Fuel Pressure Or Fuel Level Gauge???

[Mongoose930]

I need to make a decision on whether to go with a fuel level gauge or a fuel pressure gauge in the near future. I am building a Hi-Tech Comp Car replica and I am doing my best to make it as correct as possible.

I know that a fuel pressure gauge is correct but I am used to having a fuel level gauge. Not that the Smith’s fuel gauge was very accurate in my old Contemporary…

I have a 42 gallon comp tank with two pickups. The primary will run on a mechanical fuel pump and I will have a reserve running on (2) SW240A electric pumps so even if I “run out of gas”, I will still have my reserve (at least 3 gallons).

Looking for pros and cons from those who have been running a fuel pressure gauge…

[601HP]

I've always had the pressure gauge. Once you determine the avg mpg for your vehicle, you'll determine your range.

When I refuel, I fill completely. Next, I zero the tripometer.

Gallons available in a full tank, times avg mpg, equals your theoretical range. Subtract 30 miles from the theoretical. Now you'll have a peace of mind cushion.

I've never been stranded. You and I have the large tank that enhances the peace of mind!

David

[RICK LAKE]

Mongoose 930 I have both on my ERA car. Here's the thing, If you are going to race the car, you should have both. You are going to find out that when the fuel pressure gauges starts to bounce or vary you are sucking air through the pickups. I have 2 255 pumps in the tank and can't race below 1/3 of a tank from pulling "Gs" on turns. My pressure gauge is on my fuel regulator under the hood. DON'T run any lines into the car for fuel!!. The line breaks and you get a bath or worse, cooked. Copper, plastic, steel, and aircraft line all break down over time and will leak. The reason you have problems with the gas gauge reading correctly is not enough baffles in the tank. If you are looking for a better sign from the tank, you need more baffles, or change to a different sender in the tank. The arm with a float on the end is poor. This is ment for getting into the car and checking level. IF your fillup is a straight into the tank then use the old stick method. I don't know what size the motor is but racing you are looking at 1-4 gallons per lap racing depending size of track. Normal driving from 8-20 mpg. Good luck Rick L.

[Tommy]

Mongoose930,
As usual, Rick Lake makes very good points about using the car at the track. If you are not going to do track time, let me add this small point. The fuel level gauge on my car has been unreliable for some time and I've been too lazy to fix it. In the meantime, I simply reset the trip odometer each time I fill up. As long as I get gas again before I travel too far (225 miles in my case), I won't run out. So a fuel level gauge isn't essential for street driving in a car with a working odometer.

[Mongoose930]

Thanks for all the feedback. I have decided to go with the Smiths electric fuel pressure gauge which has the correct look on the dash but no fuel past the firewall. Any other feedback would be greatly appreciated.