Fuel Monitoring Systems: Lowrance, Floscan, others?

M

mark guthrie

Member
Aug 25, 2009
101
St. Pete, FL
Boat Info
2001 280 Sundancer
Engines
4.3L with Alphas
Does anyone have experience with fuel consumption monitoring systems? I am looking to install on my 280 Sundander, with 4.3 Merc IOs. Any input would be appreciated. I am thinking about this for two reasons: 1) for optimizing fuel consumption with different loads/conditions, 2) if engines are using too much fuel, could be an indicator of a problem...blew an engine recently...that cause I was told was running way to rich.
 
I installed Garmin GFS-10 meters several years ago. My only regret is not doing it sooner. I was basing the cost on the traditional Floscan prices and didn't realize how simple and inexpensive the alternatives were. The GFS-10 is very similar to the Lowrance. Mine communicate on my NMEA-2000 network to my plotter, but they're compatible with CANet too. The Garmins are more expensive than Lowrance, but I've had good luck with all of my Garmin gear and I had heard about some failures with the Lowrance meters.

The accuracy is amazing. As you mentioned, there's peace of mind in being able to monitor changes in the burn rates, knowing exactly how much fuel is aboard, and finding the moving target of most-efficient cruise speed.
 
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I have a Floscan that went bad last year I'm replacing it with a GFS-10 the sensor for the Floscan cost more than Garmin plus you don't need to drill a 3" hole somewhere to mount a gauge now I need to plug a hole or find something to fit in it. I'd go with the Lowrance if that's what you have for electronics.
 
I would love to have Floscans on my CAT's. I may check into the cost of adding these.
 
I have the GFS10 and it works very well. The integration of the fuel data with the GPS provides a MPG reading which I don't believe that some of the other fuel flow options do. I rarely look at the analog fuel gauge because the GFS10 is so accurate.
 
Guys, thanks for the input. So it is sounding like the Garmin GFS10 is the way to go. Problem is that I don't have a plotter. I use my iPad, with a protective case that is mounted with a great app. Does anyone know if the GFS10 has a dedicated display? I will see if I can get a hold of someone at Garmin tomorrow.

Many thanks...and any other ideas are appreciated.

-Mark
 
Get the serial number off your engines and see if thay are nmea2000 compatible. After a certain serial number the engines had an ECM that you could just plug into with an adapter. Vesselview is mercruiser's own digital gauges lingo. There is a page on mercury where you can look up your motors serial nmbers and it will tell you.
 
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Mark, i installed a floscan last summer and love it. I put it where my speedo was. It fit perfect. I will be happy to send you some pics of the installation in my 280. They ate posted on here somewhere. It is amazing what a 200 rpm difference can make in fuel consumption.
Mike
 
mark guthrie said:
Guys, thanks for the input. So it is sounding like the Garmin GFS10 is the way to go. Problem is that I don't have a plotter. I use my iPad, with a protective case that is mounted with a great app. Does anyone know if the GFS10 has a dedicated display? I will see if I can get a hold of someone at Garmin tomorrow.

Many thanks...and any other ideas are appreciated.

-Mark
Click to expand...

The GFS-10 does not include a display. Garmin has an independent display called the GMI-10, but the price falls into the "what where they thinking" category. Aside from paying $500 for a few inches of LCD screen, you also wouldn't get what I think is the best part of the networked meters: tie-in to GPS data to calculate economy instead of just basic GPH.

Fuel data display has been a capability in some plotters for a while now, so you might be able to get a used plotter for less than the cost of a full Floscan setup.

Also note: the GFS-10 comes with a long power cable, but a short NMEA-2000 cable, so you'll need to figure in costs of the "backbone" and network connections to get up to your dash.
 
Does anyone know if it will interface with all nmea2000 multifunction displays or just garmin?
 
I had floscans in my previous boat (see avatar) and loved them. The boat came with them when I bought her in 2004. I did have to replace both gauges and both senders over the years.

Current boat boat has NMEA 2000 capability on the motors (repowered in 2008) but the Raymarine RLC80 is only NMEA 0183. I was thinking of buying a used Smartcraft display and running the appropriate cable to that OR buying a small multifunction display (Raymarine e7) and using that for monitoring the engines and as a backup GPS. Just unsure how to get from the ECM to the back of the e7.
 
Well it was looking like the Garmin GFS10. However, I just talked to Garmin that they said this system will not work with fuel injection. He however did not seem that confident with the answer...just said people have had problems with the accuracy. Also, it seems like it could be installed on the low pressure side.

Any input?
 
Strange he would say that. Good ol' "Level 1 Support" strikes again! What he was getting at is that the GFS-10 won't work with a system that returns fuel to the tank. (even then, it would "work", but over-estimate consumption by not accounting for the returned fuel).
 
thanks to 440DA fellow...that is exactly what I thought. Do you have personal experience that it will work? The weird thing I have found is that the marine shops around here have little experience with this and those that do have never installed the Garmin.

Has anyone else bought the Garmin GFS-10 and used with fuel injection? I'm ready to the pull the trigger and but it.
 
My 1998 5.7's don't have anything 'cool' on them electronic... nothing off the MEFI1.... could I use the garmin into my Simrad NSS8 display?
 
psubill78, the garmin fuel flow sensors are nema2000. Is your simrad? Are your engines carb'ed? I checked the garmin site again yesterday and see NO reference to NOT working with fuel injection-even though their support desk said there have been problems.
 
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