Fuel Flow Meters

C

Captains Cat

New member
Not sure whether this should be here or in Outboards and Systems but here goes.

I'm tired of not knowing how much fuel I have on board and overfilling it occasionally. The Suzuki gages are useless, always have been. The sending units are virtually inaccessable on the TC255.

Have read almost all I could find on this site about flow meters. Navman, Floscan, etc. I don't have a NEMA 2000 bus on the boat and don't particularly want one. Just a simple system (I have two Suzi 2001 115 4 Strokes on a TC255). Either one gage that will read two engines or two gages.

I have to move my Racor Filters from inside the hull to the transom over the Armstrong bracket so will do the sending unit install at the same time.

The tanks are 75Gal Aluminum and, as I said, it's darn near impossible to lay your hand on the sending unit top, much less pull it out. The gas level indicator is one gage with a P/S switch to indicate level.

I have an E-80 Multifunction Display that apparently could display stuff like this but without it being networked, not sure how if at all.

Ideas/recommendations?

BTW, my earlier install of the S-1000 Autopilot proved perfectly adequate for the TC255, no problems to date, I love it!

Charlie
 
Hi I have a F-115 Yami with Yami gauges just as useless as your Suzuki gauges. the navman 2100 that i have just went south today so i have to buy another flow meter. I have 2/ 30 gallon alum tanks that show empty on both tanks when there actually is over 10 gallons in each tank .So I usuallly fill up and check my GPS and put it back to 00 then when I have gone about 200miles my yami gauges show empty but i usually have about 20 gallons left I,m getting 4.5-5mpg statute with a light 23 venture (cape cruiser) about 1/4 of the time just going idle speed in naples bay and canals.
I usually depend on this navman as a backup to GPS and Yami gauges I figure using this method i'll be fine haven,t run out of gas yet IN fact I 've put on over 200hrs in 15 months with this boat I use 5mpg for running around Naples but for long hauls or cruising 4000rpm ( 22mph )I would use 4mpg so I would not run out of gas .I'm going to try to fix my sending units in the alum tanks then get another navman flow meter then i'll be good to go
 
Captains Cat":3ioorf8d said:
Navman, Floscan, etc. I don't have a NEMA 2000 bus on the boat and don't particularly want one. Just a simple system (I have two Suzi 2001 115 4 Strokes on a TC255). Either one gage that will read two engines or two gages.


Ideas/recommendations?


Charlie
Click to expand...

Hi Charlie.

I have the 2008 Suzuki 115. I started out with the Suzuki flow meter that uses the flow meter that goes in the gas line. It is basically is identical to the Navman unit. (I also have the Navman). It does OK but at displacement speed the fuel flow is so low on the Suzuki that the flow meter will not read. I switched over the Suzuki NEMA 2000 gauge that takes the fuel flow measurement directly from the engine computer. I had some issues in getting the NEMA 2000 gauge to interface with the engine. (A plug at the motor had to be moved from one place to another.) but once I did that I love the gauge. You can program it to give you all kinds of useful information, like real engine temp. It also took me half way from Pensacola to Brownsville, Tx to get it calibrated but now that it is, it is extremely accurate. (within 1/2 gal on a 24 gal tank.)

I also broke down and got the NEMA GPS unit. So I can get actual MPG at various RPM's. I have found that my actual MPG changes very little over a wide rpm range. The only thing that changes is my speed. So on a calm day I go 24mph and not burn anymore gas than if I were only going 16MPH. Actually, there is slot in there that my millage goes up by going faster. This sweet spot will shift a little depending on the wind and sea current. I would not know this without the flow meter.
 
Does anyone know if my f115 yami will use the new 2000 NEMA to connect to my Yamaha gauges or my garmin 498 GPS?? What would I have to do or have to buy to have reliable gauges ?

I'm thinking of fixing senders in Alum tanks also getting new sender for navman 2100 is there any thing else I can do ?
 
Jennykatz,
If you have the Yamaha Fuel Management gauge it will connect to your Garmin. One wire, I forget the color. This will give you MPG.
 
Hi Charlie,
A good fuel flow system is on the back of my mind too...so far my estimates from other Tomcat owners coupled with an understanding of the 40g delta shown on my fuel gauges has worked out.

I can say that if you remove what I call the line holders you can get good access to your fuel sending unit. When I replaced my fuel pickup tube I had to work in that area and removing the regular access port and the line holders made it much easier.
 
To get the Yamaha fuel imformation from the engine computer requires the use of their Command Link network system.

This system is not NMEA 2000, but Maretron does make an adapater that plugs into the Command Link network and then into the T of a NMEA 2000 netowrk. Maretron part number is MARE-003, and retail is $131.25.

FYI- If you want to send NMEA 2000 data into the Command Link network, you'll need adapter cable MARE-002, also $131.25.

On any of these motors (Yamaha, Suzuki Evinrude, whatever), the most accurate fuel usage will be measured by the engine computer.

The NMEA 2000 system is pretty easy to install, and not as involed as some of the sensor driven systems can be. If accuracy is the goal, I would go with the system that is driven by the engine computer.
 
I have a single 200 hp Honda on my CD.
Is there a simple fuel flow scan meter that I can buy at a reasonable price for it. I do not have a NEMA2000 bus or a multifunction display or any of that nor do I know what all of that is. I can plumb in fuel lines and run wiring to gauges.
I just want a simple cut the fuel line and install it gizmo and run wires up to a dash gauge. KISS is my moto.
 
Hightide

As mentioned earlier the most accurate way is to read the computer on the motor. If your motor is a 2005 or later Honda has a digital gauge that has fuel management in it. The problem with putting the turbine in the fuel line is at slow speed the turbine has trouble turning so you lose accuracy. Don't worry about the Nmea 2000 buss it is simply a wire with terminators at each end no big deal.

hondagauge.jpg
 
Charlie, on our C-Dory 22 what we did was install a gas gauge on either side of the cockpit near the gas filler tubes. The gauges are controlled by a push button. As you fill the tank you can check to see how much is in the tank.

Doug
 
I have an older 2-stroke and a metal tank that has a poor gauge. Since I have to premix, I really need some measurement prior to filling to get a ballpark on amount of oil to put in. The floscan, about $300, does the job well. I cut into the gas line, installed the turbine, and ran wires up to the dash where I can see gph and total gallons. It can be switched on/off to clear the gallons, and can also be switched off to turn off the gph function. It works well. I also use it to tell when I'm running the best speed for the best consumption. Overtons has a digital unit, the Faria Fuel Manager, that is $200 on sale in the Spring 2009 catalogue. Ron
 
Jody, any idea what functions I might not get using the Suzuki SMIS gages on a 2001 Suzi (first year of the DF115). The literature says not all functions may work with an earlier than 2004 engine. Browns told me that they thought at least the fuel flow function would work.

I may have to call Suzuki...

Charlie
 
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.
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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
 
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