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This is why you should never trust your fuel gages



 
 
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  #1  
Old December 7th 08, 06:15 PM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Ron Garret
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Posts: 199
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages

http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9

This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.
  #2  
Old December 7th 08, 07:20 PM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Sam Spade
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,326
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages

Ron Garret wrote:
http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9

This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.



You might want to change that to "gauge."
  #3  
Old December 7th 08, 08:32 PM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Ron Garret
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Posts: 199
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages

In article ,
Sam Spade wrote:

Ron Garret wrote:
http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9

This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.



You might want to change that to "gauge."


Done. (I was never very good at speling.)

rg
  #4  
Old December 7th 08, 11:36 PM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Mike
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Posts: 573
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages

"Ron Garret" wrote in message
...
http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9

This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.


This is typical for a Cessna and a few others where the fuel gauge uses the
same technology as a toilet tank float.

A fuel totalizer is a very nice thing to have.

  #5  
Old December 8th 08, 02:03 AM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
[email protected]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 15
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages

On Dec 7, 10:20 am, Sam Spade wrote:
Ron Garret wrote:
http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9


This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.


You might want to change that to "gauge."


Or not. Gage is a perfectly fine variant.
  #6  
Old December 8th 08, 03:55 AM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Dale Scroggins[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 23
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages


"Mike" nospam @ aol.com wrote in message
...
"Ron Garret" wrote in message
...
http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9

This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.


This is typical for a Cessna and a few others where the fuel gauge uses
the same technology as a toilet tank float.

A fuel totalizer is a very nice thing to have.


Float-type sending units are, in fact, simpler than toilet tank float
valves, and more reliable. They work reliably for decades. However, many
have been in service nearly forty years. Eventually the resistance winding
will develop spots where the wiper doesn't make good contact, and the gauge
(U.S.) or gage (Brit.) will fluctuate wildly for a few minutes, until fuel
is burned off and the wiper moves to a new location, then the gauge works
normally again. Simple and relatively simple to fix.

Do you believe fuel totalizers are more reliable? Or capacitance systems?
Do you trust totalizers totally?

  #7  
Old December 8th 08, 04:53 AM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Mike
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 573
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages

"Dale Scroggins" wrote in message
...

"Mike" nospam @ aol.com wrote in message
...
"Ron Garret" wrote in message
...
http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9

This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.


This is typical for a Cessna and a few others where the fuel gauge uses
the same technology as a toilet tank float.

A fuel totalizer is a very nice thing to have.


Float-type sending units are, in fact, simpler than toilet tank float
valves, and more reliable. They work reliably for decades. However, many
have been in service nearly forty years. Eventually the resistance
winding will develop spots where the wiper doesn't make good contact, and
the gauge (U.S.) or gage (Brit.) will fluctuate wildly for a few minutes,
until fuel is burned off and the wiper moves to a new location, then the
gauge works normally again. Simple and relatively simple to fix.


If what you say is true, why do quite a few relatively new planes exhibit
the same symptoms?


Do you believe fuel totalizers are more reliable? Or capacitance systems?
Do you trust totalizers totally?


I've flown lots of planes with totalizers and never seen a failure. I've
also seen lots of failures and gross errors in float type systems (new and
old), so in my experience, yes they are more reliable.

As far as your last question it appears to be argumentative. I could just
as easily ask you if you trust the standard Cessna fuel gauge totally, but
neither really deserves an answer.

  #8  
Old December 8th 08, 06:13 AM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Dale Scroggins[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 23
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages


"Mike" nospam @ aol.com wrote in message
...
"Dale Scroggins" wrote in message
...

"Mike" nospam @ aol.com wrote in message
...
"Ron Garret" wrote in message
...
http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9

This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in
South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.

This is typical for a Cessna and a few others where the fuel gauge uses
the same technology as a toilet tank float.

A fuel totalizer is a very nice thing to have.


Float-type sending units are, in fact, simpler than toilet tank float
valves, and more reliable. They work reliably for decades. However,
many have been in service nearly forty years. Eventually the resistance
winding will develop spots where the wiper doesn't make good contact, and
the gauge (U.S.) or gage (Brit.) will fluctuate wildly for a few minutes,
until fuel is burned off and the wiper moves to a new location, then the
gauge works normally again. Simple and relatively simple to fix.


