FUEL GUAGE ACCURACY

[Easy Rider]

50 miles difference on a tank at 75 mph compared to 55 mph

And that is a surprise ?

Why ??

[Art Mann]

I wonder what kind of fuel economy price you pay when you install the F4 tall and wide windshield.

[Bob Denman]

But since it most likely increases wind resistance: there'll be a decrease in your fuel mileage.

Who buys these bikes to save on fuel??

[tehrlich]

I have 17K on my 2015 RT. I always fill up to the rim of the tank, and as others have said, let it air out a bit, and top it off.

I also track all of my mileage. I typically get 31-33mpg. Then, I read here and see people getting much higher MPG's than I do. Driving patterns and pushing air matter a lot.

A few months ago, I spent 4 days in Big Bend National Park. It is BIGGER than Rhode Island! The maximum speed limit is 45mph for the whole park. I rode my Spyder all over the place chasing the Milky Way. I bet I rode about 600 miles while there, and rarely exceeding 50mph.

I was able to get 42MPG! This was quite scary a couple of times because there are only 2 gas stations in the park, and only one (Panther Junction) has gas capabilities at night!

Can Am Spyder Caught the Milky Way 2.jpg

[Bob Denman]

It ALWAYS comes down to the dance that your right wrist is doing with the "loud grip"...

I've gotten as low as 27 mpg, and as high as 43 mpg.

[A1A]

Is it just me who thinks this way? But I always get better MPG in the summer then I do in the winter. I'm thinking gas companies change the gas formulas for winter. Anyone else notice this too?

[Bob Denman]

There's a reason for this phenomenon!
Warmer air is less dense, so the computers will put less fuel through the throttle bodies, in order to keep the fuel mixture correct!

And the Winter blends of fuel that are used in the Northern States certainly don't help the situation much!
(But that's not affecting you.)

[Easy Rider]

I'm thinking gas companies change the gas formulas for winter.

Wow, whatever gave you that idea ?
They have only been doing that for about 15 years now.

[Bob Denman]

I might be wrong about this; why would you need a different bunch of fuel additives in Florida, for the Winter?

[Easy Rider]

I might be wrong about this; why would you need a different bunch of fuel additives in Florida, for the Winter?

You need to consider this question the OTHER way around.

In the summer when it is HOT, the fuel contains a lesser amount of high volatility components.......so that the evaporation rate is less.
It gives slightly less mileage because of the different formula.......and because of the HEAT.

The "winter" gas is the "normal" stuff.
I'm not sure that Florida switches back and forth though.

[Bob Denman]

I have to respectfully disagree...
I have always seen better fuel economy in the Summertime; often by as much as ten percent.

[ARtraveler]

I have to respectfully disagree...
I have always seen better fuel economy in the Summertime; often by as much as ten percent.

x 2. I always fill up on the last drive of the season. I know they change to "winter blend" here in AK. I am done in November--most years. When I check that mileage at the first of the season--its much lower than usual. This year it was about 32 mpg instead of the 39 as usual. I don't know the science behind it--but the mileage is about the same at each end/beginning of seasons.

[JayBros]

Over 26.5K miles on the clock I am averaging 36.7 mpg. That includes hour after hour of interstate speeds, "spirited" riding in the mountain twisties, two up with the bride and windshield all the way up and every kind of riding in between the above. I routinely ride 230 miles trip total after the warning light comes on and I have NOT YET put 6 gallons in the 6.9 gallon capacity tank; most has been 5.99. May use ECO mode on interstate but it's not a hard rule. On interstate riding I top off every time I stop for a safety/refresh break that usually comes at 2 - 2 1/2 hours. My key on interstates is to fill at high volume facilities.

[UtahPete]

Up to now on my BMW I've been used to having a fuel guage that counts down the miles left to run. Now with just a traditional guage to go by I was wondering how accurate it is. Run it to empty do I shudder to a stop or like the BMW it runs for at least 20 miles when it says zero.

It is hard to say really. I don't think I would trust one of those new-fangled french-canadian guages mate. Over here we stick with old-fashioned gauges so there is no translation involved.

