Fuel gage accuracy not so good. common?
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 336
Likes: 181
From: West Central MN
Fuel gage inaccuracy, common or normal?
My first HD, 2007 Ultra classic. Took a little cruise with the wife - which in itself, has a humorous twist. But, at 140 miles the gauge is pegged on E I'm like oh crap, that's some seriously bad gas mileage (was under the mistaken thought that it was a 6 gallon tank). Turns out, was only about 3.5 gallons down. To be on E that early seems a little overly conservative to me, but I was wondering what others have found?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,032
From: Carlsbad, CA
I know my '12 is a newer vintage. But mine seems fairly accurate. My tank is 6.2 gallons. At 1/ 2 it's about 3 gallons remaining. 1/4 about 2 gallons remaIning. The Empty warning comes on with 1 gallon remaining...and the "R" on the odometer estimates remaining miles pretty accurately.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,616
Likes: 1,614
From: Eastern Ohio
I have a 12 CVO RGC. My low fuel light comes on at about half a tank. The gauge reads accurate though. I rode to York PA for work yesterday. I got 42 mpg. Low fuel light came on at 135 miles, said I have 39 miles left. Fuel gauge read half a tank. I filled up at 200 miles and took less than 5 gal.
My 2000 FXST, you might as well just pull the gauge out and throw it in the garbage. It never read accurate since I bought it.
My 2000 FXST, you might as well just pull the gauge out and throw it in the garbage. It never read accurate since I bought it.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 142
Likes: 6
From: Clarence NY
On my 08 Ultra, The gauge is so so. Like the OP it will show damn near empty when the Reserve reads 100 miles to go. My low gas light will come on at 40 miles to go. That is pretty accurate. So when I get low on the gauge, I switch from odometer to miles to go.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 843
Likes: 43
From: Louisiana
My first HD, 2007 Ultra classic. Took a little cruise with the wife - which in itself, has a humorous twist. But, at 140 miles the gauge is pegged on E I'm like oh crap, that's some seriously bad gas mileage (was under the mistaken thought that it was a 6 gallon tank). Turns out, was only about 3.5 gallons down. To be on E that early seems a little overly conservative to me, but I was wondering what others have found?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
I have an LED fuel indicator on the tank and a digital/analog speedo with tank gauge and range indicator. Both are fairly accurate.
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 75
Likes: 4
From: Huntsville, AL
The gauge on my '09 Ultra fluctuates pretty good below a quarter tank. I always reset the trip at fill up. Fuel light comes on with 40-50 miles left
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,644
Likes: 1,385
From: North Central WV
I never used the actual gauge on my 08 RK Classic, I always waited until my warning light came on and automatically switched the odometer over to showing how many miles I had remaining on the current fuel load.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
The one on my 2009 EG was never right. It had two readings, full and empty. My kings are not too bad but i just use the range indicator if I am on a road trip and want to plan for gas stops. For all other riding I will let the light tell me when it's time.