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MG TD TF 1500 - MGTD Fuel gauge

At a recent British car club meeting a new owner of a TD wanted to convert his fuel warning light system to a gauge. Given that many Smiths sending units use the same 6 hole sending unit base is there a Smiths sending unit that would operate a gauge? I'm not sure there is sufficient space in the tank to allow full travel of the sending unit arm and float. Any one tried this modification?
We tried to talk him into using the dip stick method but he was not receptive.

John Quilter (TD8986)

The location of the current unit is too low, so one would have to fit a new unit about half way up the tank to get full travel, but I think baffles inside the tank will be a problem.
Rod Brayshaw

Because of the design of the tank, the only way you can get a true reading on a fuel gauge is to use a vertical tank liquid sensor. It's a long tube that goes down into a tank and senses the fuel level on the tube. Only problem there is, it must be inserted in the top of the tank! I've been thinking about this also and have done some checking on different methods, electronic and all, which none seem to fit our needs using the original sending unit hole. PJ
Paul S Jennings

I think most fuel level sensors are fitted to the top of the tank but I seem to recall a Triumph Spitfire has one mounted in the vertical face of the tank. Also my modern TF has a water level sensor in the radiator expansion tank. This is a sealed unit and relies on a floating magnet actuating a reed relay. The thing fits into the filler neck. OK this is a simple on/off arrangement but someone may be able to make one that actually measures the level of fuel.


Jan T
J Targosz

The wood stick still works well
Tom Maine

i like the aluminum in tank measuring "stick". which does nothing to advance the discussion on how to retro fit or modify the MG fuel quantity indicator system...but it is accurate, easily readable and does not require modifying the car, if those are concerns. regards, tom
tm peterson

How about this from 1953? Bud

Bud Krueger

bud, very good! regards, tom
tm peterson

It would be interesting to find out how that works and where the sender is fitted.
Regards
Declan
D Burns

Interesting that the ad says it won't interfere with the low fuel light currently installed. Regards, Tom
tm peterson

That ad was from 1953. Anybody ever see one? Bud
Bud Krueger

We are currently working on a TD/TF fuel gauge. Should be available in a couple of weeks.
Regards
Declan
D Burns

I think Mobius gets about 250 miles to a tank of gas, so I use my trip odometer on the dash, the trip odometer on the Garmin GPS and the trip odometer on the iPhone MPH App. Lots of redundancy. Now all I have to do is remember to reset them.

Mort 50 TD

There are vertical rod sensors that can be installed at the bottom of the tank. May not fit though with the shape of the TD tank. Also I'd hate to drill a hole in my tank, just glad it's tight the way it is.
I could imagine a small ultrasonic sensor installed in the filler opening would work, but would have to be ex proof in order to be safe.


Rgds, Mike
Mike Fritsch

An ultrasonic probe could be attached to the bottom of the tank and transmit right through the tank bottom. I'm not willing to invest the time and money to fabricate it.
Our LED idiot light does just fine. When it starts blinking, it catches my wife's attention (it is her toy and I almost never drive it). When the LED stays on, she heads to the nearest station, even though there's nearly 4 gallons left. The old SU type pump utilizes a sediment bowl that can leave 2" of reserve in the bottom of the tank. If the old pump runs out, the Facet backup pumps out the last 3 quarts.
JRN JIM

I install a pure mechanical fuel gauge I modified a commercial one as shown in the picture. I found it in Ebay for about 25 Euro.
Due to the TD Tank shape I must install a Cardan Universal Joint and it works perfect.
In Addition I Change also the flanch from a hexagonal to to an Octagonal shape.
Guenter

GK Guenter

This thread was discussed between 31/05/2014 and 12/06/2014

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