Bloody petrol gauge.... miles left.

[Angel]

Luddite Time.
Some of my bikes have a tap with reserve, some have a gauge that guesses what might or might not be in the tank. I like the reserve. I use the trip and aim to never use the reserve, but on the rare occasion I get it wrong, it's nice to know it's there. Having a tube that sticks up into the petrol for the main tank is 100% reliable. When the petrol reaches the tube the engine falters, turning the tap lets the rest out as a reserve. The tube is always the same height, what is left is always the same, there are no flashing lights and nothing to go wrong. Both the bikes I have with gauges actually cause panic long before it's needed. Both tell me the tank is empty when there is a good 5 litres still in there. It just becomes a game of dare to see how long your nerve will hold with the light flashing.
Seriously, like others have suggested, just use the trip.

[Nigel]

[center]USE THE TRIP METER[/center]

1+

[catcitrus]

Just to add my experience--my 2006 KTM 640A has a 6 gal tank so range is about 300 miles anyway. Initially I used to set the fuel tap on "normal" and then turn it onto reserve when it spluttered. I nearly got mangled in Spain on a road without a hard shoulder (under repair with a concrete barrier as the edge)--the problem is that I have to stop to reach the fuel tap. I also noticed that the fuel light came on about 5 miles before going into splutter mode--and my speedo then goes into "miles traveled on reserve" mode. Essentially my fuel gauge is very accurate so I leave the tap permanently in the reserve position and rely on the light--but of course always use the trip as well , as my speedo is blessed with TWO independent trips. I put the accuracy down to the tank design which has a crossover pipe but is also lower on the LHS (essentially holding all the 4 litres or so of reserve in the narrow and deep LH extension--all standard of course!!--no need to slosh it about!)

CB

[Loggy]

Agreed, use the trip. My AT doesn't have either a light or gauge. I do about 185 max on the tank without switching to reserve. I usually fill it up between 160 and 170mls. Never hit reserve yet and don't plan too as that's when fuel pump and crud problems happen...

[bull]

I am the same, I never let it get too low

don't want any chance of dirt in the bottom of the tank getting forced into the fuel system

[Road2Manchester]

annoyed only due to running very very low some months ago when it was at 7 miles left, I put more fuel in straight away. The morning of this incident, the gauge read 46 as I left home, 8 miles later... 22...... 8 yards later.... still 22 but put put bong......


As I was at my new job, and a week in hand, I HAD NO FOOKIN MONEY alright, you made me say it.

:laugh: :cheer: :dry: :blink: :side: :S

[appleby]

Just use the trip

That's what I do on every bike

Know your range and you'll be fine then

1200 GS fuel gauges are notorious for breaking

(thumbs)
Idiot lights are for idiots!
I just use the trip as mine has the opposite problem - I can get to zero miles left & know I still have a litre left.

Just bring back a fuel tap with reserve and be done with it?

[Spike941]

Wondered the same about the Explorer, but after sweating it out on a road across Wales after the warning light came on at 50 miles. I thought I'll stop at the next garage, as there's bound to be one within 50 miles? Only just! Rolled into the outskirts of Hereford with 3 miles left in the tank. (According to the trip) Shan't plan on doing that too often.

Well, just done it again, but with apparently 7 miles left in the tank. Filled her up, only to discover I should have another 2 and half litres left, if Triumph's specs can be believed. Now stopped using the 'Miles left in the tank mode' and switched to the 'Trip mode''. I guess all I need to work out now is, do I refill at 180, 200 or 220? I would like to point out at this stage that although I do have all the idiot gauges, lights, whistles and bells, I do keep her fully fuelled at every opportunity when out in the 'back of beyond'. No planning on using that last 2 and half litres anytime soon. Yeah right!!!