How to measure gas in tank?

Tree-Farmer · Oct 26, 2023

When your gas gauge doesn't work and you want to measure how much gas you have in your tank, What's your workaround?

What do you use to stick in your tank to see how much gas is there?

Years ago, my dad had a metal rod that was brown, with a wire on it, so you wouldn't drop it into the tank. That metal rod
worked well. You need something that's a darker color, so you can easily see the gas line/level.

I need to find something for temporary use. Next, I need to fix the guage or the sending unit.

Hoenes · Oct 26, 2023

Had a 67 chevy pickup (tank behind the seat) gauge did't work. 1/2 inch wood dowel rod worked perfect. Easy to read.

Scott 730 · Oct 26, 2023

My 1" x 1"-3' piece of walnut has never failed me.

ss55 · Oct 26, 2023

An old wooden yard stick or dowel works. Use something the will not fall into the tank and will not shed debris in the tank.

Tony in SD · Oct 27, 2023

A clean stick

caterpillar guy · Oct 27, 2023

I've used so many things from a sem of a plant like a timothy stem to wire or rod , a stick just what I have at the time that is clean or easily wiped off clean. IF you tilt it so the end in the fuel is down you can get a glint of the fuel level on the wire/rod or what ever you use.

MarkB_MI · Oct 27, 2023

The trip odometer is your friend.

My Triumph motorcycle will indicate it's nearly out of gas when there's still over a gallon in the tank. By setting the trip each time I gas up, I can get an extra 30 miles out of each tank.

chuck machinist · Oct 27, 2023

(quoted from post at 10:46:38 10/27/23) The trip odometer is your friend.

My Triumph motorcycle will indicate it's nearly out of gas when there's still over a gallon in the tank. By setting the trip each time I gas up, I can get an extra 30 miles out of each tank.

Broom stick for my CaseDC-4. CM

BarnyardEngineering · Oct 27, 2023

Most things with a tank that you can "stick" won't have a trip odometer.

I've gone so far as to break a stick off a tree, strip it, and use it to literally "stick" a tank.

If I am being civilized about it, I like to use something with graduations on it, like a 4' ruler. Speaking of which I need to stop at the hardware and get a couple of cheap wooden 4' "yardsticks" because I can't find mine.

Hemmjo · Oct 27, 2023

Empty your tank. Get a stick that is long enough it cannot fall all the way into the tank. Put in a gallon of fuel. Put the stuck in. Make a saw cut in the stick were the wet spot is. Then put in two more gallons, and make another mark. Then add 5 gallons, and another mark. Continue til the tank is full. My stick fits on top of the tank, and stays there with the hood closed.

Fixingfarmer · Oct 27, 2023

Ruler or if its big enough tractor yard stick. I have a couple strips of walnut around the same shape as yardstick that are dark. I think for tractor without gas gauge they sell a little stick maybe even here

showcrop · Oct 27, 2023

I have had a cut-off broom stick standing in the corner up on the top of the foundation for many years. Just inside the door. I put a mark on it one time before adding five gallons just before leaving for a tractor pull. Next day I stuck it in again and it was back down to the mark. Five gallons at one tractor pull!

Tgrasher · Oct 27, 2023

The wife has some sort of sunflower that comes up on it's own every year. The stalk is a bit bigger than pencil and is woody and strong. After frost, I break off a bunch and put them in the tractor shed. Amazing how they can disappear over a years time.

Mike(NEOhio) · Oct 27, 2023

We had a couple of rods about 3/16 or 1/4 diameter with a hook bent in one end. They had the heavy coating of rust that old steel gets but doesn't flake off. Shows the level real clearly.

Tim in New York · Oct 27, 2023

Simple - my W-4 does not have a gauge. I use the first 18 of an old 36 yardstick.

Tim

Charlie M · Oct 27, 2023

If you want to spend a few bucks you can buy calibrated measuring sticks which are specific to model tractor and its gas tank and can tell you the gallons in the tank. I've seen them for a number of the more common models. Myself I'm only concern is the tank half full, only an inch in the bottom, etc. In the tractors I have I used to be able to just look into the tank but those days are gone. I keep an old mop handle available for my tractors.

Pappy · Oct 27, 2023

I keep pieces of 3/8 re-bar. About 20 inches long is good.

DPittman · Oct 27, 2023

Old dipstick out of bout any engine works for me. Can always find a hole for storage so it dont get lost

Russ from MN · Oct 27, 2023

I don't think there is that much left in my 2009 Bonneville SE, recently I drove it over 130 miles and the light didn't come on, next spring I will have to confirm the light works. My wife's Suzuki S40 doesn't have a trip odometer, strange for a motorcycle, she keeps a notebook of gas fills.

NY 986 · Oct 27, 2023

I use a wood slat long enough that it will not by accident drop in. I'm surprised that some wiseguy did not recommend using a lit match to illuminate the inside of the tank. Of course you should never do that.

How to measure gas in tank?

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