Smartcraft fuel level not accurate

[Aerobaticflyer]

Here is a problen I think I have had since day one on my 300 DA which I bought new. The starboard fuel level is not reflected accurately on my Smartcraft gauge. I know this because I always fill both tanks (each holds 84 gallon which the Smartcraft gauge correctly indicates so I know the capacity is set right). I alway burn fuel equally as indicated by the fuel flow gauges as well as the fuel burned indicators on the Smartcraft gauges. Yet I always "run out" of fuel on the starboard side while the port side indicates 40% or about 40 gallons remaining in the port tank. Of course I'm not out of fuel on the starboard side and have run as many as 30 miles on "zero fuel" so I know I have a sensor or indicator malfunction. It's as if the fuel sensor on the starboard side is not set far enough down in the tank. The readings on that side are always wrong in both "fuel percentage" remaining as well as "fuel gallons" remaining.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this and could it be a calibration thing in your opinion? I have had my marina (MM) look at it and all they did was recalibrate all the settings on the gauge but that made no change to my problem.

Thank you for any insight any of you can offer.

 

[Vince_nj1]

I have a similar issue with my 320. Not quite as bad as yours, but close. I am anxious to see if someone posts a solution. I'm assuming that the sensor on the tank is wacky, because by analog guages match my smart craft readings.

 

[lohxmc1]

I have the same problem with my port tank in that when I fill it up, it registers about 3/4 full. As I drive it, it start to correct itself.

Don't know the solution but thought I would boat this season, and let SeaRay fix it at the end of the season!!

 

[Aerobaticflyer]

I have the same problem with my port tank in that when I fill it up, it registers about 3/4 full. As I drive it, it start to correct itself.

Don't know the solution but thought I would boat this season, and let SeaRay fix it at the end of the season!!

Your issue is different than mine. Yours sounds like the gauge is not calibrated to represent the actual capacity of the tank. The other cause could be if you have an irregular shaped tank and the gauge has not been calibrated to take that into account (directions to do this are in your smartcraft manual).

Mine reads the correct amount when full......it just doesn't remain accurate as I draw fuel down (my tank is rectangle shape so it's not a calibration issue). I miss the days of a simple analog gauge.....it may bounce around a lot but at least you know how much fuel you have on board. Maybe a dipstick deal is in order! :smt101 Technology...gotta love it.

 

[skolbe]

I have the same problem with my port tank in that when I fill it up, it registers about 3/4 full. As I drive it, it start to correct itself.

Don't know the solution but thought I would boat this season, and let SeaRay fix it at the end of the season!!

The Smartcraft system - does not like the tanks full for some reason - I never fill my completely anymore. I usually add 100 gallons at a time. When you do fill them - it takes 15 minutes for it to register full.

 

[2003380]

You don't have analog guages. They are electronically connected to the smartcraft.

I get different readings when on plane and therfore do not rely on them at all.

Do you get the same false readings when the boat is not moving?

In my smartcraft there is a page that shows fuel burn and gallons left. If you set up the tank sizes correctly and filled both tanks ... that's really the way to go.

 

[Aerobaticflyer]

You don't have analog guages. They are electronically connected to the smartcraft.

I get different readings when on plane and therfore do not rely on them at all.

Do you get the same false readings when the boat is not moving?

In my smartcraft there is a page that shows fuel burn and gallons left. If you set up the tank sizes correctly and filled both tanks ... that's really the way to go.

My starboard gauge reads wrong no matter what except when it is full (84 gallons and 100%). The more I burn the further off it gets. Usually it reads empty when the port tank reads 40% or 35 gallons despite drawing equally from both sides. The "used amount" and GPH readings work fine so I use that as my estimate of how much is left and just ignore the low fuel warnings but it's annoying and if I don't fill up the tank I can't use that method for estimating how much fuel is left in the starboard tank. PITA. :smt021

 

[Hampton]

Sounds like the in-tank sensor is bad or installed poorly.

Caution on the incremental method of setting up your gauges. I did my starboard tank this way, and instead of a smooth-flow gauge reading, it would jump to each subsequent 1/4 of tank. I ran out with the gauge reading 1/4. I ended up going back to factory settings.