Using a FlowScan ...-gctid404842

[Guest]

I've got the one that tells you Fuel Used in the digital readout which is great when you fill up the tank. But what about when you only partially fill up?

[cosmo777]

Nothing you can do except remember how much you added.

I've asked Floscan to allow to set the total tank capacity and have it count down to Zero.

And let you increase the number if you add a few gallons.

This is the way the Navman Fuel Flow meter works.

They cited some liability reasons, so they start it at Zero and then its on you to remember where you're at.

[Guest]

I had the navman and liked it's features... This unit is SUPER accurate, but I do miss the features - including the alarm.

Frankly, it's stupid that you can't reset how much has been used.

[boatworkfl]

With FloScan you just reset the meter each time you add fuel. When first installed you fill up then moniter the meter, then fill up again, then there are instructions on how to adjust the meter to compensate/adjust the fuel meter; after that just ad fuel and reset each trip.

[Guest]

Maybe I don't understand. My floscan reading tells the amount of fuel used, so when I fill up I clear it, then I know I have 120 gallons to go. Let's say I get down to 50 gallons used and then put in 20... How do I make the readout read, 70 gallons remaining?

[JimMc]

Gilligan wrote:
Maybe I don't understand. My floscan reading tells the amount of fuel used, so when I fill up I clear it, then I know I have 120 gallons to go. Let's say I get down to 50 gallons used and then put in 20... How do I make the readout read, 70 gallons remaining?

You can't. It's a great and accurate flow meter but lousy for fuel management.

I had a Floscan on our 285 and have a Navman on the 305. The accuracy and reliability of the Floscan is great. But it's lack of fuel management features is why I installed the Navman on the 305.

To use the Floscan you really must keep a written fuel log and do the math of fuel added and fuel burned.

With the Navman I can add to the fuel remaining when I make a fuel purchase.

I am sorry to say the Navman is no longer sold after it was bought by Merc.

The Lowrance LMF400 units do have the capability of a partial fill.

From the Lowrance LMF400 manual.

[FONT]CenturySchoolbook-Bold wrote:

Fuel Setup

[/FONT][FONT]CenturySchoolbook wrote:
[SIZE]2 wrote:
[FONT]CenturySchoolbook wrote:
[SIZE]2 wrote:

The following options may be accessed through the Fuel Setup menu:Refill Tank, Partial Fill, Economy Speed Source, Fuel Remaining

Source, Reset Trip Fuel and Reset Seasonal Fuel.

[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]

[Guest]

Thanks Jim.

I liked the cheaper navman that I had previously, but I must admit that the floscan is amazingly accurate. It's just now, it forces me to fill up every time or keep a log... which I won't do.

[Guest]

I started the trip with a full tank which helped. Just when I was thinking of heading home, I checked the floscan and noted I had burned 100 gallons of 120. My GPS said I needed to go 40 miles. I quickly realized that I wasn't going to make it home at 1.5 mpg. I diverted to the local fuel dock.

The floscan reminds me of the device used on commercial boats, which do fill up and run day after day. For this purpose, they work very well.

[boatworkfl]

When you know how much fuel you used from a full tank, then you know how much you have in the tank-lets say you have 40 gal in it, you add 40 more gallons, then you know you have 80 gal when you leave the dock, then watch the meter and you will subtract what you are using from the 80 gal you started with; simple math.

1/3 to your destination, 1/3 for the return, 1/3 for fishing and reserve, you did not plan your trip! When needed slow down and extent your range.

[tonyiiiafl]

Thsi is not for everyone, but I have my Flo Scan set to show 5% more fuel than I burn. That way I have a built in safety margin. However, I always follow the 1/3 rule. I mean, you can't get out and walk to the gas station for a 5 gallon can of gas if you run out. The device has also made me travel at slower speeds for the economy.

[JimMc]

boatworkfl wrote:
When you know how much fuel you used from a full tank, then you know how much you have in the tank-lets say you have 40 gal in it, you add 40 more gallons, then you know you have 80 gal when you leave the dock, then watch the meter and you will subtract what you are using from the 80 gal you started with; simple math.

1/3 to your destination, 1/3 for the return, 1/3 for fishing and reserve, you did not plan your trip! When needed slow down and extent your range.

This is all true. However I think the issue here is over the course of a summer if you are not filling the boat but just adding 20 gallons and then 35 and then 30 and then 20 you are not going to be able to keep track of the balance vs the FloScan totalizer values without using some kind of log. The FloScan is great if you are working from a full tank.

With the Navman and Lowrance you can add a partial fill quantity over and over.

[Guest]

Exactly Jim.

This thing is so accurate that I would love to take advantage of being able to run my boat at no more than 1/2 tank, so I could save the weight and get better performance.

I may just have to keep a log of sorts, but that is certainly not ideal.

thanks guys.

[talman]

. by not hauling around someone elses gas. Just rough numbers, but consider if you carry 100 gallons, and burn 40 on the trip, and it costs you a gallon an hour extra = 3x$4 = $12.

Now I carry 50 gallons, burn 20, fill 20, burn 20, fill 20, etc. Gas is a little more expensive out there, so I might pay 20 x .30 = $6.

The floscan tells me how many I burned, so I can fill just that amount. If I am going to Canada, I'll fill up, but why carry a full tank when it costs?

My SOG is also 1 or 2 faster.

[SomeSailor]

That's exactly how I'd use mine Tally. Fill to 50 (half) and reset the Flowscan. No need to carry 300# of extra fuel around.

Its not as bad now with the trawler since I'm full displacement all the time, but still hauling an extra 3,000# has the same effect. Carry what you need and let the Floscan tell you when to refill.

[Guest]

The Lowrance system lets you enter any amount of fuel you put on. You can also put in the actual fuel amount and reset it to full so that it accounts for any reading error.