Fuel gauge on reserve

[DENCOUCH]

Okay, exactly how far can I go on reserve anyways?

I lit up the flashing fuel bar & the trip odometer began a countdown as to how many miles I had put on since the reserve light began to flash. At the top of the info screen, the display was showing I was getting about 38 mpg.

I drove almost 20 miles before I fueled, and discovered that I had almost 1.5 gallons of fuel in the tank!

I can see right now, this is going to confuse rather than enlighten.

 

[Patriot]

google is your friend...google search "fuel mileage site:fjrforum.com"

found this thread with google above

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=141682

 

[carlson_mn]

That answer is in your owners manual, stating it has 1.6ish gallons left after it starts blinking. A lot of Gen2's are off and have more like 2+ gallons. I bent the arm on my float level to return it to a more reasonable 1.6ish.

 

[bucky]

Well to really test out how much fuel you have left, you probably have to run the tank dry. Problem is that is bad for your fuel pump and probably your injectors too. And that would require you to have a quart of so of gas on board to immediately fuel up, assuming you were not in a life or death situation where a sputtering engine could kill you.

But I have run 40-45 miles in suburban riding once the low fuel signal comes on. But bikes can vary by a half gallon or so, so no guarantees. I guess my question is, why test the limit and potentially mess up your bike over 10-20 miles of range?

 

[wfooshee]

Sounds kinda like you answered your question, rather than confused it.

You rode 20 miles after it started, and had almost a gallon and a half still in the tank. Those sound a lot like data points to me....

When that happens several tanks in a row, I think you'll figure out that if you had to, you could push it to 50 or 60 miles on the flashing. But you shouldn't really, just in case.

Myself, I ignore the flashing thing and go by the tripmeter. When it reaches 200, I look for gas. On the highway I go for 220 or 230. I have a shorter-geared less fuel-efficient 2003 bike, though, so don't use my numbers.

 

[RadioHowie]

I have a shorter-geared faster, quicker, less fuel-efficient, better looking 2003 bike, though, so don't use my numbers.

Fixed it for ya, buddy!

...and to add what wfooshee wrote just above me, you had 1.5 gallons left in the tank after driving 20 miles.

Since you're getting 38mpg, with 1.5 gallons left after 20 miles, that would give you 38miles x 1.5 gallons = 57 miles, plus the 20 miles you rode after the gauge started flashing, = 77 miles for your bike, left before you're walking.

 

[FJR Bill]

Yep, my 09 goes into the flashing mode close to 200 miles. A refill at that point usually shows about 2 gallons remaining or almost 80 miles until flameout. I make it a point not to exceed 250 miles in order to always have some margin.

Bill

 

[gixxerjasen]

Since you're getting 38mpg, with 1.5 gallons left after 20 miles, that would give you 38miles x 1.5 gallons = 57 miles, plus the 20 miles you rode after the gauge started flashing, = 77 miles for your bike, left before you're walking pushing.

Fixed it for you buddy!

More incentive that way.

 

[SkooterG]

It is also important to understand that it can be quite variable 'when' the reserve starts flashing. If you turn on your ignition with the FJR on the sidestand you could easily get a 'false' reserve as the float is on the right side of the tank. Also, stop-n-go or aggressive riding where the fuel is sloshing around will cause the virtual reserve to come on sooner than if you are just cruising down the higway or riding gingerly.

My reserve came on at 269 miles yesterday. Easily a 300+ mile tank for me as I am getting near or over 50mpg on this tank.

 

[gixxerjasen]

My reserve came on at 269 miles yesterday. Easily a 300+ mile tank for me as I am getting near or over 50mpg on this tank.

Jaw drop....

 

[wfooshee]

That happens at 48 mph.....

 

[Patriot]

That happens at 48 mph.....

with a 20mph tail wind

 

[gixxerjasen]

I will say that I do miss my Suzuki gas light. It was even better than my FZ1 light. It had two modes, flashing and steady. I can't remember which was which, but one came first and then it switched to tell you "I've been telling you to get gas, but now I'm serious, GET GAS NOW!" It was bright and got your attention. I managed to do my SS1K fine with the FJR gas dealio, but I fear the zoning on a trip and not noticing the obscure flashing F down there. Thank goodness there's a lot of leeway in there though.

Of course, anything is better than the alert you get on a DRZSM. The bike falls on it's face to let you know to switch to reserve and go find a gas station. Heaven help you if you don't flip it back off of reserve after filling up though!

 

[SkooterG]

My reserve came on at 269 miles yesterday. Easily a 300+ mile tank for me as I am getting near or over 50mpg on this tank.

Jaw drop....

That happens at 48 mph.....

That happens at 48 mph.....

with a 20mph tail wind

6.00 gallons in at 309 miles for 51.5mpg.

And I attribute that to some easy riding (not over 75mph) without the sidebags on in (and I think this is the biggie) temps over 105 degrees where the air density is low and air resistance is low. And it's freaking HOT.

My last several tanks before this last one the fuel mileage has looked like this:

46.9mpg

51.3mpg

51.5mpg

46.9 mpg

46.9mpg

46.2mpg

51.4mpg (High altitude 60mph cruising on this tank)

48.8mpg

I don't get this kind of efficiency in winter.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

I've done 85 miles after the flashy bar came on at 220 and had a liitel splash left. I was a might nervous there at the end. My planned gas stop wasn't selling fuel and I had to keep rolling another 65 miles to the next open station.

 

[carlson_mn]

My reserve came on at 269 miles yesterday. Easily a 300+ mile tank for me as I am getting near or over 50mpg on this tank.

Jaw drop....

That happens at 48 mph.....

That happens at 48 mph.....

with a 20mph tail wind

6.00 gallons in at 309 miles for 51.5mpg.

And I attribute that to some easy riding (not over 75mph) without the sidebags on in (and I think this is the biggie) temps over 105 degrees where the air density is low and air resistance is low. And it's freaking HOT.

My last several tanks before this last one the fuel mileage has looked like this:

46.9mpg

51.3mpg

51.5mpg

46.9 mpg

46.9mpg

46.2mpg

51.4mpg (High altitude 60mph cruising on this tank)

48.8mpg

I don't get this kind of efficiency in winter.

The difference in air resistance is pretty negligible, the real biggie that saves you fuel in the hot temps is less oxygen in the hotter (like you said, less dense) air. The fuel management knocks back the gas and we get better gas mileage.

And the same reason the bike feels like it has extra kick in the pants on a 55 degree day.

 

[SkooterG]

The difference in air resistance is pretty negligible, the real biggie that saves you fuel in the hot temps is less oxygen in the hotter (like you said, less dense) air. The fuel management knocks back the gas and we get better gas mileage.

And the same reason the bike feels like it has extra kick in the pants on a 55 degree day.

Nope. Wrong on this one. If you are talking max speed or dragstrip times then yes, air density has a big effect on max horsepower in the way you describe it as the engine is pumping as much air (and gas) as it can and so a limiting factor in engine performance is air density.

But not running at WFO, or max hp everything is different and air density's effect on engine performance doesn't matter anymore. For example: if it requires 16 hp to run your bike at a steady speed of 70mph then it takes so much gas (and and whatever amount of oxygen) to make that 16hp. No matter what temperature it is. Your engine is 'throttled' and not using all the available air that it could. But with less dense air, and therefore less air resistance, it will now require LESS horsepower to maintain that 70mph and therefore less gas (and) oxygen to make that horsepower.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Winter gas sucks?

 

[Krell]

I don't think I've ever seen over 40 mpg since adding a Muzzy's 4 into 1 and PCV. But I don't care! . I've yet to see 200 before the flashy thing.

Next time I'll pay attention at fillip to say how much I actually put in and when the light comes on. I usually don't push it and start thinking about gas at least when it starts flashing. I usually find some within about 20 miles.

The PCV has a port which allows you to switch between 2 maps on the fly if you wire up a switch. I had been thinking of hooking up said switch to flip to a 0 map and turn the O2 sensor back on for when I'm on the super slab.