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miles left after fuel light

28K views 35 replies 15 participants last post by  MOMZ  
#1 ·
Although many and varied experiences have been reported about how much fuel is left after the light comes on, I thought I'd share a bit of a 'wake-up' call I had today.

I usually use my trip when refueling, but at present I'm using it to count miles since I got my bike back from the dealer, so I'm generally filling up every 100 miles or so, as that's easy to remember.

However, last time I filled up it wasn't at a nice round figure, and so I lost track of how many miles I'd done. I figured it didn't matter because the fuel light would come on, and I've sometimes been surprised at how far I can go after that happens (having been caught out once early on). That said, I was in some rather remote countryside today, so it was on my mind.

Anyway, the light came on and that was fine because I saw from my sat-nav/gps that it was only 6.5 miles to the next gas stand. I pulled in there and filled up; it took 12.42 litres. When I got home I checked the capacity of the tank and it's 12.5 litres, according to the hand-book. So I had 0.08 of a litre left, assuming the tank is capable of using absolutely all the fuel left in it; that amounts to about 0.9 miles. That's a bit too close for my liking!

A helpful reminder to keep a note of mileage since refueling and not rely on the fuel light - it just might be that bit further to the next gas stand!
 
#2 · (Edited)
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That is why I put a fuel bottle on my Scout, for when I have a brain fart, and run out of fuel.
 
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#7 ·
I too reset my trip, I try to fill around 170 miles. Which leaves about a quarter of a tank. Since the fuel pump is in the tank, and is cooled by the fuel. Same as with my truck. The pump gets hot and as we all know, heat kills. So why burn it out any sooner then need be. 170 miles straight, is a good point to get off and walk around
 
#10 ·
I went crazy trying to figure out a similar scenario with a carbureted softail. I managed to put 5.5 gallons into a 5 gallon tank. I thought the pump was wrong. I finally called HD customer service. The stated fuel capacity of this particular model was based on the fuel level of bike upright and the fuel 1" below the bottom of the fuel neck to prevent the vent being blocked which I've witnessed as well. Short answer, the capacity is based on the definition of full in that particular tank.
 
#16 ·
That takes all of the fun out of it, you would be surprised how many ask if it is a Nitrous bottle. it is more fun to make them turn as red as the bottle, when you tell them all that they had to do was read the bottle.
 
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#19 ·
When the Fuel Light comes on , I have over 1 gallon of fuel left, so I have about another 40 miles to ride safely on my Chieftain.

>---------> >---------> >--------->

Live Free - Ride Hard - Die Well
 
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#20 ·
When the Fuel Light comes on , I have over 1 gallon of fuel left, so I have about another 40 miles to ride safely.

>---------> >---------> >--------->

Live Free - Ride Hard - Die Well
 
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#21 ·
I fill at around 150-155... it goes 165 all the time without running out, and I'm not babying it...
Highway or town? I ride in town and the light comes on about 115. And almost always have 1g left.

I think I want to ask the dealer to adjust the pickup in the tank. Someone mentioned it here. 1g left is a lot of petrol for a scout
 
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#24 ·
Whent the scouts' fuel light turn on, it has 0.5 gallons left. It is stated in the user manual, which very few care to read these days.
On my 2015 69 Scout I get 150 miles, then the light turns on.
I the can ride about 25 miles more, but usually refuels a bit earlier.
 
#26 ·
Probably due to having a poorly calibrated sensor.
What's the sense in flashing the tank light when you're barely have used 2/3 of a tank. That is almost 1/3 left of the tank.
That is annoyingly early.

At least for the 2015 scout it states, Tank Capacity 3.3 gal. Fuel light comes on at 0.5 gallons.
That's seems more like it. Whic is about 1/6 to 1/7 left of the tank.
 
#33 ·
My wife and I both have 60's. This March we had to go 180+ miles before we could fill our tanks.
Both of our bikes took 2.7 gallons. That would mean that we had a least half a gallon apiece as reserve. But of course the remainder would be needed to cool the fuel pump.
 
#34 ·
Here's a question, did the factory readjust the sensors so there would always be enough fuel to keep the pump cool. I ask this because I recall somewhere on this forums, I read about early models having to have the pumps replaced under warranty.
 
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