REPORT: How my Fuel gauge works - MPG's per bar

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I have a 14 RT - it has the digital display in orange bars. Well today, I filled the tank (to the max ie. the gas was at the top ring) and watched for the first bar to disappear. When it did, I happened to be on a straight, flat section of road, I had traveled 61 miles. Then I checked for the second bar, that went at 21 more miles. By that time, I was home, so no further info available. I'm getting 41-42 MPG's at this time (depending on riding style for that tankful). Interesting ... Mike :thumbup:

NOTE:I just corrected my current MPG's from orig. post ... M

 

[ColemanJ]

That's a interesting assessment Mike. I have toyed with removing the analog gauge on my 2017 RT-L and using the digital display bars but I keep telling myself WHY! I disconnected it and the temp gauge once while installing an USB plug-in on the switch gang to just to see it on the digital display but I decided that the bars resolution was too course and the analog gauge gave me a much better idea of my true amount of fuel. I don't like how the analog gauge seems to fluctuate on how the bike is positioned but I've gotten use to that now and I know what to expect. The other thing is how the analog gauge will move faster down after you reach a certain location on the gauge. I believe this is because how Cam-Am installed the level sensor in the tank. The whole tank design is less than stellar IMO.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

That's a interesting assessment Mike. I have toyed with removing the analog gauge on my 2017 RT-L and using the digital display bars but I keep telling myself WHY! I disconnected it and the temp gauge once while installing an USB plug-in on the switch gang to just to see it on the digital display but I decided that the bars resolution was too course and the analog gauge gave me a much better idea of my true amount of fuel. I don't like how the analog gauge seems to fluctuate on how the bike is positioned but I've gotten use to that now and I know what to expect. The other thing is how the analog gauge will move faster down after you reach a certain location on the gauge. I believe this is because how Cam-Am installed the level sensor in the tank. The whole tank design is less than stellar IMO.

" less than stellar " :agree: ..... the accuracy of digital vs. analog has been dis-cussed ad-infinitum here and the consensus was " digital " was better .... There are nine bars, and the reason you said about how the level sensor positioning is the problem is correct. My post was to address something that's not talked about regarding the amount of fuel that is in the tank as shown on the gauge ...... Mike .... :thumbup:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I have a 14 RT .... it has the digital display in orange bars ..... Well today I filled the tank (to the max ie. the gas was at the top ring) ..... and watched for the first bar to disappear ..... when it did, I happened to be on a straight, flat section of road .... I had traveled 61 miles .... Then I checked for the second bar .... that went at 21 more miles. By that time, I was home, so no further info available. I'm getting 41-42 MPG's at this time (depending on riding style for that tankful)..... Interesting ..... Mike :thumbup: ....... NOTE: I just corrected my current MPG's from orig. post .....M

Your observation is right in line with what I wrote about here: https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums...k-is-not-Why&p=1675379&viewfull=1#post1675379. If you imagine two invisible bars at the top and one at the bottom, then the progression of bars disappearing is pretty uniform. In your case you get about 20 miles per bar where I get around 15.

I don't necessarily think the gas gauge is that terribly inaccurate! All you have to do is visualize two invisible bars at the top and one invisible bar at the bottom for a total of twelve bars. I find by doing that I generally get about 15 miles or so per bar, top bar to bottom bar. The top visible bar disappears after about 45 miles and when the gas light comes on there are two bars, one visible and one invisible, of gas left for about 30 more miles. And then there's still some left that you don't want to use up or you'll be stranded or suffer the consequences Peter warns about!

 

[ARtraveler]

Enjoy the great mileage. I have had that a couple times over the years. :bowdown:

Wind at your back, downhill all the way ??? :roflblack:

 

[redrazor]

I have a 14 RT - it has the digital display in orange bars. Well today, I filled the tank (to the max ie. the gas was at the top ring) and watched for the first bar to disappear. When it did, I happened to be on a straight, flat section of road, I had traveled 61 miles. Then I checked for the second bar, that went at 21 more miles. By that time, I was home, so no further info available. I'm getting 41-42 MPG's at this time (depending on riding style for that tankful). Interesting ... Mike :thumbup:

NOTE:I just corrected my current MPG's from orig. post ... M

opcorn: I have never got better than 35 mpg on my 2014 RT-L. Usually 31-34 mpg. I always top off the tank at refill time. :cheers:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Your observation is right in line with what I wrote about here: https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums...k-is-not-Why&p=1675379&viewfull=1#post1675379. If you imagine two invisible bars at the top and one at the bottom then the progression of bars disappearing is pretty uniform. In your case you get about 20 miles per bar where I get around 15.

:agree: ....I was able to get an amount for the THIRD bar today and was 22 +/-
miles and that one dis-appeared. ..... Mike :thumbup: