RT Gas Gauge

[strats]

I have to hand it to BRP, they have done something I never thought possible...

They have found a sender / gauge combination that is even more inaccurate than the combo on my GL1500.
When the needle eventually stops bouncing and is grounded in the red, I still have somewhere between 7 - 8 litres left of a 25 litre tank.
I learned a long time ago to use a trip meter as a fuel gauge.:2thumbs:

 

[ThreeWheels]

The good news is the gauge stopped bouncing...........
And the bad news, as expected, it's still as innacurate as before.
The low fuel warning light came on at about 100 miles this morning.
Must be the sending unit.

 

[glynnk]

Got the "new" gage put in this morning. Solid as a rock....I'll see how accurate it is in the next day or two.

Glynnk

 

[ThreeWheels]

My dealer just called me about the gas gauge. Guess what. It turns out the gas gauge IS accurate. The tank specs are off, by about a gallon.

They took the the tank, drained it and then filled it with a measured quantity. It takes 5.5 gallons to completely fill the tank, not 6.6. The light comes on with about 1 gallon left in the tank. This is good to know. VERY good to know. Last week, I ignored the light thinking---I've only gone 110 miles, I've got PLENTY of gas. I went another 30 miles. I stopped and filled up, taking about 5.3 gallons.

So at 30 MPG, (I'm not there yet) you should start looking for gas at 135 miles. That's poor for a touring bike, but it is what it is. I've asked to see if they might possible remap the fuel injection to give better gas mileage when you're in 5th gear. We'll see what happens.

 

[NancysToy]

My dealer just called me about the gas gauge. Guess what. It turns out the gas gauge IS accurate. The tank specs are off, by about a gallon.

They took the the tank, drained it and then filled it with a measured quantity. It takes 5.5 gallons to completely fill the tank, not 6.6. The light comes on with about 1 gallon left in the tank. This is good to know. VERY good to know. Last week, I ignored the light thinking---I've only gone 110 miles, I've got PLENTY of gas. I went another 30 miles. I stopped and filled up, taking about 5.3 gallons.

So at 30 MPG, (I'm not there yet) you should start looking for gas at 135 miles. That's poor for a touring bike, but it is what it is. I've asked to see if they might possible remap the fuel injection to give better gas mileage when you're in 5th gear. We'll see what happens.

Ouch!

 

[glynnk]

My dealer just called me about the gas gauge. Guess what. It turns out the gas gauge IS accurate. The tank specs are off, by about a gallon.

They took the the tank, drained it and then filled it with a measured quantity. It takes 5.5 gallons to completely fill the tank, not 6.6. The light comes on with about 1 gallon left in the tank. This is good to know. VERY good to know. Last week, I ignored the light thinking---I've only gone 110 miles, I've got PLENTY of gas. I went another 30 miles. I stopped and filled up, taking about 5.3 gallons.

So at 30 MPG, (I'm not there yet) you should start looking for gas at 135 miles. That's poor for a touring bike, but it is what it is. I've asked to see if they might possible remap the fuel injection to give better gas mileage when you're in 5th gear. We'll see what happens.

That's awful and represents a false advertising claim on the part of BRP. The specs clearly show we should have 6.6 gallon tanks. I'm upset. Has anybody contacted BRP about this?

Glynnk

 

[ThreeWheels]

That's awful and represents a false advertising claim on the part of BRP. The specs clearly show we should have 6.6 gallon tanks. I'm upset. Has anybody contacted BRP about this?

Glynnk

I'm pretty unhappy also. Is it false, or is it just a mistake converting liters to gallons ?

I just got the call about 90 minutes ago. My dealer said that he had contacted the BRP tech people and they were not happy campers.

I also asked if it was possible to fit a bigger tank. It seems unlikely. I'm not sure what happens next, but I believe there will be a change in the published specs, rather than a change in the actual gas tank.

One thing seems certain. I don't think there will be any Spyder RT's in the Iron Butt competition anytime soon.

 

[spyryder]

Others have posted putting in over 6 gallons after running out on their RS/GS. The RT uses the same tank as the RS/GS.....same part number for all years and models.:lecturef_smilie:

 

[glynnk]

I'm pretty unhappy also. Is it false, or is it just a mistake converting liters to gallons ?

I just got the call about 90 minutes ago. My dealer said that he had contacted the BRP tech people and they were not happy campers.

I also asked if it was possible to fit a bigger tank. It seems unlikely. I'm not sure what happens next, but I believe there will be a change in the published specs, rather than a change in the actual gas tank.

One thing seems certain. I don't think there will be any Spyder RT's in the Iron Butt competition anytime soon.

The BRP advertisement in their glossy brochure clearly reads--6.6 U.S. gallons. While I've got no major complaints with my RT-S this hacks me off to no end. I've emailed BRP Tech Support to see what they say.

Glynnk

 

[spyryder]

The BRP advertisement in their glossy brochure clearly reads--6.6 U.S. gallons. While I've got no major complaints with my RT-S this hacks me off to no end. I've emailed BRP Tech Support to see what they say.

Glynnk

6.775 as posted here:

http://www.spydertalk.com/forums/topic/5484-final-answer-on-fuel-tank-size/page__p__46926

 

[NancysToy]

Others have posted putting in over 6 gallons after running out on their RS/GS. The RT uses the same tank as the RS/GS.....same part number for all years and models.:lecturef_smilie:

Yeah, I'm not convinced, as yet. BTW, the 6.6 gallon capacity includes head space. It is not all usable. For those that are upset over this, the GS/RS specs say 7.13 gallons, although the GS shop manual states the correct 6.6. Confused yet? Shall we talk about the advertised 100 hp vs. the 95.0 stated on the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin now?

