47-55.1 Fuel Gauge Does Not Work

[Driver_WT]

The fuel gauge does not work in my 53 Chevy Truck. Are there any easy fixes or replacements available? Thanks.

Wade

[jweb]

Are you sure the gauge is the problem? The original gauge would be 6v, you may need a 12v gauge. Here an example.

https://www.classicparts.com/1949-53...nfo/24%2D700D/

[nvrdone]

or you may need a voltage drop. can you be more specific about what the problem is?

[mr48chev]

If you have the S010 tank or another late model tank the resistance in the sending unit is wrong. Stock senders have 30 ohms, late model senders have 90 Ohms. The gauge does need to be a 12 volt gauge or have the correct voltage reducer on it.

Still it is near impossible to come up with other suggestions without all of the specifics. The more information you give on gauge, wiring, tank unit, the better someone is able to come up with a viable suggestion.

[Driver_WT]

Sorry guys, you are right. I need to provide more info. Gas tank and sending unit are from S10 so 0 to 90 ohm (I was using a 47 ohm resistor in parallel with the gas gauge which should have made the gauge read close). I totally forgot that the gas gauge would be 6 volt. So looks like the best option would be a new 12 volt gas gauge.

Thanks for the help.

[nvrdone]

easy way is to put a 12 v to 6 v resistor on the stock gas gauge if you are using the stock gauge. i think Brothers and other vendors have them

[jweb]

Originally Posted by nvrdone

easy way is to put a 12 v to 6 v resistor on the stock gas gauge if you are using the stock gauge. i think Brothers and other vendors have them

I forgot about the voltage reducers. Here's one that should work:
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...aign=CSEGOOGLE

[Driver_WT]

Thanks for the info on voltage reducers. I also have a 1935 Graham that I need to get started on, so this info on getting down to 6 volts will come in handy for the Graham project as well.

[Driver_WT]

1935 Graham, not a Chevy truck, but a pretty cool project with a great body and frame.

[mr48chev]

Reading this post on stove bolt I see where you got the 47 ohm resistor thing https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads...&Number=100898 It looks like the OP there had the same problem November 7, 2006 and the resistor wasn't a real solution. There the solution was swapping the resistor in the sender in the tank out for a 30 ohm resistor. That still may be the best solution.

Searching around on the net I found this unit from Speedway.

Some serious homework and question asking would be needed but this unit may be a solution. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...ule,66534.html

[Driver_WT]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Reading this post on stove bolt I see where you got the 47 ohm resistor thing https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads...&Number=100898 It looks like the OP there had the same problem November 7, 2006 and the resistor wasn't a real solution. There the solution was swapping the resistor in the sender in the tank out for a 30 ohm resistor. That still may be the best solution.

Searching around on the net I found this unit from Speedway.

Some serious homework and question asking would be needed but this unit may be a solution. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speed...ule,66534.html

Interesting. I had never seen these before. Thank you.

[1project2many]

Changing the tank sender is a better idea than using a parallel resistor. The parallel resistor solution is very inaccurate when the tank is not full or empty.

Also, with the quality of today's modern electronics I would consider getting a voltage regulator rather than a resistor to convert 12V to 6V. Today's 12V systems typically run at 14.5V. It would take a very interesting resistor to maintain a constant voltage with a 2.5V range on the supply.
DC - DC Voltage Regulator.

[mick53]

I never had a gauge but I always had a tape measure to use as a dipstick. I got about 10 miles to the inch on my 235.