Erradic fuel level reading with Ricks tank

[DRJDVM's '69]

I just put my Ricks tank in about 4 months ago and my fuel level guage is all over the place.... it varies about 1/4-1/3 of a tank on a minute to minute basis. In other words it may say 1/2 full one minute and then the next it says 1/4, then a minute or two later it says 1/3 tank, then back to 1/2 a coupe of minutes after that. I'm using an Autometer guage and I've tried 3 diff ground locations all with the same issue. The tank has an in tank Aeromtove pump with a return.

I called Ricks and spoke with Hector..... he said this is pretty normal and that since its a direct reading from sender to guage (i.e no computer in between etc) it reads stuff really fast, so as the fuel moves around, the guage reacts right away. He said Rick had mentioned something about a resistor or diode that may help, and he would get back to me. He said the sender is fine.

Its really annoying when I'm getting below 1/3 of a tank....one minute I'm freaked I need to find a gas station NOW since its on E and then its back to 1/3 of a tank a couple of minutes later. One of these time I'm gonna ignore it and its really going to be empty.....

So are you guys with Ricks tanks getting the same issue ???

[Vegas69]

Definitely need something so it doesn't react that fast. I would figure out your gas mileage and then you will know the range of your car. Reset the trip everytime you refill.

[DB Z28]

i have the same problem

[z066]

mine did the same and still does we even went thru a few different senders.

[Vegas69]

I have a few gallons in my tank and it reads dead empty. I checked the resistance and it .5 ohms. Looking like my sender is junk as well.

[dhutton]

Is the issue that the level in the sump is changing or is it just that the sender is bouncing around in the tank. If the sender is just bouncing around in the tank I think an electrolytic capacitor from the sender line to ground might help filter out some of the bouncing.

Try a 1000 uF capacitor with a voltage rating of at least 24 volts and see if this helps. Make sure you get the polarity correct, plus to the sender and minus to ground.

Here's one from Radio Shack:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=family

If it's still moving too much you could try this 4700 uF part:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=family

I have a Rick's tank too but I haven't connected the sender to the fuel gauge yet.

Don

[Stuart Adams]

I've had the same problem before, I thought that was normal.

[gearheadgarage]

Same story here.....great to 1/4 tank, sloppy all over the board under that level, with 4-5 gallons to spare

[Vegas69]

I found out the problem. I pulled my tank to do some re plumbing and called Hector. They design the tank so the sender is farther off the floor than it probably should be. I had 4 gallons in mine when I drained it and pegged on empty. I checked the sender with my ohmeter and it works fine. I bet what's happening is once you get down to around 5 gallons the float isn't submerged and the sloshing fuel is having a field day with your gauge and soon to be our gauges.

[68protouring454]

if they know this, why no install a longer sending unit?