Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2005 9:12 am Post subject: Fuel level sensor
I have the standard fuel level sensor, which tends to read with a pendulum effect when the tank is anything but totally full.
Think I remember Graham saying he bought a diff type of sensor, which was essentially a tube, with a small hole in the bottom, with fuel level being measured inside tube. As the measuring tube is fed by a small hole this effectively dampens reading, so it is unaffected by rapid level changes (fuel surge within tank).
Have I understood this correctly
How sucessful is it.
Demon Tweeks sell this sensor, but where should I buy it from (cheaply)
What size do I need (standard size fuel tank)
Yup, that was me. I've got one of the ATL sensors, actually got mine from DT but they are made by a company called Livorsi (http://www.livorsi.com/) I found that out when I needed technical support;)
It's actually quite clever, there are no moving parts, it is tube approx 13mm diameter with a rod down the centre, the rod is kept from touching the tube with plastic spacers every few cm. It actually measures capacitance between the tube and the rod, as the level changes, so does the capacitance. The bottom of the tube is open, the top is sealed except for a small hole in it, this is what damps the fuel level changes. It also uses exactly the same fitting as the VDO gauge so you can use the ring with the threaded holes that comes with the VDO.
That's the good bit, now the bad bits…
1) It needs power so you've got to run a nice ignition controlled live to the sender.
2) Second problem, it's output is a little strange, it's at the limits of what my Stack dash can handle as the difference between full and empty isn't massive. I think if you had a normal gauge you'd be knackered. If you want to go this route then I suspect you either have to have an electronic gauge or get the ATL gauge which is designed to work with it.
3) Worth noting, if you do use an electronic gauge such as stack, replace the earth to the sender so it’s one piece of wire running from the stack to the sender. This gave me no end of problems (even with the VDO gauge) and left me stuck on the A16 outside Calais for quite some time last year! Certainly worth doing whilst you're doing (1).
I think somebody said they had found more conventional sender of similar design, basically a float in a tube, which would achieve the same thing (well damped) but be a little less problematically. IIRC it was David Stephen on the S8 list.
Looks good let me know how you get on, would be well up for one of these if they are any good. Must be better than the current inclinometer / g-meter set up!!!
Graham,
When were you stuck on the A16 near Calais, June'ish? Might have driven past you . _________________ Colin
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Not the WSCC Essex AO
Chap who is selling WRX Wagon on the main club web site says it has detachable tow bar, might be worth enquiring where he got it. _________________ Colin
_________________
Not the WSCC Essex AO
When were you stuck on the A16 near Calais, June'ish? Might have driven past you .
It was indeed June, Le Man weekend... Quite a lot of people drove past, I think it had something to do with it pi$$ing down at the time. We had to get a Frenchie out in the end, cost 50 euros. Considering that included callout charge and 10 litres of petrol, wasn't that bad. Unfortunately, the guy didn't notice us, drove past, back on the other carraigeway and round again, took him 'kin hours and we never got to the pub.
Me bruv in law was emotionally scarred for life and wouldn't let me drive past a petrol station without topping up for the rest of the weekend!
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