bigred1cav
ohio
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Joined: 09/14/2009
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It seems my 2000 Pace Arrow is lying about the gas level. I read 1/2 tank and go to fill up it takes much less than 40 gallons and still reads 1/2 full.
How difficult or expensive by a mechanic is replacement of the gas level sending gauge?
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xctraveler
Livingston TX
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Joined: 10/28/2002
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All fuel gauges lie, most work better than yours. I ignore mine. At 1/2 I am down 45 to 50 gal on a 75 gal tank. 75 gal gives me a 475 mile range to empty. I reset the trip odo to 0 when I fill. Plan to fill when odo shows 240 to 300 miles. I can usually guess the gallon I'll take within 2 without consulting the gauge. I refill early so I will have fuel for the generator should I need to stop overnight without electric (and without sun for my solar). Spend the money saved on on repairing the gauge for something useful.
Paul
Trucking down the road in our new Phaeton 36QSH on Freightliner Chassis with a Cummins 380 pushing it. 2011 Cherry Red Jeep Wrangler Rubicon with US Gear Unified Tow Brake System. Check out my blog
FMCA 352081 SKP# 99526
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OnaQuest
Old enough to be a
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Joined: 01/15/2006
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xctraveler wrote:All fuel gauges lie, most work better than yours. I ignore mine. At 1/2 I am down 45 to 50 gal on a 75 gal tank. 75 gal gives me a 475 mile range to empty. I reset the trip odo to 0 when I fill. Plan to fill when odo shows 240 to 300 miles. I can usually guess the gallon I'll take within 2 without consulting the gauge. I refill early so I will have fuel for the generator should I need to stop overnight without electric (and without sun for my solar). Spend the money saved on on repairing the gauge for something useful.
I have done exactly the same for the last six years. Works just fine.
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the bear II
Torrance CA.
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Joined: 02/14/2008
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If you can get a hard wood stick down the filler tube you can make a "Farmer Guage". Start with the stick dry and fill up the tank full.
Put the stick in the tank until it hits bottom. Pull it out and make a notch on the stick to show full. Calculate your mileage range to 1/2 full. When you reach that mileage stop and stick in your "Farmer Guage". Pull it out and notch at half full. Keep making notches for 1/4 and 3/4.
However, like others I too just use my odometer to guage how much fuel I have left on a trip.
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Don & Linda
Western PA / Cape Cod
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Joined: 07/23/2004
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the bear II wrote:If you can get a hard wood stick down the filler tube you can make a "Farmer Guage". Start with the stick dry and fill up the tank full.
Put the stick in the tank until it hits bottom. Pull it out and make a notch on the stick to show full. Calculate your mileage range to 1/2 full. When you reach that mileage stop and stick in your "Farmer Guage". Pull it out and notch at half full. Keep making notches for 1/4 and 3/4.
However, like others I too just use my odometer to guage how much fuel I have left on a trip.
Since most MH fuel tanks have the fuel inlet at the upper sidewall of the tank, projecting out on a mostly horizontal plane, I highly doubt a "farmer's gauge" would do you much good and I'd hate to see you driving with a wooden wick sticking out of the fuel filler, if it got stuck, due to the bends and twists of the filler hoses. 
Renewing the fuel gauge sending unit is the same labor charge as renewing the pump assy. If renewing one, I'd do both at the same time. The price depends on the location and quality of the repair shop you choose. Call around locally and choose one or use the odometer method as recommended above. Good luck, Don
Sorry if this post seems long, I lacked the time to make it shorter.
almost quote from S.L. Clemens
Don & Linda
1st RV UL EMS 4s Dome
2nd RV 21' AMF Scamper TT PV D300 Dodge
3rd RV National Seabreeze 133LX w/Demco Dolly
4th RV Jayco 2450 5TH PV Ford F-250 SD
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gbopp
The Keystone State
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I just fill up or at least start looking at 200 miles on the odometer.
It's time for a break anyway.
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Desert Captain
Tucson
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Here is another good reason to add a Scan Gauge. At $159 they have got to be cheaper than replacing your existing gauge/plumbing and they will do a lot more than just give you precise fuel consumption data. Just something to think about. 
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OnaQuest
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Joined: 01/15/2006
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Desert Captain wrote:Here is another good reason to add a Scan Gauge. At $159 they have got to be cheaper than replacing your existing gauge/plumbing and they will do a lot more than just give you precise fuel consumption data. Just something to think about.
I'm afraid that won't work om my '97 ford.
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bigred1cav
ohio
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Desert Captain wrote:Here is another good reason to add a Scan Gauge. At $159 they have got to be cheaper than replacing your existing gauge/plumbing and they will do a lot more than just give you precise fuel consumption data. Just something to think about.
i HAVE A SCAN GAUGE, HOw does it read if the sending unit is malfunctioning? I am not a mechanic and am not being factious just don't know?
How do I get the scan gauge to read the tank? I use it for instant mileage and trip mileage have not understood how to read engine problems etc.
Thanks
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Desert Captain
Tucson
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bigred1cav wrote:Desert Captain wrote:Here is another good reason to add a Scan Gauge. At $159 they have got to be cheaper than replacing your existing gauge/plumbing and they will do a lot more than just give you precise fuel consumption data. Just something to think about.
i HAVE A SCAN GAUGE, HOw does it read if the sending unit is malfunctioning? I am not a mechanic and am not being factious just don't know?
How do I get the scan gauge to read the tank? I use it for instant mileage and trip mileage have not understood how to read engine problems etc.
Thanks
You don't. The Scan Gauge does not compute fuel levels from the gauge or the sender (tank levels). It is my understanding that it gives fuel data based upon what you have burned and miles traveled. Every time you fill the tank the SC gives an educated guess of how much fuel it will take. You then correct the SC by entering exactly what you added and it "learns/corrects". With each subsequent tank of gas it gets more and more accurate. I've only had mine for a few tanks but it is getting closer with every fill up. Fuel consumption while driving is updated every 2 seconds.
A little misdemeanor thread drift here....It also offers a multitude of digital engine read outs. My personal favorite is transmission fluid temperature, digital Fahrenheit display of coolant and oil temps, current HP etc..
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