Gas guage accuracy,or not?
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 58
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Gas guage accuracy,or not?
Hi all, upgraded to a 2010 Ultra last summer. Noticed the gas guage shows empty way too soon. It shows full when I top it off so is this a safety thing so you don't run out? Wondering what others are experience. Is this normal or should I have it checked? I'm hoping its just the 6 gallon tank I gotta get used too.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 229
Likes: 9
From: Oceanside now Tennessee
I had the same problem with my 09 Roadking and took it in for warranty service. The dealer told me after he got into it that I can have it accurate for being full but it would be inaccurate getting closer to empty. He told me I can have it accurate near empty but inaccurate when full.
He said this is the way it is and that's that.
He highly recommended I go with accuracy at the bottom of the tank.
I chose that route. You'll get a feel for how many miles you can go
on a full tank.
The gas gauge is merely a suggestion. Don't count on it.
He said this is the way it is and that's that.
He highly recommended I go with accuracy at the bottom of the tank.
I chose that route. You'll get a feel for how many miles you can go
on a full tank.
The gas gauge is merely a suggestion. Don't count on it.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 300
Likes: 10
From: Black Hills
I agree with Grand Dragon; if you track your miles, you will get a good understanding of how far you can go on a tank. The guage on my Ultra is pretty accurate on the bottom half of the tank, but I only use it as a rough idea of how much gas I have, and check the odometer; you just have to get in the habit of resetting it at fill-ups.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
Hi all, upgraded to a 2010 Ultra last summer. Noticed the gas guage shows empty way too soon. It shows full when I top it off so is this a safety thing so you don't run out? Wondering what others are experience. Is this normal or should I have it checked? I'm hoping its just the 6 gallon tank I gotta get used too.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Squamish, BC, Canada
You'l find that pretty well everyone agrees that their gas gauges are at best a decretive item that can be used for a general idea of how much fuel you have but not for an accurate reading. About the only thing a gas gauge can tell you for sure is that you have a gas gauge. Most guys play it safe and go by their odometer.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 11
From: sequim, wa
never used to have gas gauges, now some people seem to not be able to ride when there gauge dosent read perfect. I guess its a differant world. bet your cars gauge is off too. 
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 186
Likes: 7
From: Beamsville Ont
Can't trust the guage at all, mine doesn't start to drop from F until more than a 1/4 tank is gone, and if gets to 1/4 then I treat that as reserve. I rely on the trip odometer
- and always keep in mind that if you are riding into a headwind you need to reduce your expectations significantly (last summer coming into Minot from the east riding into a strong headwind I barely got 120 miles (200 km) from a full tank - when I filled I had just about fumes only left in the tank).
- and always keep in mind that if you are riding into a headwind you need to reduce your expectations significantly (last summer coming into Minot from the east riding into a strong headwind I barely got 120 miles (200 km) from a full tank - when I filled I had just about fumes only left in the tank).
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 2
From: Sarasota, Florida
My guage seems to be fairly accurate, but I never trust it. I have always reset my trip odometer and relied on that. I gas up every 150 unless I get caught not paying attention, but that gives me plenty of room to forget.
No matter what the guage says, when that light comes on you need to start looking for gas. But as everybody else is telling you, every bike is different, you have to get the feel of your bike and check the odometer, also depends on how you ride from one tank to the next.