart
 
If you go to YouTube and do a search for "Ranger tug fuel" you will see a nice little movie starring experts from the factory on this very topic. It's certainly worth checking out.
 
Chimo":2hfpcky1 said:
If you go to YouTube and do a search for "Ranger tug fuel" you will see a nice little movie starring experts from the factory on this very topic. It's certainly worth checking out.
Click to expand...

It's also on the rangertugs.com video page.
 
Used to fly a plane. There was a saying, "the fuel gauges are accurate when you are full and when you are empty". On the boat I would say that probably the most accurate reading will be when sitting in the water and not moving. I have found that the Garmin is very accurate, providing you keep up on resetting it when you fuel. When I fuel up I usually will fill the tank so having used the Wabasto heater or a generator is not significant. The heater and generator use marginal fuel. I would be surprised if you let your fuel go so low that the added fuel burn will make a difference between getting fuel or not getting fuel. With that said, if you really want to try to be accurate you may want to correlate time of usage of each device and associated fuel burn and then deduct that from fuel remaining on the Garmin.
 
Todd2":1xsej4m3 said:
I tried searching, but..... So if I couldn't find the answer to this please post a link to the topic. I have a 2017 R27 (Classic). I know of the Volvo Penta 'fuel meter' that tells you how much fuel the engine used and computes what's theoretically left in the tank. It's great for determining the engines' fuel usage. However, it's pretty much useless for determining the actual fuel level in the tank if other systems are using diesel out of the tank also (generator or heater). I need a way to tell how much fuel is really left in the tank at any given time. I was contemplating adding a fuel sending unit. Well, while poking around I think I saw a fuel sending unit installed in the tank with wires connected and running somewhere. My question is - how do I know I'm reading the actual fuel level in the tank from this fuel sending unit (float), and not the Volvo calculated level? Is it somewhere in the Garmin screen? Do you find it to be accurate? Thanks for your help.

Todd
Click to expand...

Todd, The Volvo gauge is showing the value from the tank sending unit and the Garmin displays the usage based on the fuel flow meter. The Garmin must be updated each time you fill up. When the boat is at rest and level you can compare the two to get some confidence in the readings. Based on your typical usage of the generator and heater you can then adjust the total gallons in the the Garmin setup to compensate for their expect usage. In my case they always read within a few gallons as we don’t have a generator and the heater uses very little fuel.

Curt
 
Thanks guys, just what I needed! I'm very happy I don't have to add a fuel sending unit to the tank.

We spent a week at anchor on a local lake and it was HOT, Hot, hot during the days. We ran the generator a lot for the A/C. Well, after a while I started to wonder how much fuel I really had left. We 'calculated' how much we may have used (Mase 4.04 = .39 gal/hr @ max load). I calculated 50 gal max usage and it only took 36 gal to fill up (I was purposely conservative). So either I run it to a calculated 0 gal remaining and I have 28 gal left, or I learn how to use the fuel gauges. My choice is obvious. Thanks again.

Todd
 
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