 

[spyryder]

6.3 :
http://www.spydertalk.com/forums/topic/3425-out-of-gas/page__hl__capacity__fromsearch__1

 

[glynnk]

Yeah, I'm not convinced, as yet. BTW, the 6.6 gallon capacity includes head space. It is not all usable. For those that are upset over this, the GS/RS specs say 7.13 gallons, although the GS shop manual states the correct 6.6. Confused yet? Shall we talk about the advertised 100 hp vs. the 95.0 stated on the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin now?

Scotty--Yep...very confused. What the heck is "head space"?

Glynnk

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty--Yep...very confused. What the heck is "head space"?

Glynnk

All containers, especially for volatile liquids like gasoline, need a certain amount of unused spaced for content expansion, and allowing the tank vent to breathe. Usually, it is about 10%. In addition, the shape of most tanks, combined with the neck for "no-lead" gas nozzles, does not allow filling right to the very top.

 

[glynnk]

All containers, especially for volatile liquids like gasoline, need a certain amount of unused spaced for content expansion, and allowing the tank vent to breathe. Usually, it is about 10%. In addition, the shape of most tanks, combined with the neck for "no-lead" gas nozzles, does not allow filling right to the very top.

So this is an industry wide common practice to cite gas capacity which includes the "head space"?

Glynnk
P.S. I know you've got better things to do than fiddle with my dumb questions and I want you to know that I appreciate your patience.

 

[boborgera]

Yeah, I'm not convinced, as yet. BTW, the 6.6 gallon capacity includes head space. It is not all usable. For those that are upset over this, the GS/RS specs say 7.13 gallons, although the GS shop manual states the correct 6.6. Confused yet? Shall we talk about the advertised 100 hp vs. the 95.0 stated on the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin now? [/QUOTE

Scotty
The plot thickens, I have a brochure in front of me now. got it from my dealer this Sat.
RT = 6.6 US Gal. [25l]
RS = 7.1 US Gal. [27l]
And the old brochure from my GS= 7.13.
The most i've gotten in was 5.9 and the tank wasn't empty. But it had to be close.:yikes:

 

[ThreeWheels]

Yeah, I'm not convinced, as yet. BTW, the 6.6 gallon capacity includes head space. It is not all usable. For those that are upset over this, the GS/RS specs say 7.13 gallons, although the GS shop manual states the correct 6.6. Confused yet? Shall we talk about the advertised 100 hp vs. the 95.0 stated on the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin now? [/QUOTE

Scotty
The plot thickens, I have a brochure in front of me now. got it from my dealer this Sat.
RT = 6.6 US Gal. [25l]
RS = 7.1 US Gal. [27l]
And the old brochure from my GS= 7.13.
The most i've gotten in was 5.9 and the tank wasn't empty. But it had to be close.:yikes:

Call it anything you want. The dealer put 5.5 gallons of gas in the tank and it was filled up to the nozzle neck. Maybe you could put a little more gas in. I'm an engineer, and I'll take empirical measurements over volumes any day.
One thing, the gas mileage supposedly goes up with octane. I started running 87 octane, I was getting 25 mpg. Now I'm running 89 octane, 27 mpg.
Where do you get 91 octane ?? I see 87, 89, and the next jump up is 93 octane. Maybe I just haven't looked for it enough.

Net net, it looks like you have about 4.5 gallons of usable volume before you get the warning light. That gives you about 30 miles to go find gas.
If you wait until you burn 5.4 gallons---I wish you luck.

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty
The plot thickens, I have a brochure in front of me now. got it from my dealer this Sat.
RT = 6.6 US Gal. [25l]
RS = 7.1 US Gal. [27l]
And the old brochure from my GS= 7.13.
The most i've gotten in was 5.9 and the tank wasn't empty. But it had to be close.:yikes:

BRP once acknowledged on their original Website that the 7.13 figure (which rounds to 7.1) was an error, but somehow resurrected the 7 gallon figure. The shop manual states 6.6 for both machines. There are other errors in the spec sheets and Owner's Guides, like the RT wheel track, so take the figures with a grain of salt.

Call it anything you want. The dealer put 5.5 gallons of gas in the tank and it was filled up to the nozzle neck. Maybe you could put a little more gas in. I'm an engineer, and I'll take empirical measurements over volumes any day.
One thing, the gas mileage supposedly goes up with octane. I started running 87 octane, I was getting 25 mpg. Now I'm running 89 octane, 27 mpg.
Where do you get 91 octane ?? I see 87, 89, and the next jump up is 93 octane. Maybe I just haven't looked for it enough.

Net net, it looks like you have about 4.5 gallons of usable volume before you get the warning light. That gives you about 30 miles to go find gas.
If you wait until you burn 5.4 gallons---I wish you luck.

I believe you. It is just confusing. Same gas tank, according to the parts fiche, and I have put as much as 5.9 gallons into Nancy's GS. Usually about 5.2-5.4 gallons at the low fuel warning. My RTS low fuel light came on just as I pulled up to the pump last week, and I put in 4.78 gallons. I wonder if the attitude (tilt) of the tank, as installed, is making a difference? Also makes you wonder if the tank is actually able to drain completely. Many pickup points are above the tank bottom, to avoid sucking water. That makes for more unusable space.

 

[boborgera]

mpg.
Where do you get 91 octane ?? I see 87, 89, and the next jump up is 93 octane. Maybe I just haven't looked for it enough.

Net net, it looks like you have about 4.5 gallons of usable volume before you get the warning light. That gives you about 30 miles to go find gas.
If you wait until you burn 5.4 gallons---I wish you luck.

91 Octane New Jersey. But i only use 93. Also my last few fill up's I've been avg. 33 mpg.

 

[ThreeWheels]

I see you're in NJ. What exit ?