Fuel Guage reliability in Regal 2565 -2007 model

[george unthank]

I recently put 100 liters of diesel into my Regal 2565 . I have done about about 16 Hrs on clock sine then. The fuel guage has scarcely moved over these 16hrs. Besides when all power is off the guage reads just below half full- and remains static at half full when electrics all off. .
However , when I turn power on and turn ignition to 1 st position, and as the system is running it's own checks , the fuel guage drops to 0 , then climbs back to just half full .
How doe these fuel guages work ? By a ball-cock type mechanism or some digital device?
Leet me clarify that .Is the fuel guage operated by a floatation device within the fuel tank or is it operated digitally somehow ?
Is there any other way of determining how much fuel is in tank ?. I know a dip stick will be suggested , but the dip- down to the tank is curved and is therefore unlikely to give a reliable reading .
Is there any other way of checking whether my guage is working . It may well be reading correctly as I have been doing most of my motoring at 5-6 knots/hr ( 0.3 GPH) thus far , as there were only 16 hrs on the new engine in craft when I purchased it this past Aug .
I need to know ASAP please as I have a dread of running out of fuel.I tried revving it up for a bit and as the bow went up the fuel indicator dropped back back. Are the guages reliable?. and how reliable ?
Do these models -Regal 2565-2007 year , need to have engines 'bled' if they run out of fuel - Major trauma that if or when it happens .
But I drive a diesel Mercedes car -2004 model which has overcome this problem somehow.
The engine in my Regal is a Volvo D3 Diesel- 190 HP
Any help would be much appreciated
With thanks , in anticipation

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Not sure if this'll be any help, but ... years ago I had a Regal 2450, which had a fuel tank sender failure. Iirc there was a circular access hatch in the centre of the cockpit floor, just in front of the engine compartment. Opening that hatch revealed another circular hatch, and below that you could see the tank, and there was (not very easy) access to the sender. Mine was one of those linear senders with a floaty magnet with a hole in it that slid up and down the pole to indicate level. Like this:

If it was me I'd start by pulling the sender out and seeing if you can get the gauge to move. Then it's a fairly simple operation to track down if the fault is the sender, the gauge or the wiring.

Good luck!

Cheers
Jimmy

 

[Nautibusiness]

The best way not to run out of fuel is by putting some in the tank.

Fill the tank to the brim.
Somewhere in your owners manual it will tell you the size of your fuel tank.
See how much fuel you have just put in and compare that to the size of your tank.
Next, now your tank is full, check to see where the gauge is. Hopefully, it too is now at full.

Over the next 16 or so hours, monitor the situation and again, fill the tank to the brim.

Do that a couple of times and you'll soon see if the gauge is working and also if it is at all accurate.

BUT, it is a gauge. Without checking the actual dictionary definition of gauge it is only an indication. Do not rely on it. Get to know how much fuel your boat uses for the trips you are doing. Your brain will, with experience, be a far more accurate gauge.

 

[BartW]

untill you're completely shure about the accuracy of the fuel gauches,
you could place a 20l jerry can with fuel in your boat,

when running without, the D3's need to be bleeded, but there is a pump on top / portside of the engine, (the black rubber knob)

I ran out in one occasion and it worked for me, (I alway's try to run on minimum fuel in the tank, re. weight / trailable boat)

 

[george unthank]

Not sure if this'll be any help, but ... years ago I had a Regal 2450, which had a fuel tank sender failure. Iirc there was a circular access hatch in the centre of the cockpit floor, just in front of the engine compartment. Opening that hatch revealed another circular hatch, and below that you could see the tank, and there was (not very easy) access to the sender. Mine was one of those linear senders with a floaty magnet with a hole in it that slid up and down the pole to indicate level. Like this:

http://forum.difflock.com/userpix

/635_Boat_fuel_tank_sender_1.jpg





Good luck!

Cheers
Jimmy

Many Thanks Jimmy
Your instructions are exacting and explicit - couldn't
be more precise : problem is that this all a little above my pay grade as a boater . I know I need to know more about engines and how they work.

I'll be brave on this occasion , fortified as I now am with your expertise , and ferret out the problem somehow .

 

[george unthank]

The best way not to run out of fuel is by putting some in the tank.

Fill the tank to the brim.
Somewhere in your owners manual it will tell you the size of your fuel tank.
See how much fuel you have just put in and compare that to the size of your tank.
Next, now your tank is full, check to see where the gauge is. Hopefully, it too is now at full.

Over the next 16 or so hours, monitor the situation and again, fill the tank to the brim.

Do that a couple of times and you'll soon see if the gauge is working and also if it is at all accurate.



.
BUT, it is a gauge. Without checking the actual dictionary definition of gauge it is only an indication. Do not rely on it. Get to know how much fuel your boat uses for the trips you are doing. Your brain will, with experience, be a far more accurate gauge.

This sounds like a simple and basically sound idea - even to the feeble minded such as me
Thank you for taking time to assist .
G.

 

[george unthank]

untill you're completely shure about the accuracy of the fuel gauches,
you could place a 20l jerry can with fuel in your boat,

when running without, the D3's need to be bleeded, but there is a pump on top / portside of the engine, (the black rubber knob)

I ran out in one occasion and it worked for me, (I alway's try to run on minimum fuel in the tank, re. weight / trailable boat)

Another good and I'm sure reliable suggestion .As for finding the knob.. I'm sure I'll find it if I scan the manual sufficiently . You see what I mean about my ''entry level'' of learning grade in boat engies . No excuse . This is my 4 th cruiser. I've always ( selfishly) relied on others to do the heavy lifting and thinking .
Ever so grateful for your response
George