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01-02-2018, 02:29 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 461
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Fuel Level Sensor Issue
I've searched the forum but could not find this being reported before, so maybe this is something no one else has seen yet.
While completing my annual I noticed vanishing fuel in my tank - at least according to the Dynon Skyview indication. Every time I came out to the hangar to complete another piece of the annual inspection the fuel level showed a bit lower. The Moeller gauge had not moved nor was the sight gauge (yeah, mine is still not leaking, knocking on wood) showing any lost fuel, so I knew this indicated a sensor issue.
First I thought this was another case of a sunk float, one that wasn't related to Bing this time, but my interpretation changed when I noticed the fuel level coming back up during some post-annual prop balancing work.
I decided to ignore the false indication, given that I have two additional (and working) sources to indicate fuel level and go flying.
On take-off the fuel level indicated 0 gallons and during a 30 minute flight the level came back up to 12 gallons only to fall back off to 9 at landing when the real fuel level was always more than 16 gallons.
Has anybody fought such a gremlin before?
My current theory is that this is unlikely a float issue but could possibly be related to a bad ground. The later would be odd as I did install a dedicated ground wire to the tank when I built her. However, this wire might be broken.
I'll investigate further and report what I find but was hoping to get some input from guys that might have seen this before and fixed it....
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01-02-2018, 03:29 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Hinckley, Ohio
Posts: 2,065
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Check for bad ground wire to fuel tank.
__________________
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Jim Stricker
EAA #499867
PPL/ASEL 1970 - Sport Pilot since 2007
80 hrs Flying Aeronca Chief 11AC N86203
1130 hrs Flying 46 Piper J-3 Cub N6841H
Bought Flying RV-12 #120058 Oct 2015 with 48TT - Hobbs now 622 
LSRM-A Certificate 2016 for RV-12 N633CM
Special Thanks... EJ Trucks - USN Crew Chief A-4 Skyhawk
MJ Stricker (Father & CFI) - USAAF 1st Lt. Captain B-17H
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01-02-2018, 04:09 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Omaha, NE (KMLE)
Posts: 2,247
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Seconded. I had my tank out to install all of the SBs, and repainted it with epoxy primer while it was out. After re-installing I had erratic and intermittent fuel level indications from the float gauge. I ended up having to run a dedicated ground wire to one of the float gauge screws, it's been fine since then.
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Dale
Omaha, NE
RV-12 # 222 N980KM "Screamin' Canary" (bought flying)
Fisher Celebrity (under construction)
Previous RV-7 project (sold)
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01-02-2018, 04:55 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Riley TWP MI
Posts: 3,070
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Grounding the tank might not be good enough because tank sealant is an insulator. Take Dale's advice and ground the level sensor mounting plate.
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Joe Gores
RV-12 Flying
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01-02-2018, 04:58 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Hinckley, Ohio
Posts: 2,065
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Also, might be too warm where you're located...
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__________________
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Jim Stricker
EAA #499867
PPL/ASEL 1970 - Sport Pilot since 2007
80 hrs Flying Aeronca Chief 11AC N86203
1130 hrs Flying 46 Piper J-3 Cub N6841H
Bought Flying RV-12 #120058 Oct 2015 with 48TT - Hobbs now 622 
LSRM-A Certificate 2016 for RV-12 N633CM
Special Thanks... EJ Trucks - USN Crew Chief A-4 Skyhawk
MJ Stricker (Father & CFI) - USAAF 1st Lt. Captain B-17H
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01-02-2018, 06:17 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Coeur d'Alene, ID/Casa Grande, AZ
Posts: 654
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piper J3
Also, might be too warm where you're located...
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For thoughs of you flying in the?cold?....the Bender Baffle is the best mod i?ve Done. Even flying down in AZ this Winter...several friends have really liked the warm air my heater kicks out in the early AM.
__________________
Ric Dickison
307 (CAB) Phantom
Search and Destroy (Can Tho RVN)
Distinguished Flying Cross Society Member
CH-47 & UH-1H "Driver"
Rotax 9 Series Service IRMT
RV-12 Kit#729 "N312RD" is now a full functioning fun machine!! Thanks Van for fulfilling my dream😎
2018 Dues Paid
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01-02-2018, 06:24 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Hinckley, Ohio
Posts: 2,065
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Cold in the early AM in AZ
Pleeeeez...
__________________
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Jim Stricker
EAA #499867
PPL/ASEL 1970 - Sport Pilot since 2007
80 hrs Flying Aeronca Chief 11AC N86203
1130 hrs Flying 46 Piper J-3 Cub N6841H
Bought Flying RV-12 #120058 Oct 2015 with 48TT - Hobbs now 622 
LSRM-A Certificate 2016 for RV-12 N633CM
Special Thanks... EJ Trucks - USN Crew Chief A-4 Skyhawk
MJ Stricker (Father & CFI) - USAAF 1st Lt. Captain B-17H
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01-02-2018, 06:41 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 461
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Piper J3
Cold in the early AM in AZ
Pleeeeez...
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Well, yeah! It's like freezing 45F in the mornings down here. It's killin' me!
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01-02-2018, 06:42 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 461
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mich48041
Grounding the tank might not be good enough because tank sealant is an insulator. Take Dale's advice and ground the level sensor mounting plate.
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Yeah, that's what I've done. Ran a ground wire to the plate the sensor is mounted on. I will check the wire. I am pretty sure this has to be it.
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01-02-2018, 07:22 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 2,820
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A guy on our field got an SLSA with wandering fuel level indication. He found a bracket in the avionics bay that was used for ground, but the contact surface had been primed. After removing the primer the problem went away
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