Fuel Flow Meters

jkidd · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:31 am Post subject:

Just got back from Yellowstone nice trip. My 2007 will give me Tach, Engine Volts, Engine trim, Fuel Flow, MPG with GPS Sensor, Fuel Remain and range. I probably forgot some, I was hoping for engine temp but that one would not work on mine. With the motor at idle 600 rpms it does give you accurate fuel flow. My navman will not do that until you are at 1000 rpms.
So at idle the tubine does not read right so you lose accuracy. I didn't hook up the engine trim because I allready had the gauge for that. You can program the screens to read up to 4 functions on one screen. The one I use the most shows RPM, Flow, Fuel Remain, Range, it seems to be the my favorite. But you can allways change them or just create more screens. The only thing I wish it had was a color screen in stead of black and white. The color would just look nice, b&w works fine. With Ray changing to color it will just be a matter of time before Lowrance does the same.

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:44 am Post subject:

I ordered a Faria Fuel Manager from Overtons. It was shipped yesterday. Will let CB know how it works.

Fuel management is really important but I am still getting my trailer bunks reinforced and covered in teflon to be able to handle the ocean beach launching we do here. I am doing it in stages so as to not disable the boat/trailer in case there is a chance to go fishing.

I also need to build the over windshield shelf to hold my new sound system. A man has to have "tunes" when fishing.

Everything in due time. Four nice halibut died today.

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:40 am Post subject:

Well, phooey! Matt Gurnsey tells me:

"In talking with my Suzuki Master Tech and Service Manager, it looks like the data available on the older (pre 2005) motors is mainly engine operation (Tach, Volt, Temp- etc) but not the fuel usage data. "

So that pretty well rules out the Suzi SMIS gages for my 2001. He said maybe Floscan but in reading the FloScan info, I find:

Newer model engines with two fuel pumps (low and high pressure) may cause the FloScan instrument's GPH or LPH readings to fluctuate between 0 GPH/LPH and approximately 25-50 GPH or 95-190 LPH depending on the lift pump and engine size. This is due to the engine's lift, or low pressure pump, cycling on and off while filling the vapor separation module. Though the GPH/LPH readings may not be usable under this condition, the FloScan instrument will accurately record total fuel consumption as displayed in the totalizer window.

The Suzi 115DF I have has two fuel pumps...

Now what? Any Brat thoughts/recommendations?

Charlie

jkidd · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:14 pm Post subject:

Charlie

You can still use the Navman/Northstar they will be much more accurate than the site tube or a gas gauge. What I see with my Northstar is when I am running at 600 RPMS the flow reading will stop and go. Probably because of the 2 fuel pumps. At 1000 RPMS I don't see this and the gauge is pretty accurate. Even so after a trip the difference between the Navman and the SMIS Suzuki has never been more than 1 gallon. So if you were just running at 600 RPMS you would want to double check and not rely on the gauge. But if most of your time is spent above 1000 RPMS then I think you'll be happy with the Northstar. My gauge is a 210 not the 310 at the time Northstar had just bought Navman they had stop manufacture of the 310 and didn't know if they were still going to make it.
It looks like they decided to keep making it. Hope this helps.

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject:

It does. What is the difference between/among Northstar/Navman/Floscan? Are they one and the same? Where do they get their input from, a turbine in the gas line?

Charlie

TyBoo · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:32 pm Post subject:

I just got the Northstar 210 but have not installed it yet. It took over a month to get it here - everyone was out of stock. The sending unit for the fuel gauge I have gave up. I'll let you know how I like the thing.

Sneaks · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:12 pm Post subject:

Been busy with health issues Charlie, but had to jump into this thread for a moment. The E80's and C80's do have a NEMA2000 bus already; called "SeaTalk". If you go back about three years on here, you should find the thread where I installed a Lowrance fuel flow meter on the Jenny B, hooked it up to the C80 Seatalk bus and it worked perfectly using every function as advertised, with one very minor issue; the position readout on the Lowrance meter will flash, but it is as accurate as the E80/C80. Can't get much cheaper either. The flow sensor uses a turbine in the fuel line so if you can put the sensor where it senses total fuel flow it'll be cool. Otherwise you'll need two sensors and two meters. Takes a couple of trips to calibrate tankage levels but after that you'll not be off by much if at all.

Then again, technology moves forward. Some of the newer types might serve your Suzuki's better. Dunno

Don

jkidd · Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject:

The Navman 210 has been sold under the names of Navman, Standard, Faria, Northstar, and think some motor manufactures have used it. If you look hard you can find them for $100 bucks. Flowscan is quite a bit more money. I haven't tried theirs.

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:24 am Post subject: Faria Floscanner installed

I finally have my Faria flow scanner installed and it works great IMHO. Trying to locate it over 12" from the compass and over 20" from the radios was a chore.
It works even at 800 rpm puttsing out of the harbor at no-wake speed, about 0.4 gph.

Cruising.............

8.8 gph 3800 rpm 22.8 mph 2.59 mpg
9.2 gph 4000 rpm 25.2 mph 2.74 mpg
9.8 gph 4200 rpm 26.8 mph 2.73 mpg
10.8 gph 4400 rpm 29.2 mph 2.70 mpg

Boat had 4 adults and two kids, 80 gals of fuel and trimmed neutral. Water flat. Speed from GPS. It repeated well.
So it looks like 4000 to 4200 is the rpm for me.

thataway · Posted: Sun Aug 09, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject:

I have used the navman/Northstar (same unit-also was sold by Standard Horizon) on 3 boats. They seem accurate. The C Dory 25 was not reading properly, so I left the new owner a complete new unit. (that was a Lowrance--which seems to use the same flow meter transducers). My son said he had "fiddled with the calibration" by accident and it was not reading correctly--I could not get it to read correctly, so thought it might be a hardware issue.

The Navman/Northstar may not be real accurate at idle--on myTom Cat it reads 0.4 gallons an hour at idle. However the fuel totalizer corresponds with a few percent on the fill ups. At speed the flow seems to be accurate.