Fuel Gauge - <all over the place>

[bushpilot-TC]

Wondering if there is anything available either DIY or other wise that improves the dampening of the fuel gauge & sending unit.

Its difficult to determine how much fuel is left in my tanks (round, twin 60 gallon).

Unless im on completely smooth / FLAT ground, cruising at a steady pace my fuel gauge is all over the place. I end up THINKING ive got 1/4 (on the gauge) but when i fill up ive got considerably more fuel (sometimes as much as 1/2).

Id like to be able to run my tanks closer to empty before fueling up and wondering if anyone else has experienced the same issues.

 

[volvoman]

what kind of truck do you have? i would think changing sending unit would fix.

 

[bushpilot-TC]

It's an 04 FL Columbia - the tanks are NOT baffled (i suspect this us not unusual), which is probably a large contributing factor.

 

[bushpilot-TC]

wow so im the only one out there w/ a neurotic fuel gauge ?

 

[Doc Weaver]

you're not the only one. I haven't been online. Anyhow, I have had unrealistic fuel guages myself. My last truck told me I had plenty of fuel .... as I ran out. This truck is more like yours. my troubles started when I replaced the fuel tank with an aluminum tank that comes on the newer model of my truck. I just figure that I can get closer to empty without worrying about running out of fuel. I learned on the last truck that diesels don't like to run out of fuel.

 

[BlizzND]

Stick the tank like real truck drivers do.

next time you are almost empty, mark a stick. put 10 gallons in, mark the stick again. add 10 more gallons, mark again... continue till its full.

Then add up the amount it took to fill, sub tract that from the tank capacity and you will know what you started with. right that number on your lowest mark.

you will always be sure and the stick will never lie to ya.
-blizz

 

[Bob86ZZ4]

Interesting stick idea. My guage can sometimes be goofy. Like going up a long climb, or down a long descent. I use my trip odometer in conjunction with the guage. I've gotten to learn I can go about 700 miles on a fueling. So I just kind of keep an eye on that and the guage.