HELP WITH FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR

[nathanscott71]

Loving my new 2016 Tenere ES, but having an issue with the fuel gauge. Stays on Full for about 100 miles then drops just above half. Goes down normally from there one bar at a time.... Anyone have experience with this? Quick fix or dealer time? Thank yoU!

 

[greenwall]

Same here on my 2016 standard. Suspect they just used the same tank sensors from the pre-2014 models and just added more bars on the dash that don't do anything. Maybe someone else has different results.

 

[fred-houston]

I don't know if you noticed it, I sure didn't until several weeks after I bought my bike, that first bar is huge. I also though it dropped quickly, but if you look close, you are only loosing the first bar.

 

[Nikolajsen]

Same here, as fred-houston. So quit normal..
That being said, it is not completly linear, the last half tank of fuel, last not as many miles, as the first half.

 

[Paletes3]

Same with mine (2016) and a optimistic range as well. Range averages 380 Kilometers (236 miles)

 

[airmed]

My 14 does the same. Glad to hear misery loves company.

 

[Sierra1]

My first bar drops at about 70 miles. (your results may vary) It's never made sense to me as to why Yamaha configured the display in this manner, but I never worried about it. ::001::

 

[markbxr400]

Most bike I've owned are similar. Except the other bikes tanks drop around the frame, and they use a linear sensor. So upper half of the tank holds a lot more fuel than the lower half.

 

[Cycledude]

Loving my new 2016 Tenere ES, but having an issue with the fuel gauge. Stays on Full for about 100 miles then drops just above half. Goes down normally from there one bar at a time.... Anyone have experience with this? Quick fix or dealer time? Thank yoU!

I would say your 2016 fuel gauge is working very similar to the fuel gauge on my 2013, my guess is it will be mostly wasted time trying to get a dealer to fix it under warranty.

 

[RonH]

As mentioned before, by looking at the readout it is apparent the first increment is very large vs the rest, so no way the first increment is going to drop off for quite a while. The system works just fine. The estimated miles to empty is another story, completely useless.

 

[Kabish]

Yup its normal, my '15 does the same thing. Just wait till you get down to it flashing at you to find out you still have another 100 miles of range left lol

 

[Checkswrecks]

Believe it or not, the only quantity that fuel gages are required to be calibrated for - is empty.

 

[scott123007]

The fuel gauge is somewhat accurate, once you figure it out. The biggest bar on it is when you fill it up, and depending how determined you are to squeeze every last drop into the tank, can represent about two gallons. From there, there are six little bars, two before you get to half a tank, and then four more before you get to the last bar. Each of those represents about one half of a gallon. When the last bar starts flashing, which is twice as large as the small bars, and half as large as the first bar, you have a little more than a gallon left.

As others have said, the range function is useless.

The latest generation VStrom 1000 should get kudos for how well its gauge functions work. Although the speedometer is a little optimistic, it is dead nuts accurate on odometer, mpg, and range.

 

[EricV]

@nathanscott - Nothings wrong, what you see is completely normal. Think of the fuel gauge as a relative feature, not a measurement device. Over time you will gain awareness of what each bar means in a relative way. As you already have, where the first large bar = ~100 miles. Most Super Tenere's have approx 1.5 gallons of reserve. When the reserve light starts flashing, you're in no danger of running out of gas for 50-60 miles, or more, depending on riding style and speed. Take note of how much you put in when you fill up to estimate your own reserve more accurately. 6.1 gallon tank.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Like most bikes and other vehicles, you'll quickly know what to expect for range. Normal riding at 48-50mpg I plan to refill at about 220 miles. On the highway where mpg goes down I plan on 200 miles.


People who rely totally on any fuel gage are called pedestrians.

 

[Eville Rich]

As noted above, the reserve amount is about 1.5 gallons. If I fill up soon after the "low fuel" screen pops up, I consistently fill with 4.5 gallons. So if there's one sensor that seems right, it's that one. Though it also means I have another 50+ miles to go before I need to get nervous. Other than that, I watch the elapsed miles on the tank (reset with every fillup) and the current tank's average mpg (also reset with each fillup). The average mpg may or may not be accurate, but it doesn't matter. It's a barometer for my pattern of fuel consumption on that tank. If I'm doing a lot of highway, carrying panniers, and going into the wind, I know to be more cautious about my range after hitting the low fuel warning. Relying on the fuel gauge risks being out of tune with how the motorcycle is operating. It can be a backstop if you forget to reset the meters, but I wouldn't rely on it once you are in to the last 1.5 gallons.

The estimated remaining range is unrealistic - way too high to start and way too low to finish. I mean, the low fuel warning is at 0 miles remaining, so it has to be wrong. Somewhere it must be crossing the exactly accurate point, but it's not realistic most of the time. My gut sense from watching the gauges is that it's around the 120 miles remaining mark. I've been deliberately avoiding testing that theory.

Eville Rich
2016 S10
2015 WR250R

 

[OX-34]

I thought that the book states the reserve is about 3.9L (1.03US gallons or 0.86 Imp gallons)?

Anyway.

I have drilled my filler neck, fill on the centrestand, and watch as each bar disappears on the gauge as it relates to 'Trip A' - reset at every fill - for comparison. I note the point at which the last bar flashes. Here in Oz, my 2010 starts to count 'up' at that point, when an extra 'F' trip counter appears, rather than it guessing how far I can go. I use that moment to check the 'Trip A' for a rough relative guide to my fuel usage over the last few hours of riding. eg 325km is normal, 310km a little low and 360km last week very economical. My routine varies a little from most at that point because I then I reach back and turn the tap for an extra 4.5 gallons in the auxiliary cell on the rear seat to flow.

I've become well used to my bike.

But I have 5 bikes and have had dozens before that handful. Gauges are all over the place. Some start to drop almost immediately eg my FJR; some don't seem to move for ages, then look out, because the gauge starts to move as fast as the tacho heading toward empty eg my Honda Blackbirds.

A while back I had a BMW F800GT. That bike had a very funny shaped tank located underneath the seat. Perhaps the odd shape(s) make it difficult for the engineers to provide the linear relationship between fuel and gauge that would be ideal for the rider's info. Even so, those same BMW engineers on that bike basically gave up. The gauge (pictured below) features a flattened arrow pointing upward to indicate the tank volume is vaguely 'somewhere' above half full - maybe 100%, maybe 55% - at which time the bars on the gauge start to disappear.

 

[nathanscott71]

Great info thanks everyone! Still love the bike, just an odd choice of design...along with the disappearing gear indicator when you pull in the clutch....LOL

 

[OX-34]

Remember the old days - not so long ago - or even if you have a brand new fire breathing Aprilia Tuono V4 1100 Factory.

That bike comes with 175 horsepower, a wet weight of 472lbs , real time throttle and lean angle display, APRC system (Aprilia Performance Ride Control), which includes Traction Control (ATC), Wheelie Control (AWC), Launch Control (ALC), V4 AMP Aprilia Multimedia Platform predisposition, Quick Shift (AQS), all of which can be configured and deactivated independently. 18.5 litre tank, about (?) 4 litres in reserve and a range of about 140miles. You hope.

All that the designers and engineers could come up with for a 'fuel gauge' was a warning light when you hit reserve. If you actually saw the light come on ::010::. When did that light come on? Has it been on long? Is it safe to leave my bike here in this neighbourhood, I just have to get to the gas station?

 

[Gregory]

TBH I take all fuel gauges with a pinch of salt....

Brim it with fuel... Ride it for 200 miles then brim it again, work out you fuel consumption from there. Do it a couple of times to get an average MPG.. And work out you range less 50 miles for a reserve.

Greg