[C320-list] Fuel Gauge

[Brian Carol Mclamb]

I seem to get about two seasons of reliable reads out of my fuel gauge before it starts to act squirrelly.  First it stays on/near full for a long time and then as it approaches 1/2 a tank it drops rapidly.  My standard answer has been to replace the sending unit from the tank.  Once a new unit is installed the accuracy returns.  Brian from Serenity # 1075.

Sent from my iPad

On May 20, 2013, at 2:27 PM, "Dick Walker" <dickwalker at att.net> wrote:

> The engine burns about .6 gal per hour.  That is the best way to keep track
> of your usage and is more accurate than the float gage.  If you filled it
> full, it may not show and usage for a few hours.
> 
> 
> Dick Walker
> WindWalkerII #687
> 619.435.8986
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
> [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of John Zienda
> Sent: Monday, May 20, 2013 11:13 AM
> To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
> Subject: [C320-list] Fuel Gauge
> 
> 
> My fuel gauge shows fuel level over  the Full mark, even after several hours
> of motoring,   As this is my first season with the boat, I am not sure how
> real this reading is.  Is there some other way of verifying how much fuel do
> you have left?
> 
> John Zienda
> #691 (w/ Yanmar)
> 
> On May 19, 2013, at 4:05 PM, Doug Treff <doug at treff.us> wrote:
> 
>> On 5/19/2013 4:06 PM, Warren Updike wrote:
>>> Doug, first off, you don't want conductive grease.  The appropriate 
>>> product is called a dielectric grease, meaning it won't conduct
> electricity.
>> 
>>> As for the bulb type, on our 1994, the deck lamp was halogen, and the 
>>> steaming light was incandescent. Sorry I can't give you the exact 
>>> type.  I know my owner's manual came with information about the 
>>> fixture, do check that.  I ended up replacing the whole fixture 
>>> because of the excessive corrosion in the original.  You may be able 
>>> to do this without dropping the mast; but, Catalina didn't leave me a lot
> of wire to work with.
>> Warren,
>> 
>> Thanks for setting me straight on the grease. What I have is actually
> dielectric, I just used the wrong terminology. As for the owners manual, the
> one I have has a wiring diagram with wire colors but I see no reference to
> fixture type. Will contact Catalina Direct to see if they can supply the
> correct data.
>> 
>> I am the 3rd owner, so there may have been paperwork lost along the way,
> that I did not receive with the boat.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Doug
>