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

[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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

+1

[roseman]

Originally Posted by SWB,voices tell me evil things

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. :)