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Old 01-17-2025, 02:54 PM   #1
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Fuel Level Indication or Sensor Issue?

It was 39 deg when I arrived at my n-t-m- 2022 33BR (4200 miles) this morning, and I was going to take it out and fill up the fuel for a trip this weekend. I had recently topped off the DEF with 2.5 gal containers, but I had not driven it since. This would be the first time I had topped off the fuel tank.

After adding 31 gals to the tank, and when ready to drive back to my parking spot, the fuel gauge had dropped from 5/8th full to 1/8th full. The DEF indicated full, and a warning light (triangle with exclamation mark) came on at the DEF gauge. Knowing that both of these tanks were full, I drove back to the parking spot. In the course of the trip, the fuel warning came on, and the indication dropped to empty within a couple of miles' travel. Various beeps and a fluctuating fuel indication eventually gave way to once again indicating 5/8th full, and no warning lights. I have added fuel to the tank before (less than topped off), and the gauge apparently was performing properly at those times.

It seems that I have read something about fluctuating gauges in this forum before, but my search did not turn up any specific information, so sorry if this is a repeat....

(I did recently post about erroneous readings for my tank air pressure that I resolved by rebooting the dash, but I haven't tried that here yet)

Any ideas? Thanks!
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Old 01-17-2025, 05:41 PM   #2
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I'd try rebooting the dash by turning off the chassis batteries. Since there are multiple gauges involved I would suspect a loose ground connection. I would also suggest contacting the chassis shop at Tiffin.
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Old 01-18-2025, 05:24 AM   #3
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Frustrating isn’t it. Something that is so fundamental should be easy to get right with today’s technology. My DEF tank gauge works as it should but the fuel indication is a nightmare, it fluctuates like yours between 5/8 and empty.
I spoke to Tiffin they said that on mine (2018 Phaeton 40iH) to measure the resistance at the sender, with full fuel it should read between 30 and 33 ohms.
I ordered a new sender anyway, they’re not horribly expensive, but someone also suggested a bad ground could be the cause which sounds reasonable
Honestly I’m waiting someone to come up with an aftermarket solution.
Good luck..
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Old 01-18-2025, 10:47 AM   #4
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I really don’t have much faith in the fuel gauges Tiffin uses. Our Bus fuel gauge worked perfectly, always within a few gallons. Then while at RB for a ride height adjustment I was told there was a recall for the fuel gauge and they will change ours out. I told them no but they insisted that the gauge must be changed. Since then it is way off and now I go by my average MPG and miles.
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Old 01-19-2025, 09:57 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garykk View Post
I really don’t have much faith in the fuel gauges Tiffin uses. Our Bus fuel gauge worked perfectly, always within a few gallons. Then while at RB for a ride height adjustment I was told there was a recall for the fuel gauge and they will change ours out. I told them no but they insisted that the gauge must be changed. Since then it is way off and now I go by my average MPG and miles.
Crazy isn't it, Our cars have, and have since the 1960's reliable fuel quantity readout but a $500,000 coach........
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Old 01-20-2025, 08:34 AM   #6
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agreed!

As a techie and retired control systems engineer, it's hard to say this, but I think there are too many mystery electronics in coaches - I like switches and sensors that work every time for important functions.
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Old 01-20-2025, 10:36 AM   #7
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fuel level accuracy

Pespe - we had what you describe on one occasion when we filled the tank from close to 1/4. The gauge reading was slow to respond and took about an hour of travel to read correctly. My suspicion is that the issue is the tank sensor.

Good Luck with your troubleshooting.
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Old 01-21-2025, 07:09 AM   #8
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Pespe - we had what you describe on one occasion when we filled the tank from close to 1/4. The gauge reading was slow to respond and took about an hour of travel to read correctly. My suspicion is that the issue is the tank sensor.

Good Luck with your troubleshooting.
Thanks PKI - That seems to be (almost) what ours is doing. It never did get quite all the way up to full on our 2 hr drive to Cape Lookout. I haven't figured out yet if this is a float mechanism or probes or what, but since this is a used 33BR, it may have been quite a while since it was topped off. I'll keep poking around... lots to learn! - thanks for all the help in this forum!
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Old 01-23-2025, 10:09 AM   #9
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Shawn Cole, Leigh Tiffin, why can’t Tiffin give us reliable accurate fuel quantity indication? It’s not rocket science
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Old 01-24-2025, 10:27 AM   #10
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Shawn Cole, Leigh Tiffin, why can’t Tiffin give us reliable accurate fuel quantity indication? It’s not rocket science
If you think that is bad, less than $100. Wait until you get to replace the speedometer for $600 bucks.
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