When does "empty" mean "zip-nada-zilch"?

[bobhamlin]

As some of you know, I'm transitioning to a '06 Nomad from a 1500 Classic (carb.)

Today's question: With the digital gas gauge, is there any indication when low gas is getting *really* critical?

On my analog Classic, when the needle moved completely over the "E," I had about 8 miles left. This morning on the way in, I got the yellow warning light with one digital bar remaining on the gas indicator. I began calculating, based on my average mpg, my expected range with a variable for commuter stop&go. (There's a stretch with no gas stations that provides a little pucker factor).

With my other bikes, the rule of thumb seems to be that the "reserve" is about 1/5 of the tank.

On the digital indicator--does the last bar ever disappear? If yes, is there any gas left after it does?

Thanks.

[VulcanE]

I have never seen my last bar disappear. When the "FI" light comes on, and stays on, I have rode 35-38 miles to get to a station, and put 5.1 gallons in the tank. I don't think I want to try that again. Now, when the light comes on, I pull into the next station I come to. ;)

[caddman11]

I guess empty means, you've run out of gas.

[Cajunrider]

My warning light will come on after traveling a few miles on the last bar. It will come on and go off intermittently for a few miles further until it will stay on. When it finally stays on I will fill it with about 4.4 gallons. The most fuel I have put after traveling about 20 miles with the light on is 4.8 gallons. I won't do that again if I can help it.

[dabull]

while you're sitting on the side of the road, you'll have plenty of time to figure this one out;)

I have ran mine and watched the come on, go off, come on, go off,come on and stay on....figured it was time to pull into gas station...I still calculate based on odo...

[ringadingh]

When my low fuel light comes on steady I can go about 35-40 miles, them Im Empty. You are supposed to have one gallon left at this point.The tripmeter is probably your best bet at monitoring your fuel level. I can get between 180- 200 miles on most tanks depending on speed and temperatures.

[socwkbiker]

When the light comes on and I get to head right in to get fuel, I tend to put in between 4.2-4.6 depending on how long I had to go to get to the gas station. This last week I got to the point of putting in 5.1 and that was close enough for me!

[rlfaubion]

When you find yourself with a plastic water bottle and rubber hose doing this, you'll know it's time to fuel up.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s31/rlfaubion/Motorcycles/Hale%20Bopp/10.jpg

[doctorgski]

In the 61K miles I have put on my 30 month old bike, I have discovered and realized a thing or two about the Nomad.

1. The 5.3 gal tank does not mean you can draw 5.3 gal out of that tank. I ran out, engine spitting and sputtering into a gas station, after 176 miles, light on for some time, but could only put 4.7 gal in... The next time in central Florida, made a wrong turn, no gas station for 20+ miles, light went on at 150 miles, engine stopped running at 182 miles, sent a friend for gas (on his Harley- oh crap!), this time, I put in a total of 4.8 gal. The pick up tube in my bike will only let me draw 4.8 gal of the 5.3 tank! Be careful!

2. If I ride at 55mph or below, I can get up to 44 mpg on a good day with just cleaned throttle bodies. Twist the right hand to 75 mph it goes down to about 36 mpg if no wind, and clean throttle bodies and a low 32 mpg with a strong head wind and TB's that have not been cleaned for some time. Makes it kinda tough to guess using the odo. But I usually do.

3. Don't get into the habit of running too low, the fuel pump in the bottom of the tank uses gas to cool it, and should be covered in gas for this reason. Ask your dealer how expensive it is to have a fuel pump changed, I did, it was over $800, that was two years ago.

Good luck my friend!

[spirello]

You can go alot further when the fuel light comes on, just make sure you keep turning left ang you will be fine. lol but seriously I have came close a few times to running out I think it was about 25miles befor it started to sputter but i was going about 85.

[dogdoc]

when light comes ON, get some gas. You will never be stranded then.

[NRiderUSA]

Man I need to keep me an empty 32Liter pop bottle..... could come in handy!!
Although I did run the nomad to light on to test it once, I have always stopped at a station and filled up when I hit 1/4 even with my 98 Carb 1500 Classic.... so never have run out before.

[desertdog]

Tested my 08 Nomad back in November. Went for a ride, passed up a gas station when I had 3 bars showing. Knew I was heading out into the hinder lands, but there was a town about 30 miles up the way. Just past the gas station I went to 2 bars. No problem, I'll get gas up ahead.

No working gas pumps in the town when I got there. Oh crap. Headed back the way I came, got to one bar and the light came on intermittently. Pucker factor kicks in. I wonder how hard its gonna be to push it to the next gas station, about 12 miles ahead. Then the light stays on.
I swear this ain't ever gonna happen again if I can just get to a gas station.


Got to a gas station, it took 4.8 gallons, so I had a little left, but now I refuel early and often.
I don't care for the idea of running out of gas in the middle of no where.

I am still figuring out my mileage, but get about 35 average, less when riding 2 up. But it also depends on wind, and if I stay off the throttle or not.

