RK55SC with fuel gauge or tank questions

[RKTractorFan]

Got a question,

I purposely ran the fuel gauge all the way down to where it started blinking (had been blinking for about 10 mins) Drove the tractor to the new Pilot gas station near me (1/4 mile down the road). Pulled up to the pump and squeezed in 10.38 gallons of diesel fuel, to where it will full to the rim, literally. I know diesel foams, alot, but this was actual liquid to the brim.

The tank is supposedly 17 gallons. So either ive got a small tank or an inaccurate gauge. Not sure how to find out which other than running it completely out of fuel.

The other explanation is that they built in that much reserve into the gauge, which is insane to have 39% fuel left and the light be flashing that im almost out.


Anyone else have any input?

Thanks

 

[g8erh8er]

That does seem excessive. At least on cars, you are typically looking at 15 percent remaining once the low fuel light activates. If you can get the tank measurements, next time the light comes on, you may try dipping a wooden dowel or something that will show the depth remaining and do some calculations.

 

[kkilli]

I don’t have a 55 but my 37 is supposed to have a 9 gallon tank. I quite often run it down to where the fuel gauge is flashing empty. At that point I’ll put a full 5 gallon fuel can of diesel in it and the gauge will always read full even though you can see that fuel level is no where near the top. Not sure that this helps except to say that the gauge doesn’t seem to be very accurate.

 

[majorwager]

OP,
Suggestion. Mike Morgan, Outdoors with the Morgans, you tube channel and face book uses his RK 55 extensively.

If you post a comment on a recent video or on his face book page, he is reliable in responding, and should offer some perspective.

 

[RKTractorFan]

OP,
Suggestion. Mike Morgan, Outdoors with the Morgans, you tube channel and face book uses his RK 55 extensively.

If you post a comment on a recent video or on his face book page, he is reliable in responding, and should offer some perspective.

Thanks man! I forgot about him and that series

 

[RTBee]

Great question! I've got a 55S, but have never ran it that low. I heard somewhere that running a diesel out of fuel is really bad for the engine. I've never owned a diesel before so I've been a bit paranoid about the fuel. I never let it get below about a 1/4 of a tank before I fill it up, but haven't paid much attention to how much I put in. I'll start checking that. It will be interesting to find out just how accurate/inaccurate the guage really is!

 

[RKTractorFan]

RKTractorGuy, Any insight?

Thanks

 

[RK Tractor Guy]

RKTractorGuy, Any insight?

Thanks

The fuel gauge will read 20% under by design to reduce the risk of running out of fuel, never a good thing with a diesel. While owners/primary operators will learn this through the very experience you had, the vast majority of instances when a tractor runs out of fuel is when someone other than the owner/primary operator is using it. Hope that makes sense. The fuel gauge works as designed and the fuel tank on the 55 is 17 gallons.