Usable fuel question

[Mr. White]

As mentioned earlier, I got 28.3 mpg using my GPS mileage. I was at 115 or so when the gas gauge needle went into the red range. I continued on tip toes as I did not know how much fuel I had left.

At 136 miles, I took 4.8 gallons. The needle was on dead bottom when I stopped. I knew I had a 6.6 gallon tank and was surprised that I had nearly 2 gallons of fuel left in the tank. My Wing gauge is much more accurate. Anyway, the red light did not come on.

Question: Has anyone actually run the tank down to sputter and then filled it to see "useable" gas?

How much gas do you have in the tank when the red light comes on?

I use my GPS as a gas gauge once I know my mileage. So, until I get more data, I will figure on looking for a station at 140-150 miles depending on where I am. When I ride west Texas, I may carry a one gallon can with me or start looking for fuel every 100 miles. (I will need a PR stop anyway, so not a huge deal)

 

[dave01]

We usually stop every 100 miles on our runs, mainly for a little break and to make sure we dont get into an area without stations in the middle of the night. I have made 170 miles but was sweating it out. I never fill up all the way, but insert the nozzle all the way in and stop when it clicks. Just my way of doing it to prevent fuel from filling the evap canisters.

 

[NancysToy]

It is a 6.6 gallon tank, but only about 6 gallons is usable space. The rest is necessary head space, or is above the fill opening. In addition, how high you can fill the tank depends on the type of gas nozzles the station uses (or your state demands) and the filling technique and speed. I would not count on over five usable gallons before I started to sweat. If you get tired of trying to second guess the analog gauge, you can disconnect both that and the temperature gauge wires, and the Spyder will revert to the digital gauges in the main display. They are said to be somewhat more accurate.

 

[upsdoctor]

I ran the the tank dry twice and when refilled I only managed to get 5.4 gallons in the tank. Be careful using mileage on your GPS, because MPG can vary greatly. Running at highway speeds and having your windshield all the way up will lower your MPG below 28 MPG. When you gas gauge says your empty, start looking for a gas station or you will end up calling AAA. nojoke

 

[boborgera]

I have GS but it's same size tank, Ran it dry twice on purpose.
One time filling it right to the VERY top 5.9 gal. Another time filling it the same way 5.6 gal.:dontknow:

 

[Mr. White]

All good points. I think I will figure 120-140 miles and look for fuel. I don't wish to get stuck in the boondocks....I ride with some who PR stop every 75-100 miles and will get in the habit of gassing up whenever we stop. Thanks for the info and tips about the GPS mileage. I am used to my Wing and get 31-33 no matter how I run and figure 30 mpg for scheduled stops. I will now rethink that to fit the RT. Thanks.

 

[dancogan]

Just one other thing to keep in mind. Your trip odometer may be more accurate than your GPS. The GPS may not start tracking mileage immediately if you turned it off at the stop and turn it on again just as you start up. In addition, it may momentarily lose tracking if you're under heavy tree cover (OK, maybe not much of a problem in TX! :roflblack but it will stop counting miles during those periods. I rely on my trip odometer for miles/tank, and my GPS for directions and speed, as long as I can see that it's tracking satellites OK.

By the way, no offense intended for my Spyder friends in Texas. I had a wonderful time photographing wildlfowers in Hill Country just about a year ago.

 

[Bob Denman]

When you gas gauge says your empty, start looking for a gas station or you will end up calling AAA. nojoke

Or maybe just AA? :roflblack: :shemademe_smilie::gaah:

 

[Littlebadwolf]

My reply...Reda gas cans....:yes:

 

[MouthPiece]

I start thinking at 110. I start really looking at 120.

 

[Bob Denman]

My reply...Reda gas cans....:yes:

Are those the little one-gallon jobbies that'll store in the saddlebags??

 

[bikeguy]

Are those the little one-gallon jobbies that'll store in the saddlebags??

Yes. I have two that I carry in the left side saddle bag on local trips just in case I want to take a road that doesn't lead to a gas station. Can't use them on overnight trips though since I need the storage for other stuff.

Cotton

 

[IWN2RYD]

All great posts!

May I add. A few of us HATE the analog Gauges. If you unplug both of the Analog gauges on the RT-S's and Limited's the LCD display will show a vertical Fuel meter on the right and a three color (Yellow, Orange, Red) vertical temp gauge on the left (Or visa versa, I forget now).

Anyway. The electronic ones on the LCD dash is far more accurate in temp an gas than the analogs will ever be.

Hope that helps someone :thumbup:

 

[Yfactor]

Just one other thing to keep in mind. Your trip odometer may be more accurate than your GPS. The GPS may not start tracking mileage immediately if you turned it off at the stop and turn it on again just as you start up. In addition, it may momentarily lose tracking if you're under heavy tree cover (OK, maybe not much of a problem in TX! :roflblack but it will stop counting miles during those periods. I rely on my trip odometer for miles/tank, and my GPS for directions and speed, as long as I can see that it's tracking satellites OK.

By the way, no offense intended for my Spyder friends in Texas. I had a wonderful time photographing wildlfowers in Hill Country just about a year ago.

I've been across country and back five times (not on Spyder) using GPS and never found it to loose milage calculations even when it lost sat signal. The GPS picks up the milage as soon as sats are visible again and recalculates milage and position. With the Spyder I do use both the GPS and trip A to monitor fuel as I'm a believer in back ups for just about everything. My biggest problem with the GPS is not the unit itself but those people who submit the map data.

 

[dancogan]

My reply...Reda gas cans....:yes:

:thumbup: I do the same. Got to get them filled for the riding season. Should be a decent weekend ... at least on Saturday!

 

[Yfactor]

Forgot to mention I and my sons use two or more gPS units when on a road trip. One trip to Texas last year to visit my sister we found the cell phone GPS to be the most accurate in finding directions.

 

[fispyder]

I start looking for gas when the trip meter reaches 120. Haven't ran out yet but there are more gas station in my neck of the woods than yours. I guess :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[ARtraveler]

In Alaska--you take gas where you find it--usually every 100 miles. I have pushed it as far as 170 miles (one time)--and that took almost 6 gallons. Most I do is about 150 miles--when the red light comes on (on my bike). I am not thrilled about the lack of accuracy on the gas guage--the bottom end registers way before it is empty. I will soon be on my second analog gas gauge--(bouncing gauge problem). If it goes out again--I will probably go back to the digital guages. And then we have the difference in terrain, temp, wind, driver input--etc. which have all been discussed many times as factors in gas mileage.

 

[sinkhole]

gas...

My red light indicator comes on at around 120 miles, and I typically stop for fuel at around 140 miles traveled. The most I've ever put into the tank has been 4.7 gal, and that is filling up to the point where it spits through the anular vent holes.

 

[WhiskeyZulu]

Digital Fuel Gauge Issues

I have had my RT for only 3 weeks and the dealer was apologetic when I purchased that they could not fill with gas because they ran out. Turns out it was full but reading down 3 bars on the gauge. Found this out on 1st fillup when down to 1 bar and could only get a little over 3 gallons in the tank. I have been running the 110 - 130 miles rule then fill up. Going in this week for 600 mile check and will have them look into it but it sounds from posts here that this may be the norm.