Gaslow meter

Hi all I know the gas gauge in the van is not very accurate, but today mine was showing empty so I go and get it filled, 8ltrs it took not the 15-20 that I was expecting. The tank is 25ltrs so the guage is just about Useless!

Yep!

StewPotch wrote:Yep!

Yep

Thanks gents just checking it wasn't me

There are two different gauges, one with 5 lights, one with 9. I have the former. Previously I have filled when down to three and it's taken 6 or 8 litres. Last week I was down to one light but it still only took 11 litres.Still it's better than it over-reading. 
Remember it can only fill to 80% so the max it holds is 20 litres.

There are a few threads on the Forum about this well-known issue. The tank should have been properly and carefully aligned at the prescribed angle when installed. If it wasn't, re-setting it will imrove the gauge's accuracy.
Cymro

Nope!
It's not very accurate, but that shouldn't make it useless, although I must say Karl's does sound a bit extreme! 

Assuming it reads somewhere near what it should, the secret is to get used to it and learn how many litres you get per light.

On ours (the 9 light version in a 20 litre tank) each time a light goes out I know we've used just under 2 litres. It's not very accurate, but it is consistent and reliable, so it is useful.

Thinking about it, our gauge might be pretty accurate in fact. The float on the gauge doesn't drop right to the bottom of the tank, so it's possible that when it reads empty (8 lights out, so about 15 litres used) there are 5 litres left in there. This could be deliberate for use as a "reserve" tank?? 

I can on speculate because I never let it get much below half empty before topping up - as I do with the diesel! Cymro is spot on with the alignment issue. Our tank wasn't as bad as Karl's but it needed rotating a bit, and has been far more accurate since then.

I have the 9 light one so I will have a look and check the alignment

Do you know how to check Karl?

Your tank may be one of the new ones that are permanently fixed at (theoretically) the correct angle.

If it has the integral fixing brackets like this one there's nothing you can do about the alignment. It must be something else that's giving a very false reading.

I ran my tank down to one led (red) and the fill took 15.5 L which I am OK with so long as it is consistent i.e. one led always means 15.5 L to fill hence tank was holding 4.5L assuming it is 20L full.

Just a thought but all statements on gauge accuracy seem to be based on the fact that a full tank must be holding exactly 20 litres.
I understand that 20L is the spec of the tank but is it reasonable to believe the 80% cut off is 100% accurate and a full tank is holding 20 litres?

I agree Don.

It can only be an approximation, which is why we are both happy with a consistent reading - once we have the experience to interpret it correctly.

It needs only a brief visualisation to realise that a float on a pivot moving vertically in a long tubular vessel can't possibly deliver a linear reading. It can only ever be an indication, but as you say, as long as it's consistent it's reliable enough.

OH writes down the reading and the volume of gas added. It seems to be pessimistic. Half full will only take 8 litres etc. Empty on the gauge still seems to have a couple of litres.  So the gauge is far from useless but needs interpreting.

Mine has never really worked. Shows red all the time but the guage on the tank itself shows nearly full. Tank guage must be in the running for least accessible guage in motoring. Still useful as a check tho. 

Warwick Duo, love it apart from this and the fitted 4 times under warranty then you know what? leave it, stick on insulation around the water tank. 

And the battery flattening Sargent,

Oh, and the great sound system but only with ign on. 

Genius

There's a YouTube vudeo on how to synchronise your cab gauge with the tank gauge.

There has been loads of info on this subject on here and else where.
You will not get accurate readings of the liquid in the tank or cylinder where LPG is concerned Fact of life

However when we start powering these motors with Hydrogen you will be pleased to know you will get accurate readings of the gas content

Paulmold wrote:There's a YouTube vudeo on how to synchronise your cab gauge with the tank gauge.

thanks, plus I misspelled gauge! oops!

the dealer never got it working but since its a 150 mile round trip, like the tank insulation, i gave up.

Good news. Filled the gas tank in France. Bingo! Cab guage started working. Gawd knows why!