makntraxs
Active Member
with a full tank I can ride 150 miles and the fuel gauge stays on full then drops to 1/2 tank. nothing gradual. is this normal IF not how to repair/adjust? reply makntraxs@aol.com
16 tenere
- Thread starter makntraxs
- Start date
Mine has never gone from "full" to "half" in one step. I get to 70-80mi with the first block. By the time I get to 150mi, I'm well below half tank. I start flashing at about 180mi. Yesterday I filled at 229mi and put in 5.4usg.
escapefjrtist
Searching for Dry Roads
Mine runs 80-85 miles then drops off full. Remainder seems to be pretty linear until the flashing begins.
~G
~G
lund
Well-Known Member
Same here, mine will run a long time on full, this has to do with the shape of the fuel tank being more then 50% of its capacity is in the upper section. Then drop to nearly half suddenly. From there it is a gradual or linear until it flashes.
I tend to observe the milage over the gauge.
I tend to observe the milage over the gauge.
Cycledude
Well-Known Member
Mine will usually drop to 3/4 at about 80 miles but there have been times when it was still showing full at 100 miles. Yes the second half of the tank drops much faster. I figure I can ride somewhere between 50-100+ miles after the gauge starts flashing, after some experience I’m basically pretty well satisfied with how the gauge works , at least it’s not showing fuel in the tank when it’s empty. My 2018 seems to get significantly better miles per gallon than my 2013 did.
lund
Well-Known Member
I think my S10 has always gotten good mileage. It has always ranged from 52-57mpg or 4.2-4.5L/100. loaded or unloaded. I read guys getting into the 40mpg, even 30mpg and WOW, it must be their riding style or I ride like an oldfart.
Its actually the most fuel efficient toy I own LOL.
Its actually the most fuel efficient toy I own LOL.
lund
Well-Known Member
My sleds run about 20L/100km.
While my boat burns a whopping 10gallons/hr of run time. I just got back from a week of camping up north and the fuel cost on the boat alone was nearly $1000.00 at $2.08/liter.
WJBertrand
Ventura Highway
Where are you located? Is that US or Imperial gallons?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
lund
Well-Known Member
That is using US gallons
OUCH! Time to get a sail boat
lund
Well-Known Member
Ya, told the wife the other day while at the grocer that we are not good exemplary citizens. Our hobbies burn fuel like its out of style and we help the beef industry in stay in business after she loaded the buggy with cow LOL.OUCH! Time to get a sail boat
She agreed.
A sail boat would be nice if it comes with a V8 under the deck, that way I could use the sails as backup in case.
Eville Rich
Well-Known Member
I don't know how you get that kind of mileage. I had to confirm your US gallons and the math checks out. Without panniers on, but my top box in-place, I get about 41-43 mpg (US gallons). I do a fair amount of commuting at 70-80 mph, which doesn't help. If I take a nice ride at 45 to 55 mph, I can get mid/upper 40s.
Makes me wonder about my tires, the rpm I'm cruising at, or what. I'm not a terribly aggressive rider and probably fall into the old fart camp. I have been making an effort to cruise at around 4k rpm to reduce carbon buildup, but that hasn't made a noticeable difference in my mpg.
What's the secret?
Eville Rich
2016 S10
I'm with you on the mileage I'm getting. Screen say 43.7, but calculated says 42. You're right about the 70+ not helping. Mine will show 60mpg at 60mph. When we were down in the hill country running through the curves, I was averaging 53+, but never got over 4k rpms though. Between the bike's torque and the tightness of the curves, it was more like gliding thru the curves than riding. That's when I fell in love with her. The best that I can tell, keeping it under 4k is the secret. She doesn't mind being flogged, but she gets thirsty doing it. And a lot of times, there's no need for it like on an inline 4.
AusTexS10
Well-Known Member
I am an old fart and ride like one. I can't ever seem to break out of the upper 30s for mileage with my 2013. Run panniers and top box 100% of the time, so that may be part of it. I do, however, run it in S mode all of the time, but haven't noticed improvement in T, either. Must be doing something wrong compared to others' results. I use fill up to the rim and calculate, not the dash for my numbers.
lund
Well-Known Member
I run 90% of the time between 3-4,000rpms and seldom over 100kms/hr. In fact our average speed this July to the Arctic was around 80kms/hr.
I don't ride to be tunnel visioned on the road, like said, its not about the destination but its about the ride.
Eville Rich
Well-Known Member
That speed and rpm would help. Wind resistance is a killer - every doubling of speed requires an eight-fold increase in power. I had my worst mileage ever going across northern Iowa last year. Fully loaded, with a headwind at 20-30 mph and riding 65-70 mph. Awful.
I'm going to have to see about reducing my rpm for most riding. But I'm also mindful of Tobasco's recommendation to hit 7k rpm each ride. Ha!
For the OP - I do see a big step change in the fuel gauge, but sooner than the 150 miles. Maybe you have a sticky float. I rarely use the fuel gauge and focus more on the miles covered and condition of riding. I find the gauge to be somewhat useful as you get into the upper bounds of mileage, but pretty useless until then.
Eville Rich
2016 S10
Longdog Cymru
Well-Known Member
Personally, I think “they all do that sir!” Well, many appear to do so to some degree or other. My 2017 bike does about 130 miles then drops to half and it has never bothered me, as long as you know what it’s up to, it may niggle you but it’s fine.
lund
Well-Known Member
Ya cleaning out the carbon is good.
I agree, nothing wrong with pushing RPM limits once in a while but not continually.
BTW, no floats in a fuel injected system.
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Eville Rich
Well-Known Member
I was thinking of a float for the fuel level sender. Definitely no floats for fuel injection. Thankfully.