Please explain fuel gauge operation...

[vv0350]

Ok, I have worried about this long enough...my 2002 Nomad has a 5 gal tank (5.3?)...in any case, I get to the empty "red dot" on the gage face and with the fuel light glowing in my face for many minutes..stop and get fuel...so the most I have ever put in is about 4 gallons...I have a real hard time believing that there is another gallon of gas still in the tank...what gives?? Should I believe there is really another gallon and the gage will drop down past the red dot and the bike will still run...?? Also, the first half of the tank gives me about 115 miles the second half goes by really fast and only has maybe 35 miles..I guess this is normal..
thanks

[dogdoc]

There can be 1/2- near 1 gal left in tank that is not usable. Once your low fuel light comes on you better start hunting gas.

[cactusjack]

On the few occasions I've had my fuel light come on and filled up almost immediately, it's never taken over 4 gallons of gas. I go more by mileage (resetting the trip meter at each fill-up) than I do by the gauge.

The 1600 (05 and later) have a 5.3 gallon tank.The 1500 is slightly less. I do like CJ, zero the trip meter each fill up and go by that.

[dkdixie]

On the few occasions I've had my fuel light come on and filled up almost immediately, it's never taken over 4 gallons of gas. I go more by mileage (resetting the trip meter at each fill-up) than I do by the gauge.

I too use trip meter. My fuel light comes on approx 190 miles, never put more than 4.3 to fill

[nomad561]

I have always used the trip meter.Most of my previous bikes didn't have a gauge so that is what I got used to. Still use it even with the gauge.

[darthvulcan]

I zero out my trip meter at each fuel stop, too.

There's not much I don't like about the Nomad, but I have to say I'm not a fan of the 5-bar LED fuel gauge.

[novijoe]

On the few occasions I've had my fuel light come on and filled up almost immediately, it's never taken over 4 gallons of gas. I go more by mileage (resetting the trip meter at each fill-up) than I do by the gauge.

I too use trip meter. My fuel light comes on approx 190 miles, never put more than 4.3 to fill

Damn...that's good gas mileage there, I'm getting about 36 MPG. My light comes on around 135 miles

[Top Cat]

Forget the bars, use the trip meter.
My low fuel light comes on at 160 then goes off for about 10 miles.
The longest I have gone before filling is 195 miles on odometer. It took 4.9 gallons. I usually average 40 to 42 miles per gallon.
I know that only comes out to approximatly39 mpg but whos counting http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

PS= forgot to mention I have a 1600

[redeye]

On my '03, when the warning first starts to glow I figure I have about 2 gal left in the tank. I ride daily & start looking for gas at 180 miles. Last night I rode 40 miles with the light on & filled up at 177 miles taking 4.125 gals. My mileage averages 42-44 mpg consistently. The farthest I've ridden is 214 on 4.8 gals.

Like others have said, reset the trip meter when filling up.

Like your bike, the needle on the gauge will stay above 1/2 until 130 miles then drop like a rock on the next 50 miles.....-Rich

[nomad]

i too use the trip meter...but i don't get anywhere near 190 miles!!!!!! i usually run about 135, then the light comes on and i put around 3.4 gallons in it.

[burkazoid]

Mine is the 2005 1600 Nomad, and I've always used the trip meter since I owned the bike. Having said that, according to the trip meter I've hit right around 190-200 miles on a tank, and when I filled up I hit right at 5.0 gallons. I was sweating that day for sure.

[zoom45]

I'm jealous! You guys get great gas mileage. My antique 1500 Nomad makes me start looking for gas at about 90-100 miles. I have ran out at 88 and been as far as 130 before I go to reserve and it all depends on speed. At 40-50mph in the mountains I have gotten up to 49 mpg but towing the trailer at 75 I ran out at 88 mpg. If you forget to turn your reserve vavle back to normal position, when you do run out, you won't have any gas for reserve left. I know it happened but I had my trailer with 2 extra gallons with me.
Zoom45

I too use trip meter. My fuel light comes on approx 190 miles, never put more than 4.3 to fill

