If the gas gauge isn't working could the Range be correct?

 

I know mine isn't working right. I get 45 mpg on an average. When I fill it up, normally it says I have about 180 miles before I run out. On a 5 gallon tank, it's doesn't add up...maybe if it was a 4 gallon tank, yeah.

My Blackline had the same tank and it always showed 200-225 miles.

 

I have three Harleys with the Range feature. They do adjust, but mine all give false-negative predictions of impending doom. That is to say when the computer says I'm running on fumes, there's always about one gallon left.

As a result, I started pretty much ignoring it. Cut it real close one time, and put 5.955 gallons in my Tri-Glide. I don't ignore it anymore.

 

Mine seems pretty close to accurate, as far as I've gotten the tank low. I average around 40 mpg (+/- 2 or so, depending on what kind of riding I'm doing). On my 6 gallon tank, that means 240mi. range. Once you know what your actual fuel use is, just reset your trip odometer at fillup, and then add up your range remaining plus miles on the tank. See how close the total is to your calculated miles per tank.

Last time I ran my tank low, I fueled up at just over 200 miles. Range said 38 IIRC. Bike took a hair over 5 gallons. fuel gauge hit E around 185 or 190. light came on at right around 200.

That said, I just reset my trip odometer every fill-up - I trust that much more than the gauge, light, or range meter.

 

Stock H-D fuel gages don't adjust. The difference that you see at a fill is the last average mpg that the ECM had.

The optional spedo/tach unit that is in the accessories catalog will. I had a lifted tank on a Superglide and installed the optional gage. Carried a gallon of gas just in case. When it got to low range and I keep going it went to under range. rode for awhile and filled up. After about three times doing it the lifted tank was close to accurate when it got to the low fuel light where originally it would have much more fuel left.

 

This has been my experience as well.

 

never trust the fuel gage on my bikes..... have a fuel tracker app called Fuel Buddy, on my phone. I track every fill up and miles. been doing this for years. I reset my odometer each fill up, and know at 200 miles it's time. I get around 40mpg, so I should get about 240 on a tank.... I pushed once....that is enough!! Reset, fuel gage is reference, odometer is my true gage!!!

 

If you were on LORNG and went an additional 10 miles at 80+ mph, I'm guessing the ONLY reason you took 4.5 gals is because you left an air-space at the top of your tank!

 

I hope you're right about the combo gage. I've been hoping it would learn. My tank front is lifted too and I rode about 12 miles after LORNG last time I felt brave. The 4.9 gallon tank still only could fit 3.6 gallons. Hopefully I DID go beyond it's calculated range and it learned something that day. I don't want to do math against my mileage while riding, I want my gages to make sense. Eventually I'll carry some spare fuel and teach it a good lesson. So is running out of fuel a BIG DEAL on fuel injected or what?

 

No- Running out of gas on an FI bike is not a big deal. You just pour some in and it will start. Hard part is getting the gas.