Page 1 of 1

lpg level sender issue

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 3:24 pm
by howsie
Finally decided to hook my gauge up on the gas system but 1 pin on the level sender on the tank has snapped so ii buy a replacement.

Bother senders clearly state they are 0 ohm empty and 90 ohm full. The original was a full face guage and has always shown what I thought was the correct level but the new one only shows on about 3/4 of the face of the gauge and when full goes way past the full mark. Recently did a trip to lithgow filled up in penrith drove to lithgow and did a days worth of 4wding but it was still showing past full.

My understanding is that no matter how much of the face the numbers on the gauge cover if they're both 0-90 ohm then they should show the same. Is there a difference in 0-90 ohm level senders?

And to be on the safe side and for further troubleshooting of this system, how do I measure the ohm reading on the tank in case original gauge was wrong one when I brought the car.

Have taken it to a gas mechanic and he seems to think its a 0-90 ohm tank. I know it has 90 litres usable gas. But would rather check myself as I never trust mechanics. If I do it then at least I know for sure

Re: lpg level sender issue

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2011 7:25 pm
by Clanky
Using the resistance scale on a multimeter. The measurement is in ohms.
You could run the tank empty and measure the sender, then fill it up and measure again

Re: lpg level sender issue

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:08 am
by howsie
Because my knowledge of a multimeter basically allows me to measure 12 volt and that's about it what's the symbol for the resistance setting on a multimeter

Re: lpg level sender issue

Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2011 7:43 pm
by Clanky
This may help
http://www.ladyada.net/learn/multimeter/resistance.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If not if you do a search on "how to use a multimeter to measure resistance" there may be other approaches that may be more helpful

The unit for the ohm is the omega symbol
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=omega ... d=0CCsQsAQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You need a battery in your meter or this ( if you are using a analogue meter it may not have one it it depending on who has used it in the past)
You know you are looking at 90ohms so if you select a figure of slightly more than that on your meter (depends on your meter scale, but say 200 or 1000). You may have to swap the leads to a different hole , again depending on your meter.
Test the meter by putting both probes together and the resistance should be very close to zero - if not there may be a zero function on the meter or your meter battery may be low.
Turn off the power (important) and put the probes on either side of what you wish to measure (sender pins)

Re: lpg level sender issue

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 9:31 pm
by geoffro46
all 0-90 ohm senders are the same its the common resistance for lpg guages.you usually only find different resistance if there wired into the standard fuel guage.

Re: lpg level sender issue

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 11:06 am
by howsie
geoffro46 wrote:all 0-90 ohm senders are the same its the common resistance for lpg guages.you usually only find different resistance if there wired into the standard fuel guage.
This is what I've read but a brand new gauge showing way past full after 100km isn't right

Re: lpg level sender issue

Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 9:38 pm
by geoffro46
its usually the guage there pretty shonky your better off getting an analogue guage like a vdo or autometre if you want real accuracy mine reads full for about 150ks on my cruiser but runs on red for 150ks in my falcon i usually just fill up then reset my tripmeter its the most accurate way.

Re: lpg level sender issue

Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:22 am
by howsie
geoffro46 wrote:its usually the guage there pretty shonky your better off getting an analogue guage like a vdo or autometre if you want real accuracy mine reads full for about 150ks on my cruiser but runs on red for 150ks in my falcon i usually just fill up then reset my tripmeter its the most accurate way.
Ahh I think we have some wires crossed here I am looking to hook up an analogue gauge I currently don't have a in car gauge at all. I'm talking about the sender / gauge on the actual gas tank that relays the info to the gauge in the car.

Re: lpg level sender issue

Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:18 pm
by geoffro46
yeah there still not very accurate as the sender works with magnets.if its an older tank the pivot in the tank wears and they get sticky.

Re: lpg level sender issue

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 10:27 pm
by howsie
geoffro46 wrote:yeah there still not very accurate as the sender works with magnets.if its an older tank the pivot in the tank wears and they get sticky.
Tested it and the marking on the sender is way off 92.5ohm is all the way full marking is about 70ohm 45ohm is 1/4 at least empty is 0ohm