Miles-to-empty operation

[NeilS]

In the past, I've run the miles-to-empty display down to around 9 before refueling.

Today, riding to work, the low fuel light came on about 2 miles before I got there. The MTE display read around 40. When I went to lunch (about 4 miles round-trip) the low fuel light stayed on; I didn't notice the MTE display. When I started the bike after work, I noticed the MTE display read "---," the low fuel light was still on, and the fuel gauge displayed no bars. I rode about 10 miles, nothing changed. Then I refueled, putting in 5.29 gallons vs. a published tank capacity of 4.8. After a mile or two, everything went back to normal.

Does this make any sense to anyone?

[Acpantera]

I once put in 5.4 gallons, also showed _ _ _ for miles left. Rode 275 miles on that tank.

[Dan-A]

Seems odd that the tank holds more than advertised. Perhaps this is a way of protecting customers from running out of gas?

It is similar to the speedometer. When mine indicates 74 mph, the GPS says 70. I am pretty sure the engineers at BMW are capable of designing an accurate speedometer.

[lewellen]

The tank's stated limit probably includes the dead space at the top needed for emissions plumbing etc. So it's not surprising to me that you can put more in; but if you don't then ride and draw it down it could get into the charcoal canister and cause problems.

I think the manual also mentions the possibility of disparities between the low-fuel light and fuel gauge.

For me, I find the low-fuel light goes on when the miles-remaining readback is around 20 - 30 miles. But I also find that the miles-remaining reading often goes down faster than the trip odometer goes up...

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[NeilS]

The tank's stated limit probably includes the dead space at the top needed for emissions plumbing etc. So it's not surprising to me that you can put more in; but if you don't then ride and draw it down it could get into the charcoal canister and cause problems.

Are you saying it's possible to damage the bike just by filling the fuel tank? If that were true, wouldn't you think there'd be something in the manual like, "Don't put in more than 4.8 gallons"?

[daniei]

The actual tank capacity (for me) is 6 gallons....I have managed to fill it up completely from almost empty with 5.93 gallons- until the overflow protection thing right at the top of the tank causes the gasoline to drip out beneath the bike. I know the user manual warns against overfilling....call me wreckless but I have not had any trouble.
By riding very conservatively I have managed to ride 294 odd miles with the MPG reader averaging 50 from very full to just about empty. I find that the empty light indicator seems very reliable switching on at 1/2 gallon (25 miles left). I also find that the fuel consumption MPG reader is also very accurate (within its decimal range....40mpg average =(237-243 miles total if filled up to max). The miles to empty reader is much less reliable...I have run out of gas 3 times (!) once with it showing 3 miles, but another at 18 miles so be careful...it is not reliable like the BMW car computer!....
Can you tell I hate stopping for gas?