Damn...that's good gas mileage there, I'm getting about 36 MPG. My light comes on around 135 miles

I don't know why, but my '07 Nomad was getting terrible mileage until I got her broken in. 35 was about all I could expect. I was very disappointed! Now, I seem to be averaging around 43, running between 60 and 80mph. I can't argue too much with that, although I'd feel better if it were 45-48. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[kenb]

Sometimes the mileage may be inaccurate due to the speedo being out of calibration. Mine is off by 5mph to the bad side. (Adding miles to the bike and making fuel economy look good.) I figure that I added about 40 non-riidden miles on my trip from Phoenix. I plan on adding the yellow box to correct the speedo. You can also mess with tire size. I use my GPS for longer trips.

[schoeney]

The light on my 2003 comes on @ 140 miles consistently. I have gone as long as 190 miles. I average 40 in town and 45 on the road depending on speed and wind.

[ringadingh]

I generally get about 140- 150 miles before my light comes on, I'll drive up to 40 miles with it on sometimes. I also rely on the trip meter rather than the gauge. The best Ive done is 202 miles on a tank.

[biscuitsngravy]

I have an '06 1600 Nad. One day in northern Oregon, I was mostly cruising about 65-70 mph. Kept watching the fuel, and thought I could make the next town. I flat ran out of gas at 204 miles. Not fun. So now I always reset my trip meter to 000 now. Live and learn! BnG

[VulcanE]

I always reset my trip meter each time I fill up too, but I do go by my fuel gauge mostly. I have an '05 with the 5.3 gallon tank, and the most I've put in was 4.9 gallons with 207 miles on the clock. That's around 42 mpg. I don't normally run it that low. I usually start looking for gas around 170 miles on the tank.

[redeye]

Sometimes the mileage may be inaccurate due to the speedo being out of calibration. Mine is off by 5mph to the bad side. (Adding miles to the bike and making fuel economy look good.) I figure that I added about 40 non-riidden miles on my trip from Phoenix. I plan on adding the yellow box to correct the speedo. You can also mess with tire size. I use my GPS for longer trips.

My speedo is fast by about 10%, but, my ODOMETER is dead on. I've driven the same route to & from my job the past 18 years & it is 27.5 miles from my driveway to the parking lot at work. The bike registers the same mileage on the trip meter....-Rich

[VulcanE]

Sometimes the mileage may be inaccurate due to the speedo being out of calibration. Mine is off by 5mph to the bad side. (Adding miles to the bike and making fuel economy look good.) I figure that I added about 40 non-riidden miles on my trip from Phoenix. I plan on adding the yellow box to correct the speedo. You can also mess with tire size. I use my GPS for longer trips.

My speedo is fast by about 10%, but, my ODOMETER is dead on. I've driven the same route to & from my job the past 18 years & it is 27.5 miles from my driveway to the parking lot at work. The bike registers the same mileage on the trip meter....-Rich

I agree, my speedo is off by 5%, but the odometer is dead on in reading mileage traveled. http://s2.images.proboards.com/cool.gif

[vv0350]

Ok, BUT what happens when the fuel needle gets to the red "E" dot ???? Does it continue to go past the dot or does the gas run out half way through the dot or what...anyone know..?

[landman]

okay,i give up! what is the yellow box???

[VulcanE]

okay,i give up! what is the yellow box???

The "Yellow Box" is what is called a "Speed-o-Healer". You can hook it into your speed sensor and adjust how your speedo reads, down side is it also alters the odometer reading too.

[albrightb]

I have an 04 nomad. When guage reads on the red dot it always takes exactly 3 gals to top off. I've been getting 40 in town and 45 highway. I assume the speedo is correct.
Buz

[redeye]

Ok, BUT what happens when the fuel needle gets to the red "E" dot ???? Does it continue to go past the dot or does the gas run out half way through the dot or what...anyone know..?

On my '03 the needle goes below the red DOT to where just a part of the needle is covering the DOT
I have never ran out of gas, so I don't know exactly how low the needle will go. The most I have put in the tank is 4.8 gals.....