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When do you start worrying about gas? #11581697 05/04/16 02:23 AM
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goodolick Offline OP
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Perhaps I am paranoid, but, I dont want to be the guy that has to get dragged back to the dock.... I never let my tank even get to half full.

When does everyone else start worrying about gas?

Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11581747 05/04/16 02:33 AM
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KC_Fisher Offline
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well considering I just ran out of gas for the first time this past weekend in 20 mph wind with almost dead trolling motor batteries, I would say from now on I will be checking my gas tank every time I go out and filling up if I get under 1/2.. unless I'm on a tiny lake!

Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11581897 05/04/16 03:23 AM
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fitter2259 Offline
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Gas gauges on boats are known for being horrendously inaccurate. On my current boat I took 5 gallons of gas with me on my 2nd trip out to get a gauge on how accurate mine was on a known distance of 15 miles. I knew that the 5 gallons would get me back so I wasn't worried how much tooling around I did in the area I was fishing at. I left the house with 1/8 of a tank, made the run including approx. another 1 hour of idling, and then made the run back and never ran out. I have made that same run with what showed full on the gauge and got back home with just under 3/4 tank.......Go figure.


Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11581964 05/04/16 04:07 AM
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Flippin-Out Offline
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fitter, I agree that the tank sender units put in boat fuel tanks are notoriously crude and inaccurate. The gauge itself is actually quite accurate (It's just a special purpose voltmeter with a different scale on the face that measures the voltage provided by the tank sender unit). Tank senders have a float arm that wipes a contact over a resistive plate with the resulting voltage varied by the contact's position on the plate. That resistive plate can be a bit inconsistent, and it may not be calibrated with the float's position.

When a reading is far from linear, (like burning 1/4 tank at the top vs. less than 1/8 tank at the bottom for the same fuel consumption), the reason is often the size/shape of the tank. Many tanks are L shaped where a narrow tank section sits under the deck behind the seats, and then a wide section that sits under the seats. One inch of fuel burned off the top of a full tank may not be much because of the smaller area of that part of the tank. At the bottom, the tank could have 3x the surface area of the top part of the tank. One inch off the top translates into 1/3 inch of fuel depth burned at the bottom. The level in the lower portion of the tank drops very slowly compared to the top portion because of the difference in tank footprint so the float moves more in one case than the other.

Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11582223 05/04/16 12:55 PM
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sandjohnny Offline
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Below half fill up.
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Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11582604 05/04/16 03:45 PM
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Bob Landry Offline
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My Seaark has a 30 gallon tank. I fill up at 1/4 on the gauge just because I have let it get lower than that and I know I'm still good at that point


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Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11582649 05/04/16 04:07 PM
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I have fished from my boat almost 5 years and know it well when I 1st got it I kept if full all the time, and refilled it each trip, I learned how many gallons usually per the trip it took, now I can estimate it very close and do still keep it almost full same as my truck. I have always kept tanks full if possible.

Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11582864 05/04/16 06:04 PM
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Capt Craig Offline
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Never let it get to a 1/4 tank before refilling.


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Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11583620 05/05/16 12:19 AM
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I have 2 tanks so I can run one down to about 1/4 and use as a reserve.


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Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11584714 05/05/16 02:41 PM
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1/2 full on both tanks and fill up and add Stabil.
I switch back and forth to even weight placement.

Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11585362 05/05/16 07:58 PM
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From what I understand the ethanol in the gas now causes water to accumulate in the gas when it mixes with air so I try to keep my tank pretty full after having massive issues with water in my gas 2 years ago.


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Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11585906 05/06/16 12:20 AM
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The argument for keeping full tank is that during the day, the air in the tanks empty space expands and pushes out. In the evening when the tank cools down, the air space contracts and draws humidity/moisture into the tank. This is why you seldom see a small sailboat diesel without a water separator filter. With the introduction of ethanol, it also became a problem with gas motors. Adding a small water separator, like a Racor, to your fuel system is one of the best things you can do for your motor. A lot of guys like to depend on additives to keep the water down, but my preference is a filter. JMHO


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Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: Bob Landry] #11585945 05/06/16 12:43 AM
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Bob which part# etc... do you recommend from racor?


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Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11591294 05/09/16 02:32 PM
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I fill my tank when it gets to 1/4, but don't start worrying until it hits "E". I have a 16gallon tank, and when mine hits "E" it takes about 10 gallons to fill it back to full. So when it hits "E" I know I have a 6 gallon reserve. Yeah, the sending unit is not very accurate, but the way in which it is inaccurate is OK with me. Better than running out showing 1/4 tank.


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Re: When do you start worrying about gas? [Re: goodolick] #11591850 05/09/16 06:05 PM
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My gas gauges don't even work on my boat. I always just fill up after every trip that way I have a good idea of how much gas I burned that day based on the amount I ran. I have a decent idea now but I would like to get those gauges working lol



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