Low fuel indicator accuracy

[cantridenuf]

On a recent trip I was testing the limits a little fuel-wise. I had a 205 mile stretch to ride and was a little nervous, but my bike has been getting 45 mpg highway riding pretty consistently so I was fairly confident that I could make it.

At 187 miles my low fuel indicator light came on. I reached a fuel station at 207 miles and put in 4.6 gallons - that's exactly 45 mpg as I had expected.

What that tells me is that my low fuel indicator light came on with around 1.3 gallons left in the tank. According to MaKow it's supposed to come on at .8 gallons. So when my light came on I had about a half of a gallon more fuel left than indicated.

Is this consistent with the rest of you?

My other question is this: With a 5.3 gallon tank, (I own a 2005 1600), how much fuel is actually usable? Is the pickup tube really close to the bottom of the tank?

I'm trying to get a better feel for my range limitations as I'm considering doing some rides in Eastern Oregon that will stretch me to the limit.

Thanks and ride safe!

Bob

[glwilson]

This has been addressed on other threads here. Don't remember the exact amount of usable fuel; but from what I can recall you were clearly at the limit.

The fuel intake is not at the bottom of the tank; thus there remains unusable fuel -- somewhere around a gallon.

Someone will come along here and give the right info.

One note though... it has been mentioned many times that you do not want to make it a practice of running your fuel down to where the fuel-light comes on -- because the fuel pump is cooled by the fuel, thus running the fuel down will cause the pump to heatup, and eventually fail because of it.

[goldstar225]

When my light comes on I have 1- 1.2 gallons left. I stop at the first available station to fuel up.

[Yellow Jacket]

The most I have ever put in was 5.179 gallons. This particular time my low fuel light had come on and I started looking for a gas station. Didn't think I was ever going to find one but I did before I ran out. I think I went 20 - 25 miles with the light on. I did fill it past the top of the metal plate to about half way between the plate and the top of the filler cap opening.

[dandolfn]

I think 5.15 was the most I did in my '08 Nomad. But I was having to rock the bike back and forth to get to the gas station. It kept sputtering, but thankfully, I made it to the station.

That's closer than I ever want to get again.

[redjay]

I start looking for gas at 200 kms no matter what the gas gauge says.

[Sin City Stan]

The most I have put in the tank was 4.7 Gal.. I'm guessing the annoying low fuel warning /flashing LCD & LED comes on at about a gallon left.

[papat]

I have been making about 40 MPG low light comes on at 160 miles, bike dies at 195 miles add 1 gallon fuel i had with me. Drive 5 mile to station add 4 more gallon to fill it up. When I fill up stop just above the plate.

[cantridenuf]

Thanks guys, don't recall seeing that info previously about potential fuel pump damage - good to know. In the future I will just figure my range at 175 and look for options on carrying an extra gallon of fuel if I need to press it a little more. I agree it's not a pleasant feeling when you know that you're getting way down there with miles to go.

Sorry if this thread is redundant. I alway search before posting. Not meaning to criticize but I haven't had much luck with our search engine. It's probably just user-error. Duh!!!!


Bob

[nomad561]

I have put as much as 5.2 in my 07,but that was on a ride that caught me not paying attention to my gauge.I had a little over 200 miles on the odometer when I found a station.The bike stalled as I turned into the lot.I never will get that close again.I start looking for fuel at 150-160 miles now. I'm looking at some ideas for installing a rack on my trailer to carry an extra gallon on longer trips.

[Top Cat]

Thanks guys, don't recall seeing that info previously about potential fuel pump damage - good to know. In the future I will just figure my range at 175 and look for options on carrying an extra gallon of fuel if I need to press it a little more. I agree it's not a pleasant feeling when you know that you're getting way down there with miles to go.

Sorry if this thread is redundant. I alway search before posting. Not meaning to criticize but I haven't had much luck with our search engine. It's probably just user-error. Duh!!!!


Bob

No it is not user-error. The search feature on this site sucks.
But everything else is great http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[gghost]

Much easier to use the search function of "Hey guys, where would I find this?" Someone will remember.

[macmac]

I wouldn't sweat any about being redundant. Ask any plane poilot about that and then anyrider...almost, and besides these guys put up with me!

If I were you rather than pay any attention to the gauge and or that foolish yellow light get in the habit of setting the tripmeter and go by that.

Find the sweet spot you know will be before that yellow light and get gas then.

Only once have I run out, to where the bike stopped. i wasn't at any gas station either. I woggled the bike and forced more fuel over to the left side of the tank where the pick up and went a few more miles and I was again stopped, and woggled the bike again, and then made the gas station, where I took on 4.8 something gallons.

That was no habit for me and i was cooking the fuel pump bearings for sure. Once might not hurt much, but a habit of it sure will. When I got the gas the trip meter was reading 198 miles.

Things varry on these bike widely. Some guys and Bob the Yellow Jacket has got to be one of them in this deptartment, where his pick up must be lower than most anyone else.

My bike on the other hand can not have Phatt II risers and not hit the nacell as nearly everyone else can do. And I am gifted in metal and did everything I could think of to not allow that to happen, but my bike is tighter up there than most.

The spec these bikes are built to just varries a lot.

[Yellow Jacket]

I totally agree with Mac. These bikes do seem to vary.

If I get down to one bar on the guage, I'm stopping at the next gas station I see. That's usually around 175 on the trip meter, depending on much I've been twisting the throttle.

[macmac]

I am willing to bet the pumps at staions varry too, not to mention the amounts of fuel at different times of the day. Things might look very accurate but i have some real doubts.

In times past i have seen pumps tell me I took on more gallongs that there is capicity.

Given enough time you lean whats what with a vehical. I had the same truck I got now since 87, My car is a 85 and i worked on this model new.

On some occasions I see pumps that just can't be right.

Add in methanol and who knows what another fluid will do in terms of gallons of something.

The volume in a gallon can be different things, but I am no scientist, not even close.

[cantridenuf]

Yeah, I think I'll go with the gghost search engine idea in the future, and you're right TC - great website, but the search engine blows.

Between Gadget and Kawanow the wealth of information about these motorcycles is pretty amazing. Kudos to both.

Bob

[johnb]

Just like "Yellow Jacket", at 165-175 miles I'm at one bar on the guage the yellow light starts to go on and I'm getting to a gas station Getting "stuck" is too inconvenient and wearing out the fuel pump too expensive.

[trosco]

I sort of look at it like, my tank's range is 200 miles and my butt's range is about 150 miles sooo... I set the trip meter and start watching it and for gas stops when my butt says it's time.
I did get caught once late at night coming back from VA on back roads with several stations closed on a Sunday night and actually did 213 miles on a tank. Was riding very careful cause of dark and took 5.1 to fill which is better mileage than I usually get. Normally I am putting in about 4.3 gallons at around 170 miles which is about when my little light comes on and about 10-15 miles after I get down to one bar on guage.

[macmac]

I can see getting 200+ miles in a single ride, before pushing the Nomad to a station.

The 198 I got was over several days and short rides around locally. This always uses more fuel, with several cold starts and wasted engine time.

When I hit 170 miles I begin looking for gas. About 178 the yellow light flickers and soon it is ON.

On a long run I will get gas somewhere around every 100 to 125 miles to be dammned sure i do get empty in the boonies. I need to walk around about then anyway, bad back and bad nerves for it, so I stiffen up faster than most.