Are fuel flow meters worth it?

[Chris1960]

Is this of help, I have the 420hp mechanical engines so kept a note of expected fuel burn :-

RPM 420hp
2800 22.9 Gallons per hour / per engine
2600 17.3 Gallons per hour / per engine
2400 13.3 Gallons per hour / per engine
2200 10.1 Gallons per hour / per engine
2000 7.8 Gallons per hour / per engine
1800 6.2 Gallons per hour / per engine
1600 5.9 Gallons per hour / per engine

 

[ktcanuck]

Thanks Chris. I will add these into the mix. I assume these are Imperial Gallons from your location.

Keith

 

[Chris1960]

Hi Keith, I'm pretty sure I got the details from the US forum at CAT.com so I think it will be US Gallons

 

[fwebster]

Keith,

The table I PM'd you is in US gal and is directly from Caterpillar.........and it is different from this one.

If you want a paper copy, PM me a mailing address and I'll copy it for you. It doesn't appear that Cat even has it in its library now.

 

[Ronxxx]

I put a Flo Scan system on my 1999 400 DB with twin 3116 Diesels. And, yes Frank, you should know your boat and all of it's systems but "Just because I like it..." is a good enough reason. I like the digital tachs and the flow meters and on a 6 to 8 hour 20 knot cruise, I like the comfort of seeing the numbers in front of me verifying the graphs - but after all, I still rely on the Cat graphs to verify the sometimes tricky Flo Scan calibrations.

 

[fwebster]

Its great that you enjoy having the added information afforded by Floscans.

For me it boils down to this: After 15 years with Cat engines, I find them so predictable that all a flow meter will do for me is to confirm what I already know. If efficiency is the goal, then I honestly think a commercial grade autopilot that is speed relative does more for you than observing fuel flow.

 

[trawlerdeejay]

Frank,

Where do i find the GPH for 3116 - 340 HP engine - at various RPM?

Ward