I'm too damn old to try to push the Nad to a gas pump, unless the wife is along. She's good at pushing it. (grin)

[dabull]

I find that when the light starts to flickerin to look for a gas station, is generally a good time for a stretch:)

[schoeney]

I have a 2003 so I can't help you with your 1600. But I wanted to ask anyone who has run out of gas if you have to do anything besides fill her up and turn the key after it has gone bone dry??????

Just in case I do something stupid.

[watchman]

Although I have ran over 30 miles with the low fuel light on I try to make it a point to fill up between 120 to 150 miles if possible. That is a 2 to 3 hour ride and time for a stop anyway. Why take a chance of running out of fuel?

[doctorgski]

Just fill it up and go... and hope you didn't suck anything bad up in the process. You know, I have also noticed from time to time I get a high pitched wine sound from the tank area, not the sound from the gas cap, more like a motor wine. That turns out to be a fuel pump wine, does not appear to mean much as the shop says "well they do that sometimes", it bugs me so I just put in some Sea Foam, and the wine goes away. Must be crap in the tank that gets dissolve by the sea foam. So, try that if you ever hear that sound.

[dank]

My experience with an 06 is similar to BD's. Farthest I have gone once the yellow light came on and stayed on was 34 miles. It took 5.1 gallons to fill it. I have no idea if I actually had 0.2 gallons left and was glad I took the first station in town.

The light on my 06 consistently comes on at 4.3-4.4 gallons used.

[rlfaubion]

I have a 2003 so I can't help you with your 1600. But I wanted to ask anyone who has run out of gas if you have to do anything besides fill her up and turn the key after it has gone bone dry??????

Just in case I do something stupid.

OK, speaking of stupid I guess, I've gone dry three times without consequence in restarting. I have gone near dry many times. I shake the bike side to side to get a few more miles when necessarily being stupid. I watch the gage better today :)

PS I'm fuel injected too

[ringadingh]

I have a 2003 so I can't help you with your 1600. But I wanted to ask anyone who has run out of gas if you have to do anything besides fill her up and turn the key after it has gone bone dry??????

Just in case I do something stupid.
I have, just fill it and it will go. the pump presurizes the system as soon as you turn the key.

[ells]

As has been noted, both the digital bar and the light are about worthless as you are getting close to the bottom. I use the trip meter and try not to let it get even close, careful planning in trips in remote areas and early stops when in doubt.

[Cajunrider]

As has been noted, both the digital bar and the light are about worthless as you are getting close to the bottom. I use the trip meter and try not to let it get even close, careful planning in trips in remote areas and early stops when in doubt.

+1

[roseman]

When the light comes on and I get to head right in to get fuel, I tend to put in between 4.2-4.6 depending on how long I had to go to get to the gas station. This last week I got to the point of putting in 5.1 and that was close enough for me!


wow....5.1 gal ! ? !

The last bar never goes out is what I have been told. I almost always get fuel when I hit the last bar. I know that is excessive, but I start getting nervous when that warning light goes on. And that spoils my ride. So why do it?

BTW, I do the same thing with my truck - fill it up when I hit 1/4 tank. Guess I am just anal retentive! :-[

[dank]

[quote author=roseman board=general thread=8684 post=147869 time=1231909969][quote author=socwkbiker board=general thread=8684 post=147598 time=1231858040]
wow....5.1 gal ! ? !

I start getting nervous when that warning light goes on. And that spoils my ride. So why do it?

[/quote

I also look for gas at the last bar, and have always planned for it before that. In my case, when I put 5.1 in, the station I was planning on and would had made at about 4.5 gallons needed, had gone out of business, so I had to go on to the next exit.

[biscuitsngravy]

One day in northern Oregon, I traveled 204 miles on my '06 Nomad. I remember the miles traveled because that was what the trip meter said when I flat ran out of gas. I was at the top of a mountain pass and coasted 8 miles to a gas station. It took 5.2 gallons. It started immediately after filling the tank. All I can say is that prayer works!! BnG

[dabull]

Coasted 8 Miles!!! That must've been fun/funny!!! What a story to tell...

[markusmaximus]

Tried this experiment last year. Got 27 miles after yellow light came on (05 Nomad), mostly stop & go riding. Started stalling after 22 miles. I literally coasted into the service station. I'll never try that again. I now fill up after 15-ish miles.

[schoeney]

My light (03-1500-5 gal tank) goes on at 140 miles....very consistent. I have gone as far as 190 miles before fill up. The last 40 miles was all freeway. Had to pry myself off the seat as pucker factor was powerful!

Never have completely run out (knocking on wood).

[jd01]

Having a carbed 2001 1500, I don't have fuel lights or digital bars. When it gets down low enough, it will start sputtering and I lean down and turn the gas lever to reserve. That will usually get me another 30-35 miles. Mostly I use the trip meter to gauge the amount of miles I figure I can go before I'm getting too low. GPS also has a feature you can set to remind you of your gas situation. You just got to remember to reset it everytime you fill up. :)