If you do not know a lot about how the fuel system in a car, boat or anything else works, you probably wonder how the fuel gauge knows how much fuel is in the tank. Well, the concept is actually very simple, but it can have some issues, and you are probably familiar with one of those issues, which will be discussed later. Essentially, the fuel tank sending unit has a few components, which includes a floater, wiper and resistor. The floater is connected to a rod, which is known as the wiper because of the motion it makes as the floater moves towards the bottom of your fuel tank, which is when your fuel gauge registers as being empty.
If you pay the slightest amount of attention, however, you have likely noticed that it seems like your fuel gauge sure shows a full tank for a long time, and then it suddenly begins to drop quite a bit. Then, when your tank shows empty, you can continue to drive for several more miles, so what causes this to happen. Well, the answer is pretty simple, and that is the fact that the floater does not begin to really move the wiper much, which causes it to sink, immediately after filling up. You can continue driving on an “empty tank” because the shape of today’s fuel cells allows there to still be gas where the floater does not reach.
Marine Fuel Tank Sending Unit
If you are having issues with your fuel gauge, you may want to evaluate the condition of your marine fuel tank sending, so you do not find yourself stranded on the lake. It may be a minor issue with the wiring, but it typically is an issue with the whole unit. You will find that these units are relatively affordable, and they can be installed by anyone who has the proper tools and knowledge.
Fuel Tank Sending Unit Repair
Attempting to repair a fuel tank sending unit is a very complicated task that requires a lot of electrical and mechanical knowledge. You will need to use a voltmeter to obtain a reading from the resistor. If the reading is anything above zero, your fuel tank will be off by that many ohms. For example, empty for a fuel tank might be 0 ohms, and full might be 90 ohms, so if you get a reading of 8 on empty, you have an issue somewhere.
Universal Fuel Tank Sending Unit
When looking for a fuel tank sending unit for your vehicle, it is important to find a universal one that will properly fit. They are called universal because they will fit several model years, but they will not fit every vehicle on the road. These units are very easy to find, and they are affordable.
Spectra Premium Fuel Tank Sending Unit
The Spectra Premium fuel tank sending unit is one of the best on the market. You will find that this unit is also one of the most affordable, which is great news for those on a budget. By installing one of these units, your fuel tank sending unit will be functioning properly again.
A fuel tank sending unit is a simple system, but it can still have problems. It is normal for all of these systems to be a little inaccurate, so you should not worry if you can drive when the gauge shows empty. If, however, you are running out of gas when it shows you have a quarter of a tank, your unit has problems.