Posted for "Jim Scales" <joscales98@hotmail.com>:

Haven't followed this complete thread but certainly recognize the subject.  I hae experienced VM (and before that, EI) fuel gauge problems since first flight.  Don't recall everything that we did to try to solve it but worked on it for about 6 months on and off, talked to every avionics person I could find, called EI and VM, installed
filters, ferrite beads, sheilded wires and a bunch of other stuff.  After VM told me that my problem was a mismatch of probes to gauges ( I use EI probes) and said I  should change to the VM probes to fix the problem, I actually considered taking off the wings to do just that.  Luckily, I did ask VM if they would guarantee the fix
and their response was "no".  So I didn't change the probes.

  I should mention that my problems only exhibit themselves when I'm transmitting on the radio.  Also, the gauges act differently depending on which radio I am  using.  If I use the King, the left tank goes dry and the right tank fills up.  If I use the Appollo, both tanks fill up.  Don't ask.  Also, the OAT fluctuates and the Oil  Temp goes down.

  I've talked with many others with similar problems and am convinced that we can't all be that inept at following directions and installing these things.  Doesn't  leave many areas where the problem could be.

  My solution was to get VM to burn a new chip for my unit that ignores low fuel so that I am not constantly explaining to my passengers that "Yes, we really do  have enough gas and that it is just a gauge problem".  I have learned to live with it and to make sure I don't try to use the VM information within about 2-3 minutes  of a radio transmission.  Fortunately, I have not yet seen any fluctuation of the fuel totalizer so I tend to rely on it quite a bit.

  Sorry I don't have solutions to offer.  I'm not sure there are any.  Good luck.

  Jim Scales