Fuel gauge reading on Ovation 2.

[M20R]

My right gauge is acting strange. When the tank is full it reads correct. As you use fuel it reads correct until it gets down to 30 gallons, then it will stay on 30 gallons for more than 40 minutes then it will start to read correctly all the way to empty. I know there are two fuel senders in the tank but I'm not sure where the problem is. Any ideas?

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, M20R said:

My right gauge is acting strange. When the tank is full it reads correct. As you use fuel it reads correct until it gets down to 30 gallons, then it will stay on 30 gallons for more than 40 minutes then it will start to read correctly all the way to empty. I know there are two fuel senders in the tank but I'm not sure where the problem is. Any ideas?

Do you have the Moritz electronic instruments? What year and serial number is your Ovation?

[M20R]

Yes to Moritz. serial is 29-0316.  Year =2003

[LANCECASPER]

6 minutes ago, M20R said:

Yes to Moritz. serial is 29-0316.  Year =2003

The outboard sender could be hanging up. Your service center may have to drain the tank and see if the arm of the sender needs to be adjusted.

Unfortunately with the Moritz if it’s the gauge itself once the instruments start going you don’t have many options. Moritz isn’t around and no one services those units. Then it’s time to start thinking about a JPI930 or 900 or an EI MVP-50 or Garmin EIS. Any owners with Moritz would be wise to budget for that changeover since it grounds the airplane when there’s no tach or MP gauge, etc, etc, etc.

 

[oregon87]

22 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

Then it’s time to start thinking about a JPI930 or 900 or an EI MVP-50 or Garmin EIS.he outboard sender could be hanging up. Your service center may have to drain the tank and see if the arm of the sender needs to be adjusted

 

FYI, it looks like we will be offering very attractive rebates at Oshkosh.  For those that cannot attend, we will be offering a rebate for the entire month of July, as well!  Without giving too much away, expect well over $1000.00 discounts on MVP-50P packages.  

[MIm20c]

Agree with Lance about the sticking outboard fuel sensor. I would have that checked first.  I’ve not heard of any fuel quantity malfunctions with the lovely moritz system, normally it’s the tach or MP gauge that push people to trash the system. @M20R if you need some extra components to troubleshoot/fix the system let me know. 

[carusoam]

+1 for stuck fuel level sensor…

The O has two in each tank…

Sounds like one got stuck at the top…

The two floats get added together… to get the displayed reading….

Best regards,

-a-

[FlyingScot]

By the way, anyone know of a good vendor/supplier/rebuilder of these resistive senders (rebuilt or new)?

Any reviews from those who have upgraded to freq based senders? I know there is a cies thread, but it doesn't really say if the conversion is worth it ($). 

Thanks in advance -

[Jeff_S]

Try rocking the wings a bit...that always works for me!

[JayMatt]

On 6/16/2022 at 4:37 PM, oregon87 said:

FYI, it looks like we will be offering very attractive rebates at Oshkosh.  For those that cannot attend, we will be offering a rebate for the entire month of July, as well!  Without giving too much away, expect well over $1000.00 discounts on MVP-50P packages.  

How do these work? Do I no longer have to rely on the float level transmitters in my tank? Will those go away with a newer tech and my fuel gauges will be "more" accurate? When will there be a link to the package with the discounts? 

[TGreen]

On 6/16/2022 at 12:38 PM, M20R said:

My right gauge is acting strange. When the tank is full it reads correct. As you use fuel it reads correct until it gets down to 30 gallons, then it will stay on 30 gallons for more than 40 minutes then it will start to read correctly all the way to empty. I know there are two fuel senders in the tank but I'm not sure where the problem is. Any ideas?

Me too. Both tanks. Hangs up at exactly 30 gallons for good while, then starts reading accurately again.

[oregon87]

4 hours ago, JayMatt said:

How do these work? Do I no longer have to rely on the float level transmitters in my tank? Will those go away with a newer tech and my fuel gauges will be "more" accurate? When will there be a link to the package with the discounts? 

If you elect to monitor fuel level on an engine monitor, that signal is derived from sensors in tanks.  Now, can we be more accurate than the factory gauge and factory sensors?  You bet!  While our systems can interface with the factory resistive probes, those probes are still susceptible to issues such as corrosion, bent wipers, broken bridges, etc.  All of which can lead to accuracy issues.  We manufacture upgraded probes in our P-300Ms that do not suffer from the aforementioned concerns, resulting in far more robust and accurate fuel level indications.  

 

E.I. P-300M Fuel Probe

[carusoam]

Question for @oregon87…

Can you, or do you have an accuracy statement for your floats combined with the EI MVP?

A typical Long Body Mooney has a pair of fuel tanks… each has two fuel level sensors….

My total useable fuel is slightly over 100gallons…

 

Then we should discuss the readings on the ground vs. readings in the air… the few degrees of nose up attitude on the ground have inherent differences between the panel mounted gauges for use in flight… and wing mounted gauges for use on the ground while filling….

Best regards,

-a-

[oregon87]

12 hours ago, carusoam said:

Question for @oregon87…

Can you, or do you have an accuracy statement for your floats combined with the EI MVP?

A typical Long Body Mooney has a pair of fuel tanks… each has two fuel level sensors….

My total useable fuel is slightly over 100gallons…

 

Then we should discuss the readings on the ground vs. readings in the air… the few degrees of nose up attitude on the ground have inherent differences between the panel mounted gauges for use in flight… and wing mounted gauges for use on the ground while filling….

Best regards,

-a-

Fuel tank accuracy with our systems really is a function of the calibration performed post installation.  Garbage in, garbage out, as they say.  Having said that, our probes output a very reliable signal for a given float height.  Repeatability of the sensor's signal for a given quantity is paramount.  This is where the resistive probe fall short.  We'll use random numbers for an example.  Let's say at 20 gallons, a resistive probe outputs a sensor count of 2158.  Next time at 20 gallons, it may be 2300, or 1750, or some other number.  The problem is that the signal is not consistent. Our probes will output 2158 or very clost at 20 gallons every time.