Ran out of Fuel, Want to upgrade my Fuel Monitoring System…

[HawaiianFish]

I recently ran out of fuel (last Saturday). Thankfully I was at anchor running the generator when it died and I figured out I was out of fuel.

Although I did get several low fuel warnings/alarms in transit to our anchorage, the display said I had 13 gallons remaining, I figured I had enough to run the generator and get home (1.2 miles) at a slow pace. I was wrong…

Fortunately I have BoatUS and did not take a serious hit money wise from the tow. Just a minor bruised ego.

From researching this site, it appears my Cutwater has some kind of device in the fuel tank, but also uses the Volvo monitoring system and Garmin system.

Is there a way to use the float in the fuel tank to go directly into a stand alone fuel monitoring gauge? Any ideas?

 

[JeffreyAC77]

When we first operated our 2015 R31 (new to us 3 years ago), we too nearly ran out of fuel. We determined with the help of Fluid Motion CS, that the Volvo reading was not at all accurate and that we since have relied solely on our Garmin 7215 to determine fuel levels. We typically run our fuel level down to approx. 50 gallons and then top off the tank (180 gallons)
and manually adjust the chart plotter reading to full. We have had no issues since the initial problem.

 

[watson1987]

There should be multiple fuel sensors available when selecting sources on your Garmin screen. Try to select another source, you shouldn't need another separate gauge/screen

I prefer to use the actual sensor in the tank, and not the calculated one, however, it doesn't work while in motion as the feeder is at the back of the tank, so it typically registers 100% or high 90s at anything more than a few knots. It is also useful when refueling the tank as it updates immediately. The calculated one combines you pressing 'refill tanks' on the Garmin, the Volvo fuel burn, and having the exact tankage set on the chart plotter. If it shows 13 gallons, that is probably less than 5%, and there is an error like you didn't fill up the tank full last time, the burn rate is slightly off, or the fuel pickup isn't able to grab the last fuel gallons.

My R31 has a 180 gallons tank (I expect yours to be bigger or the same), 13 gallons left is about 5%, which isn't enough for me to trust either gauge that I have enough fuel remaining regardless of the trip length.

 

[HawaiianFish]

Thank you Jeffreyac77 and Watson1987, I will mess with the Garmin tomorrow and try to customize a screen with actual for when I am not moving and the Volvo estimated one for long trips. and… not cut it that close anymore, it was out of pure laziness!

 

[BB marine]

The fuel sender can be calibrated to the Volvo EVC panel to give you close to if not exact fuel tank readings when the boat is floating level. This is a calibration that Volvo trains technicians and boat manufacturers to do . It is part of the pre delivery procedure to confirm the fuel gauge is calibrated and reading properly. Unfortunately Fluid Motion elects to use the full fuel calibration which is inaccurate. I posted a thread on how to calibrate the fuel sender to the Volvo EVC a couple of year ago. I was shown this procedure by a Volvo technician that worked for a Prestige Yacht dealer. He said before any boat leaves the dealership Volvo recommends the EVC be calibrated to the fuel sender for accuracy. There is no reason in this day and age for a fuel gauge to be inaccurate. The factory stating the gauge is inaccurate is a false statement. If calibrated as per Volvo’s procedures it is very accurate. It takes a few minutes to do once you have set up a procedure. It took me about an hour to do because I was setting up for the first time based on the instructions given to me. I posted the thread that I started on this subject.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=10780&start=0&hilit=Fuel+sender

If you want an accurate tank reading it is achievable. Volvo has designed the EVC to match up to the sending unit for accurate readings. Unfortunately the manufacturer or dealer is responsible to calculate. I believe this is the issue!

 

[William Sanborn]

Our R 27 has Yanmar and Garmin have learned to trust the Garmin as it reads fuel used as reported by the engine. The Yanmar float gauge gets fooled by the way boat sets in the water. When Garmin tells me I have 30 usable gallons I fill and usually it will cut off at around 70 gallons pumped and I reset the Garmin fuel on board to 100 gallons.

 

[Full_O_Fish]

While it is a much more involved endeavor than modifying the freshwater tank in there same manner, if you can gain access to the top of the fuel tank nearest the bow end of the tank, then you can add a second fuel sender. Using a meter match or a dual sender converter the senders work in tandem to give you accurate tank level at any reasonable angle of bow rise, so underway readings are just as good as sitting.