[A1A]

I have to respectfully disagree...
I have always seen better fuel economy in the Summertime; often by as much as ten percent.

Bob, I have no idea why or if they change the gasoline formula in North Florida. All I know is my gas mileage on both my Spyder & Harley drop about 2-4 mpg during winter months.
Cheers!

[mcalva]

Unless you got a digital voltmeter, your "volt gauge" is even LESS useful than the one that it replaced.
The bike will refuse to start before the needle moves far enough for you to notice.

Hi.
I'm going to mount a voltmeter instead the temperature gauge. Could you explain to me your comment a little bit more?
Thank you very much.

[Bfromla]

Does this also work on the 1330 models?

Dont all the 1330's have all didigtal?
Thought all 2013 & up were just that.

[Bfromla]

Question: So, are you saying that you would (typically) have 15-20 miles at one bar and low fuel warning light on? Or, something else?

I'm pulling over at about 180 miles, which seems awfully low to me as a new (2016) F3TSpyder owner.

What im stating from experiance on my 2013 with the 998 typically I get 15-20m after I have NO bars, my low fuel light comes on when down to only one bar. I try to only refuel when I get to one bar depending on estimated milage to nxt station
(thx to my garmin 660 I can know where that is)
fyi 100%solo (casual & relaxed)ryder

[Buckeye Bleau]

Unless you got a digital voltmeter, your "volt gauge" is even LESS useful than the one that it replaced.
The bike will refuse to start before the needle moves far enough for you to notice.

You sir sir are correct I did install a digital voltage guage, and it is much more accurate than the old one, IT DID NOT HAVE ONE!

Joe

[irvin48]

also, remember your fuel is used to cool the fuel pump. so you want to have some gas level in the tank at all times.


no one ever did say if the 14 and newer rt's have the digital
gauges when the analogs are unhooked. WELL, do they ?--irv

[ARtraveler]

also, remember your fuel is used to cool the fuel pump. so you want to have some gas level in the tank at all times.


no one ever did say if the 14 and newer rt's have the digital
gauges when the analogs are unhooked. WELL, do they ?--irv

Good question. The 2014 1330's have a solid gas gauge. Have not heard of any of us changing them out to digital. Mine is rock solid, so I do not question its integrity. I still use the "zero the A meter" at each gas fill up though--just to keep the guage "honest."

[Bob Denman]

If you unplug the analog gauges on any of the RTs: the digital ones will magically appear!

[Easy Rider]

Hi.
I'm going to mount a voltmeter instead the temperature gauge. Could you explain to me your comment a little bit more?
Thank you very much.

The typical analog voltmeter has a full scale range of 0 to 15 volts or so.
When the system is working right, the charging voltage runs around 13.4 volts.
When it goes bad, it drops down to 12.5 or a bit less.
That ONE VOLT drop equates to about the width of the needle.
It is almost impossible to NOTICE that slight movement of the needle.

At 12.0 volts, the battery is half discharged already......but the gauge still hasn't moved much.
The engine likely will stumble OR it won't turn over enough to start before you notice anything with the meter.
Analog voltmeters are USELESS in most common situations.

To be useful, you need a digital meter with two digits after the decimal point: 12.85 volts, for example.

[Easy Rider]

I have to respectfully disagree...
I have always seen better fuel economy in the Summertime; often by as much as ten percent.

Well you can disagree all you want but IF you live in an area that changes the formulation seasonally, then the "summer" blend has a slightly lower energy density. The energy density goes down as the temperature of the fuel pumped goes up too.......but the underground tanks don't vary that much in most areas.

Are you telling us that you actually RIDE in the winter in New Yorks state ??

IF you really care about this, do a Google search on "winter blend gasoline".

[irvin48]

Good question. The 2014 1330's have a solid gas gauge. Have not heard of any of us changing them out to digital. Mine is rock solid, so I do not question its integrity. I still use the "zero the A meter" at each gas fill up though--just to keep the guage "honest."

i agree. the fuel gauge on my 15 is pretty accurate. if its not broken ,dont fix it.