How to Determine Your Gauge's Specification (American vs. European)?

June30,2025   By Mike Su

To verify whether your gauge is functioning correctly or to identify if it follows American or European standards, follow these steps:

Method 1: Accessing the Wires on the Back of the Gauge

Turn off the gauge.

Disconnect the black wire (sender wire).

Turn the gauge back on.

American Gauge: The needle will point to EMPTY.

If you touch the black wire to a ground (earth), the needle will move to FULL.

European Gauge: The needle will point to FULL.

If you touch the black wire to a ground (earth), the needle will move to EMPTY.

Method 2: Testing Through the Wiring Loom (If You Can't Access the Gauge Directly)

Disconnect the two wires in the loom that connect to the sender unit.

Short the two wires together (on the gauge side of the loom).

American Gauge: The needle will show EMPTY.

Grounding the black wire will make it move to FULL.

European Gauge: The needle will show FULL.

Grounding the black wire will make it move to EMPTY.

This test helps confirm both functionality and specification type.