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Fuel Level Averaging Circuit For Older Cars?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Vehicle Wiring Information & File Requests
Forum Discription: Request Car Alarm, Car Stereo, Cruise Control, Remote Starter, Navigation, Mobile Video, and Other Vehicle Specific Wiring Info, Manuals, Tech Tips
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=148469
Printed Date: February 01, 2026 at 2:07 AM


Topic: Fuel Level Averaging Circuit For Older Cars?

Posted By: ultm8z
Subject: Fuel Level Averaging Circuit For Older Cars?
Date Posted: January 31, 2026 at 4:32 PM

My frame of reference is a 1971 Camaro, with a standard GM 0-90 ohm fuel level sender, but I suspect what I'm about to describe is probably universally applicable.

My aftermarket fuel gauge has a built in dampener circuit such that the needle doesn't respond to quick transient type of float arm movement... i.e., going around a turn, short term acceleration/deceleration, etc.

But given enough time, like steadily going up or down a hill, a sustained period of acceleration/deceleration, the needle will react to it.

It works "ok", but I'd like to see if I could get the more steady behavior of newer cars.

I searched around for something commercially available, but everything I see is just another glorified add-on dampener circuit.

What I"m envisioning is the following, but I'm a mechanical engineer, not electrical.

A device that only samples the fuel level when on straight/level ground and not in the presence of acceleration/deceleration.   So my mind immediately goes to a mercury switch. IT would interrupt the signal wire to the gauge when not in a straight/level steady-state condition.

The only problem is, when I disconnect the signal wire by hand, the gauge needle goes to empty, so that would be annoying.

So the other aspect of this device is that when it reads the fuel level, it saves that reading. Then when the device interrupts the signal wire, it sends the last known good reading to the gauge, until such time that the car is back in straight/level steady state... at which point it takes another sample reading of the fuel level.

Any thoughts on how this could be done? Or if there is such a device commercially available or could be adapted to this application?

Thanks!






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