Fuel guage accuracy

patmahoney · 05-04-2009, 01:37 PM

So I am cruising along on my recently purchased 02 Nomad, life is good when I suddenly see the low fuel light is on and the gauge is nearly pinned on E! I make a b-line to the nearest gas station, thanking god I made it, I fill her up but she only takes 2.5 gallons. ???

So I guess I have two questions: Are these gauges known to be off? and Is there a fix?

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

blowndodge · 05-04-2009, 01:49 PM

Yes and no. It happens all the time even after fixing.

patmahoney · 05-04-2009, 01:55 PM

Thanks, guess I just need to know my miles per tank, it'll be like I'm back to driving my old POS Nova

dogdoc · 05-04-2009, 05:50 PM

gauge sucks and is not accurate.

**ringadingh** · 05-04-2009, 07:42 PM

You will have approx a gallon of fuel left once the light comes on. Use your tripmeter its a lot better than the gauge.

borto1990 · 05-04-2009, 09:35 PM

ok ringadingh. Now are tanks are 5.3 gallons right? how much of that is usable? obviously someone wouldn't try to run that low but will it run right close to that 5.3 mark?

ells · 05-04-2009, 10:37 PM

AS far as usable, somebody here recently claimed they put 5.2 gals in without having it die. Most I've done is 4.7

**ringadingh** · 05-04-2009, 11:34 PM

Im not sure how much is usable thats left in the tank but on my 02, Ive put 19.1 litres in a few times to fill it, but I fill my tank right up to the top also. Thats running the tank down pretty low as well. Ive gone 40 miles with my fuel light on many times before refilling.

dogdoc · 05-05-2009, 10:10 AM

No you cannot use 5.3 gal out of it. you will usually have about 0.5 gal or so left even when you have the engine sputter/die. kawa doesnt want it to run bone dry.

spirello · 05-05-2009, 10:29 AM

When your fuel light comes on there may still be a fair amount of fuel in the tank but if you bike is going right to left uphill and downhill the gas cant get sucked up by the pump. The same happens in you car but the fuel lines are a ton longer and hold a decent amount of fuel until the pump can get more gas as it slohes side to side. The nomads fuel line is about 2-3 inches long not alot of fule storage.

macmac · 05-05-2009, 05:28 PM

Forget you have a fuel guage in the first place!.... I would trade my gauge for a 2nd trip meter, so I could take a trip and know how far it was, and use the other meter to tell when I need gas.....

I use mine to tell when I need gas, like i did on older bikes that didn't have a stupid worthless gauge....

So I don't know how far trips are, but from NH to Cal was a ways... and back

phenrichs · 05-05-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

You will have approx a gallon of fuel left once the light comes on. Use your tripmeter its a lot better than the gauge.

Shoot till I bought this thing the trip meter always was the gauge.

Mine is accurate as hell. I ride it like I stole it till the light comes on and then I ride it for another 20 miles or so and then go get gas.

dandolfn · 05-05-2009, 07:44 PM

I sputtered several times on the way to the gas station. I was rocking it right and left all the way there!

It took 4.85 gallons.

macmac · 05-07-2009, 10:18 AM

That yellow light should be thought of more as the fuel pump is running hot, since the fuel pump runs in fuel for cooling....

First sign of that and I am into getting more fuel.

I ran out once... I took on 4.8 gallons with a 1600. I had 198 miles.

05-04-2009, 01:37 PM	#1
patmahoney Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hingham, MA Posts: 450	Fuel guage accuracy So I am cruising along on my recently purchased 02 Nomad, life is good when I suddenly see the low fuel light is on and the gauge is nearly pinned on E! I make a b-line to the nearest gas station, thanking god I made it, I fill her up but she only takes 2.5 gallons. ??? So I guess I have two questions: Are these gauges known to be off? and Is there a fix? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks __________________ 2002 Nomad 1500 - Black and Red 2011 Nomad 1700 - Black and Silver MAPGR Ride Captain Enjoy the ride.... Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-04-2009, 01:49 PM	#2
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Fuel guage accuracy Yes and no. It happens all the time even after fixing. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

05-04-2009, 01:55 PM	#3
patmahoney Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hingham, MA Posts: 450	Fuel guage accuracy Thanks, guess I just need to know my miles per tank, it'll be like I'm back to driving my old POS Nova __________________ 2002 Nomad 1500 - Black and Red 2011 Nomad 1700 - Black and Silver MAPGR Ride Captain Enjoy the ride....
	0

05-04-2009, 05:50 PM	#4
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Fuel guage accuracy gauge sucks and is not accurate.
	0

05-04-2009, 07:42 PM	#5
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Fuel guage accuracy You will have approx a gallon of fuel left once the light comes on. Use your tripmeter its a lot better than the gauge. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-04-2009, 09:35 PM	#6
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	Fuel guage accuracy ok ringadingh. Now are tanks are 5.3 gallons right? how much of that is usable? obviously someone wouldn't try to run that low but will it run right close to that 5.3 mark?
	0

05-04-2009, 10:37 PM	#7
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	Fuel guage accuracy AS far as usable, somebody here recently claimed they put 5.2 gals in without having it die. Most I've done is 4.7
	0

05-04-2009, 11:34 PM	#8
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Fuel guage accuracy Im not sure how much is usable thats left in the tank but on my 02, Ive put 19.1 litres in a few times to fill it, but I fill my tank right up to the top also. Thats running the tank down pretty low as well. Ive gone 40 miles with my fuel light on many times before refilling. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

05-05-2009, 10:10 AM	#9
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Fuel guage accuracy No you cannot use 5.3 gal out of it. you will usually have about 0.5 gal or so left even when you have the engine sputter/die. kawa doesnt want it to run bone dry.
	0

05-05-2009, 10:29 AM	#10
spirello Advanced Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: VANCOUVER WA Posts: 576	Fuel guage accuracy When your fuel light comes on there may still be a fair amount of fuel in the tank but if you bike is going right to left uphill and downhill the gas cant get sucked up by the pump. The same happens in you car but the fuel lines are a ton longer and hold a decent amount of fuel until the pump can get more gas as it slohes side to side. The nomads fuel line is about 2-3 inches long not alot of fule storage.
	0

05-05-2009, 05:28 PM	#11
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Fuel guage accuracy Forget you have a fuel guage in the first place!.... I would trade my gauge for a 2nd trip meter, so I could take a trip and know how far it was, and use the other meter to tell when I need gas..... I use mine to tell when I need gas, like i did on older bikes that didn't have a stupid worthless gauge.... So I don't know how far trips are, but from NH to Cal was a ways... and back __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

05-05-2009, 07:44 PM	#13
dandolfn Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 374	Fuel guage accuracy I sputtered several times on the way to the gas station. I was rocking it right and left all the way there! It took 4.85 gallons. __________________ If you don't grow up by age 60, you don't have to...
	0

05-07-2009, 10:18 AM	#14
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Fuel guage accuracy That yellow light should be thought of more as the fuel pump is running hot, since the fuel pump runs in fuel for cooling.... First sign of that and I am into getting more fuel. I ran out once... I took on 4.8 gallons with a 1600. I had 198 miles. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Tire Gauge Accuracy	usranger74	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	14	07-25-2011 03:00 PM
innacurate fuel guage.	madcow	1500 & 1600 Nomad	17	09-10-2009 06:11 AM
Low fuel indicator accuracy	cantridenuf	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	18	07-04-2009 09:23 AM
Avon Venom Tires & Speedometer Accuracy	rooster1	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	1	03-22-2009 09:10 AM
Speedometer Accuracy	dui546	Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager	18	10-10-2007 03:49 PM