Earthstar Forums

Remember how I was saying how bang on accurate my fuel gauge was?
Well something has gone haywire for some reason. the numbers were all over the place. So I went through the whole recalibration process and after my flight it was messed up again.
Then it occurred to me! The moment I stopped for my first off airport fillup things went screwy. I had filled up with AV gas. After I recalibrated, I filled up with the remaining AV gas.
Could it be that the lead in the gas is the problem? Or is it a coincidence?
Lead is conductive. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks
Fred

Unfortunately, Fred, I think you have the answer. Capacitance type gauges are affected by different fuel types, because they have different capacitance (not really conductivity.) I don't know if this would explain your numbers being "all over the place," or how much difference you were seeing, but yes, it will make a difference. I understand it makes quite a difference whether your 2-stroke mix is in the tank, or injected, for example.

100 low lead is not low in lead.....

Gary

In a message dated 9/1/2011 2:59:10 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
gayford@golden.net writes:


Remember how I was saying how bang on accurate my fuel gauge was?
Well something has gone haywire for some reason. the numbers were all over
the place. So I went through the whole recalibration process and after my
flight it was messed up again.
Then it occurred to me! The moment I stopped for my first off airport
fillup things went screwy. I had filled up with AV gas. After I recalibrated, I
filled up with the remaining AV gas.
Could it be that the lead in the gas is the problem? Or is it a
coincidence?
Lead is conductive. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks
Fred






Hi Fred
I don't think it is the lead, Someone else would have had the same problem
since many use lead with this system. I have drooped this system from my
installations since it can be cantankerous. I think it is a wiring problem,
there is such a small current flow that a damaged wire that has a loose
connection will cause a fluctuation in the reading. might you have bumped the
wire coming out of the block while fueling? Also there are plastic rings on
the electrode that keep it from touching the outer tube, maybe they fell
off and it is making interment contact?

Happy flying
Mark

Thanks Mark and Dick
My numbers just dropped about 25 units, so full should read 98 but dropped to 75.
I still use my clock as a backup. I know that I can get 2 hours flying safely. I will check my wires. So what system do you go for now.
Thanks
Fred

And that's why I put an analog ladies watch, minus the band on my instrument panel to be in my scan. By an hour and a half I'm looking for an airport, no matter how far I've flown, as that last half hour is my reserve.

kb

Yes. reads empty with a half hour reserve, one could live with that for a while, unless it's been pointing in odd directions. guess an ingersoll yankee dollar watch would look nice in a gull, Mr. Gandhi used to wear one like that too
Rahul

Sight Gage


In a message dated 9/2/2011 1:05:21 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
gayford@golden.net writes:




Thanks Mark and Dick
My numbers just dropped about 25 units, so full should read 98 but dropped
to 75.
I still use my clock as a backup. I know that I can get 2 hours flying
safely. I will check my wires. So what system do you go for now.
Thanks
Fred

--- In _Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com_
(mailto:Earthstar_Aircraft@yahoogroups.com) , thundergul@... wrote:
>
>
> In a message dated 9/1/2011 2:59:10 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
> gayford@... writes:
>
>
> Remember how I was saying how bang on accurate my fuel gauge was?
> Well something has gone haywire for some reason. the numbers were all
over
> the place. So I went through the whole recalibration process and after
my
> flight it was messed up again.
> Then it occurred to me! The moment I stopped for my first off airport
> fillup things went screwy. I had filled up with AV gas. After I
recalibrated, I
> filled up with the remaining AV gas.
> Could it be that the lead in the gas is the problem? Or is it a
> coincidence?
> Lead is conductive. Any thoughts on this?
> Thanks
> Fred
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi Fred
> I don't think it is the lead, Someone else would have had the same
problem
> since many use lead with this system. I have drooped this system from my

> installations since it can be cantankerous. I think it is a wiring
problem,
> there is such a small current flow that a damaged wire that has a loose
> connection will cause a fluctuation in the reading. might you have
bumped the
> wire coming out of the block while fueling? Also there are plastic rings
on
> the electrode that keep it from touching the outer tube, maybe they fell
> off and it is making interment contact?
>
> Happy flying
> Mark
>

Thanks Gary
Well I got my answer today.I had high octane no alcohol car gas in the tank and then reset my guage. Everything is back to normal. This is the second tank. So it was the av gas.
By the way I don,t premix the gas. I figure Rotax knows what they are doing so I go with their injector which works great.
I suppose if I had to get av gas again I could observe what the numbers relate to as 1/2 tank and 1/4 tank as I fill it up. Then I would have something that made sense. Hopefully
when I filled up with car gas the numbers would self correct without resetting the guage.
Live and learn. But my backup is always going to be my watch velcroed to my dash that I set to 12.00 the moment the engine starts and I know that I have a good 2 hours of safe flight before I eat into my reserve.
Fred