how accurate are your fuel levels

Lewy · 24 April 2007, 14:51

i have Mercury SmartCraft system has anyone here calibrated the fuel levels on one of these so that they're accurate and read the same as the smart guages? I know your meant to start with an empty tank and do it in stages. at the moment the fuel remaining on both are reading differently and they're also both wrong! i wouldnt mind if just one was accurate, so does anyone have any simple ideas? anyone on the south coast who'd you recommend to do this?

cheers fellas

philr · 24 April 2007, 18:21

He may travel down and do it for a fee. How big are the tanks and how much in em now?

andyxs · 24 April 2007, 21:05

my smartcrafts are set up so that when it reads 0 theres 50l left as a reserve aparantly. bit anoying as you never quite know where your up too unless you can remeber where you were up to on your fuel used gauge and subtract that from your tankage. it should show you how to set them up in the manual.

Lewy · 25 April 2007, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by philr

He may travel down and do it for a fee. How big are the tanks and how much in em now?

its just one 200ltr tank which is around three quarters full (bit less after i've been out with her tomorrow

)
i guess to calibrate the smartcraft the tank will need to be completely empty.
do you think thats the sort of thing rogue wave could do?
the boats in southampton

Poly · 25 April 2007, 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lewy

its just one 200ltr tank which is around three quarters full (bit less after i've been out with her tomorrow

)
i guess to calibrate the smartcraft the tank will need to be completely empty.
do you think thats the sort of thing rogue wave could do?
the boats in southampton

don't see why it needs to be empty (I don't have one so can't be sure).

Fill tank up (ideally you want some way to know you are refilling to same level each time.

Take for a reasonable trip, or trips. Refil tank to same level. Note volume of fuel required. Correct the guage accordingly.

Cookee · 25 April 2007, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polwart

Correct the guage accordingly.

You can't do that with Smartcraft gauges - You have to start with it empty, press a button, and again at 1/4, 1/2 3/4 and full - the only way around that is if the tank is a regular square or rectangle, and it isn't!

Poly · 25 April 2007, 15:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

You can't do that with Smartcraft gauges - You have to start with it empty, press a button, and again at 1/4, 1/2 3/4 and full - the only way around that is if the tank is a regular square or rectangle, and it isn't!

ah - so the product name is a bit of a misnomer - there is nothing "smart" about it...

Jono · 25 April 2007, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lewy

the tank will need to be completely empty.
do you think thats the sort of thing rogue wave could do?..

I’m thinking that is definitely something Stu could do admirably…
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.…..Empty yer tank!

TIM · 25 April 2007, 18:28

We use the smart craft Gauges .... and think they are great .... But fuel gauges on a boat are useless and should never be trusted , as there are two many variables that will alter the contents in the tank, and how the gauge reads. our tank sender wire is disconnected .

We use the 'fuel used' counter on the smart craft system, when we put in 100L we know that we are Ok until fuel used hits hits 100L (we allow 10% for error) and them we put in another 100L etc etc ...... we write down what we put in the tank ,on a water proof slate and check before we put to sea , I wouldn't leave the harbor unless I had 50L in the tank as a safety margin .....Just in case . we carry a spare 20L on the deck , in a portable petrol tank.

We have never run out of petrol , and if you do on a boat , you should hang your head in shame!!!!!!

Also the new suziki smart gauge system only records how much you are burning at any given moment , and doesn't record fuel used !!!!!

FreeTrader · 25 April 2007, 20:30

I agree with Tim. I've been disappointed with the fuel guages on the E-tec, giving a percentage value that fluctuates by as much as 20%. I know my burn rate, so I fill up, and work out what should be there after the passage.

philr · 26 April 2007, 19:02

I spoke to Rogue Wave as I know he is without computer this week. I have PM'd you his mobile number.

Tideway · 26 April 2007, 21:18

[QUOTE=TIM;196523] We use the smart craft Gauges .... and think they are great .... But fuel gauges on a boat are useless and should never be trusted boat

Too true. The only really failsafe way is to have a dipstick to check the levels, but most tank installations preclude this type of arrangement. Personally, I get twitchy if I leave the pontoon without full tanks and a reserve. And, yes that is because I ran out once and had to limp home on the aux engine... My head was indeed hung in shame and I have no desire to repeat the experience.