Date:         Tue, 22 Jul 2014 11:18:03 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Replacement fuel tank question
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAHTkEuJ2iTVcK0WrJTgpCy0WSikWLfWyU07NTstAnsxQ06WusQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

I installed a new gauge and sender with my new tank, and it finally shows “full” at the “full” line.  The old gauge was the problem, being about ¼ tank down at full, and they can be adjusted but I didn’t bother.  They are also logarithmic in scale, with the first half tank dropping fast, and the second half tank taking less space to drop more slowly on the gauge.  Depending on how you look at it, this either gives you more confidence you have fuel, or a false impression of how much fuel you have.  When I’ve filled with the needle just going into the red zone, I’ve got about 3 gallons left.  I also topped up at the ¾ mark once and added 3.9 gallons, right on. Mileage tracking is the only accurate way to know what’s up.

 

Stuart

 

From: Don Hanson [mailto:dhanson928@gmail.com] 
Subject: Re: Replacement fuel tank question

 

The gauge in mine, besides being dependent on vehicle attitude to be consistent, it also is skewed towards "Empty" a bit...A full tank takes the needle to below the full mark and an empty tank is well below the 'empty' end of the scale...

   For the longest time I was clue-less on how the gauge is marked...Must be a German thing, but half way across the sweep of the gauge needle is the first mark...a Bold mark...then 3/4 across the sweep is a small thin mark and the bottom is a red area...  I was mistaken thinking the bold mark at half way meant half a tank....and the next smaller one was 1/4 tank...when in truth the bold one is just 1/4 tank gone and the smaller one three quarters across the dial, that means 1/2 tank is gone....How did I ever come to that conclusion?....I didn't get an owner's manual when I bought this 30yr old van...   I use the gauge as a back up....I rely on my odo tripmeter...