Odd fuel readings

[mraz72]

I had my first ride on our 242 x and I noticed the fuel readings were strange, here is what I noticed.

1. left dock 100% fuel - very calm bay
2. drove 40 minutes at no wake speed (I had to run through the breakin anyway) - fairly calm water - fuel reading 98% after 40 minutes
3. drove another 40 minutes at 15 mph in pretty rough water, 3' chop - fuel reading 95% after 40 minutes
4. got back into the bay - much calmer water - fuel reading all of a sudden 76%

So in a matter of 15 minutes fuel reading when from 90's to 70's percentage, anyone else experience anything similar?

BTW, if anyone is wondering why I have to run 40 minutes at no wake, look up news stories about the southern shore of lake ontario, freaking mess!

 

[jeff_s]

That's my only complaint so far with my AR210...The digital fuel gauge. I can never get a real feel of where the actual fuel level is. Very sporadic.

 

[captras]

My experience. ..dead in the water will give you the most accurate reading. Any movement changes the attitude of the boat and affects the readout.

 

[mraz72]

Gotcha, so just make sure you are in calm water to get a good reading.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

Somebody move from the bow to the stern?

 

[mraz72]

yes, I had a single passenger and she was moving around

 

[Murf'n'surf]

yes, I had a single passenger and she was moving around

That weight might be enough to offset the fuel readings if she was in a different seat at each reading.

 

[Hellacool]

Also keep in mind while at no wake speed, the jets are pushing up which forces the bow down, the boat is not level, dead in the water is the most accurate. Mine always fluctuates so now I just monitor fuels consumption. I know what I put in the boat and just keep track.

 

[blacksapphirez]

mine is an older boat but it didn't read right. so i got a new sending unit from the dealer under warranty but same issue.

Since then, I've only used gallons used on the display which is almost dead on.

I know I need to fill up after about 40gallons used with approx 10 gal in reserve. (I usually fill up after every outing 10~20gal)

 

[Markk]

I use gallons consumed reading, not the normal percentage meter. Just reset it every time I fill up. I feel it's much more accurate.

 

[swatski]

What @Markk said. Gallons used, reset when fueled, the only thing to watch. Close to 100% accurate, within 0.5 gallon of the pump meter.
No fuel gauge is accurate/linear, even in a car, in a boat there is simply no way to accurately measure fuel level unless you are completely stationary. Even then it is non-linear.

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[mraz72]

Thanks, I'll compare the gallons used to my percentage readout and take note of the differences.

I ended the day around 75% so that's about 12 gallons consumed over ~3 hours of constant driving, 1/2 of it at no wake speed.

 

[Mystic1906]

I've similar issues with my fuel readings. The percentages don't seem right. First time I went from 50% when first starting up after being tied off for a while to 30% 5 mins later after only going at no wake speed. It didn't come back up by much so I stopped and paid for some expensive on the water fuel just in case. Where is the gallons used displayed at on the Connext screen? I have not noticed it but I will def use that as a better measure since I try to fill up every trip.

Had an issue just Sunday where I was pretty sure I had fuel but the percentage was showing 16% on the way back to the ramp.

 

[mraz72]

I guess this is all good to know, I am a little paranoid, I usually don't let the tank get below 1/4 and being this is a new boat, I have to get a feel for the consumption. I think the gallons used are only on the dials? Not actually in connext?

we ran no wake for 1.5 hours and around 15mph, ~5k RPMs (heavy chop), for an hour and ended up using 12 gallons.

 

[swatski]

I've similar issues with my fuel readings. The percentages don't seem right. First time I went from 50% when first starting up after being tied off for a while to 30% 5 mins later after only going at no wake speed. It didn't come back up by much so I stopped and paid for some expensive on the water fuel just in case. Where is the gallons used displayed at on the Connext screen? I have not noticed it but I will def use that as a better measure since I try to fill up every trip.

Had an issue just Sunday where I was pretty sure I had fuel but the percentage was showing 16% on the way back to the ramp.

It is displayed in the "trip info" screen.
For example, below - the connext is showing used 20.4 gallons total (since the last reset) with 10.0 gallons on port and 10.4 gallons on strb engine. The numbers with just "Gal".
(sorry about quality, taken with a phone in full Sun, hope you can see the numbers)


BTW - now that I look at it - those where the best settings for surfing "ropeless", too! 10.4mph (on Ridesteady) and a touch of strb tab (down). On top of about 3,200lbs of ballast and the surf flap deployed.

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