If what you say is true, why do quite a few relatively new planes exhibit
the same symptoms?


Do you believe fuel totalizers are more reliable? Or capacitance
systems? Do you trust totalizers totally?


I've flown lots of planes with totalizers and never seen a failure. I've
also seen lots of failures and gross errors in float type systems (new and
old), so in my experience, yes they are more reliable.

As far as your last question it appears to be argumentative. I could just
as easily ask you if you trust the standard Cessna fuel gauge totally, but
neither really deserves an answer.

I doubt my experiences are typical. Most of the fuel quantity and totalizer
systems I saw over thirty years weren't operating correctly, and I was being
paid to repair them. Age makes most indicating systems untrustworthy.
Having multiple systems is good, if they aren't interdependent.

Even float rods on Piper Cubs and others hang occasional, or the floats
saturate and sink. Direct-reading sight tubes are probably the most
reliable indicators, but even those can become difficult to read with age.

I don't trust any fuel indication system.

  #9  
Old December 8th 08, 04:13 PM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Mike
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 573
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages

"Dale Scroggins" wrote in message
...

"Mike" nospam @ aol.com wrote in message
...
"Dale Scroggins" wrote in message
...

"Mike" nospam @ aol.com wrote in message
...
"Ron Garret" wrote in message
...
http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9

This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in
South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.

This is typical for a Cessna and a few others where the fuel gauge uses
the same technology as a toilet tank float.

A fuel totalizer is a very nice thing to have.

Float-type sending units are, in fact, simpler than toilet tank float
valves, and more reliable. They work reliably for decades. However,
many have been in service nearly forty years. Eventually the resistance
winding will develop spots where the wiper doesn't make good contact,
and the gauge (U.S.) or gage (Brit.) will fluctuate wildly for a few
minutes, until fuel is burned off and the wiper moves to a new location,
then the gauge works normally again. Simple and relatively simple to
fix.


If what you say is true, why do quite a few relatively new planes exhibit
the same symptoms?


Do you believe fuel totalizers are more reliable? Or capacitance
systems? Do you trust totalizers totally?


I've flown lots of planes with totalizers and never seen a failure. I've
also seen lots of failures and gross errors in float type systems (new
and old), so in my experience, yes they are more reliable.

As far as your last question it appears to be argumentative. I could
just as easily ask you if you trust the standard Cessna fuel gauge
totally, but neither really deserves an answer.

I doubt my experiences are typical. Most of the fuel quantity and
totalizer systems I saw over thirty years weren't operating correctly, and
I was being paid to repair them. Age makes most indicating systems
untrustworthy. Having multiple systems is good, if they aren't
interdependent.


Agreed, and the best way to check them is simply to stick the tanks both
before and after a flight.

Even float rods on Piper Cubs and others hang occasional, or the floats
saturate and sink. Direct-reading sight tubes are probably the most
reliable indicators, but even those can become difficult to read with age.

I don't trust any fuel indication system.


There is one fuel indication system that's reasonably accurate, and that is
the prop which quits turning when you run out. Where many people get into
trouble is they DON'T trust their fuel indication system until the
aforementioned one indicates zero. I use mine to cross check my flight
planning, and if they don't agree it's time to do something different.

  #10  
Old December 8th 08, 05:35 PM posted to rec.aviation.ifr
Sam Spade
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,326
Default This is why you should never trust your fuel gages

wrote:
On Dec 7, 10:20 am, Sam Spade wrote:

Ron Garret wrote:

http://ronsvideos.fliggo.com/video/uIgc0dP9

This video was shot in a Cessna 206 taking us to a game reserve in South
Africa. Watch the fuel gage in the upper right corner.


You might want to change that to "gauge."



Or not. Gage is a perfectly fine variant.


Say what?


gage [gayj] noun (plural gag·es) (archaic)

1.pledge: something that is given or left as security until a debt is
paid or an obligation is fulfilled

2.token of challenge: a glove or other object that is thrown down or
offered as a challenge to fight

3.challenge: a challenge to fight

transitive verb (past gaged, past participle gaged, present participle
gag·ing, 3rd person present singular gag·es) (archaic)

1.offer something as pledge: to offer something as security against a
debt or other obligation

2.BETTING offer as stake in bet: to
offer something as a stake in a bet
 




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