fuel guage issue/ question... maybe
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From: Southern AZ
fuel guage issue/ question... maybe
I took my first long trip yesterday (880mi) and ran into an issue. I think my fuel guage is off.
I have a cclb so I think I have a 38g tank. With the guage halfway between full and 3/4 I was putting 18.5 gallons in. I also noticed that it took almost 200 miles before the needle on the guage started to drop.
I am wondering if my guage is reading high. I played it way safe and filled up every 250-260 miles. I was getting 14-14.25 mpg by hand calc.
Also I noticed that when I fill it at full tilt I get about 1/2-1/4 quart of diesel gushing out just as the pump kicks off.
Could this be a side affect if the previous owner did a harpoon mod? I am used to the OBS where the last bit takes a while and you have to fill at half speed.
My turbo was sticking every so often during the trip so I will have to deal with that when I get back.
Richard
I have a cclb so I think I have a 38g tank. With the guage halfway between full and 3/4 I was putting 18.5 gallons in. I also noticed that it took almost 200 miles before the needle on the guage started to drop.
I am wondering if my guage is reading high. I played it way safe and filled up every 250-260 miles. I was getting 14-14.25 mpg by hand calc.
Also I noticed that when I fill it at full tilt I get about 1/2-1/4 quart of diesel gushing out just as the pump kicks off.
Could this be a side affect if the previous owner did a harpoon mod? I am used to the OBS where the last bit takes a while and you have to fill at half speed.
My turbo was sticking every so often during the trip so I will have to deal with that when I get back.
Richard
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,337
Likes: 346
From: Breckenridge, TX
Sounds like how mine is. I've kept track of the fuel gauge intervals long enough to see consistency in mine. I have the "28 gallon" that really holds 32 gallon tank.
After filling to the neck, an average tank for me is:
F: 150 miles
3/4: 240 miles
1/2: 340 miles
1/4: 400 miles
E: 500 miles
Harpoon mod just fills up the full tank faster, I've always filled it to the neck so the mod just made that faster. That only affects the initial internal to the "Full" marking though, after that the intervals are still not consistent. My 1/2 to 1/4 range is by far the fastest quarter it goes through, and the 3/4 mark is really the halfway point.
I can't say with any certainty what it "should be" other than to say I would always stuff about 5 gallons before the mod, so at 5 gal * 15mpg = 75 miles, it would used to take 75 miles to drop to full instead of the 150 now.
After filling to the neck, an average tank for me is:
F: 150 miles
3/4: 240 miles
1/2: 340 miles
1/4: 400 miles
E: 500 miles
Harpoon mod just fills up the full tank faster, I've always filled it to the neck so the mod just made that faster. That only affects the initial internal to the "Full" marking though, after that the intervals are still not consistent. My 1/2 to 1/4 range is by far the fastest quarter it goes through, and the 3/4 mark is really the halfway point.
I can't say with any certainty what it "should be" other than to say I would always stuff about 5 gallons before the mod, so at 5 gal * 15mpg = 75 miles, it would used to take 75 miles to drop to full instead of the 150 now.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,901
Likes: 3,617
Sounds like how mine is. I've kept track of the fuel gauge intervals long enough to see consistency in mine. I have the "28 gallon" that really holds 32 gallon tank.
After filling to the neck, an average tank for me is:
F: 150 miles
3/4: 240 miles
1/2: 340 miles
1/4: 400 miles
E: 500 miles
Harpoon mod just fills up the full tank faster, I've always filled it to the neck so the mod just made that faster. That only affects the initial internal to the "Full" marking though, after that the intervals are still not consistent. My 1/2 to 1/4 range is by far the fastest quarter it goes through, and the 3/4 mark is really the halfway point.
I can't say with any certainty what it "should be" other than to say I would always stuff about 5 gallons before the mod, so at 5 gal * 15mpg = 75 miles, it would used to take 75 miles to drop to full instead of the 150 now.
After filling to the neck, an average tank for me is:
F: 150 miles
3/4: 240 miles
1/2: 340 miles
1/4: 400 miles
E: 500 miles
Harpoon mod just fills up the full tank faster, I've always filled it to the neck so the mod just made that faster. That only affects the initial internal to the "Full" marking though, after that the intervals are still not consistent. My 1/2 to 1/4 range is by far the fastest quarter it goes through, and the 3/4 mark is really the halfway point.
I can't say with any certainty what it "should be" other than to say I would always stuff about 5 gallons before the mod, so at 5 gal * 15mpg = 75 miles, it would used to take 75 miles to drop to full instead of the 150 now.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,951
Likes: 512
From: Foothills, CA
I haven't been following mine for the same reasons, other than I was thinking the gauge was sticking around 1/4 tank, plus I try to pre-measure out how much additive I'll need by the time I hit my planned fuel stop.
Last trip at 1/4 tank I put 32 gallons in a 38 gallon tank, which isn't 1/4 of 38. I am with you on the theory that the gauge is not very linear and you better darn well get fuel when you get in the 1/4 tank range...
Mine has always "seemed" to fall slow at first and then faster -- now I'm thinking that this isn't my imagination anymore, with this thread...
Scott
Last trip at 1/4 tank I put 32 gallons in a 38 gallon tank, which isn't 1/4 of 38. I am with you on the theory that the gauge is not very linear and you better darn well get fuel when you get in the 1/4 tank range...
Mine has always "seemed" to fall slow at first and then faster -- now I'm thinking that this isn't my imagination anymore, with this thread...
Scott
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Posting Guru
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From: Southern AZ
Ok... That makes me feel a lot better. Now I just need to baby the turbo so it doesn't stick too much on the way back.
I have a spare turbo from the overheated motor that I think I am going to try to rebuild with a KC kit when I get back.
Richard
I have a spare turbo from the overheated motor that I think I am going to try to rebuild with a KC kit when I get back.
Richard
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,951
Likes: 512
From: Foothills, CA
Good luck on the return trip...
Scott
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Southern AZ
I actually pulled this turbo apart to clean it at the last minute but I was in a hurry and basically used my fingers and some sandpaper to smooth/clean it instead of a rotary tool.
It comes down to I was in a hurry and did a crap job on the turbo cleaning or I missed something inspecting it.
Richard
It comes down to I was in a hurry and did a crap job on the turbo cleaning or I missed something inspecting it.
Richard
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