Fuel Gauge

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

I'm a bit confused about the fuel gauge issue people are having. Recently got my bike ('08 with 12k miles on it). I ran out of gas on the first tank even though the screen said I had 25 miles to go. OK, my bad. About 25 miles prior to the run out, I had felt a bit of hesitation at steady speed. So I was thinking maybe a suction leak in the pump or something was causing me to run out early.

I pulled the tank, pump, and fuel strip for a look see. The strainer seemed a bit loose on the pump, so I tried to seat that better. Cleaned the fuel strip and put it all back together. Now I have no fuel gauge. Always reads almost full, and the miles to empty shows something like 265.

Does pulling the plug on the fuel strip mean a dealer calibration is now required? Or did I not seat the fuel strip plug properly in the tank? Any comments?

Thanks

ps: By the way, I no longer have the hesitation in the motor. Don't know if that's because I fixed a suction leak or just am running the cobwebs out from the previous owner.

[websterize]

Does pulling the plug on the fuel strip mean a dealer calibration is now required? Or did I not seat the fuel strip plug properly in the tank? Any comments?

After my first fuel strip failed, its replacement needed to be reprogrammed.

[deilenberger]

AFAIK, just unplugging it doesn't mean it requires reprogramming.

I'm curious as to how you cleaned it and what you cleaned it of? It's a rather delicate plastic film with evaporated metal traces on it - I can't imagine it needing cleaning, or imagine how you'd clean it without complete disassemble of the strip and housing. If you used the wrong solvent on it, I can imagine the plastic backing film disolving, making it useless.

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

Don, I had read in another forum (or perhaps this one?) that cleaning sometimes restores good function to the strip. So I tried it. On removal from the plastic cage, the strip looked nice an clean, so I just gently wiped it with a rag. Then put all back together.

Looks like I need to pull the tank again and insure that I got the plug seated all the way in the socket in there. I don't think I did anything that would break the strip. Will report back after I go in again in the next coupla days. Right now there seems to be no input at all from the strip.

[deilenberger]

Don, I had read in another forum (or perhaps this one?) that cleaning sometimes restores good function to the strip. So I tried it. On removal from the plastic cage, the strip looked nice an clean, so I just gently wiped it with a rag. Then put all back together.

Looks like I need to pull the tank again and insure that I got the plug seated all the way in the socket in there. I don't think I did anything that would break the strip. Will report back after I go in again in the next coupla days. Right now there seems to be no input at all from the strip.

It wasn't this forum. Wonder where you might have read that?

I have disassembled a "bad" strip - and found nothing on it to indicate contamination. If I had to guess - it's a connection problem where the strip mates to the wires coming out of the housing. Wiping it off might have pulled them loose. It might be new strip time..

[Dauntless]

I also experience a hesitation when I accelerate with only 25 miles until empty. I just attribute it to the pump sucking air. When I fill up, I can usually put 4.6 to 5.1 gallons in.

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

OK. I have the tank apart and did not find any issues with what I did before. ALl plugs were in, and there is no aparent damage to the strip. TO the details, here is a pic of the fuel strip disassembled. The connections are actually quite robust, and I don't see anything wrong here:



So we'll see if it works when all goes back together.

But I do have another question here. The following pics show the fuel pump and suction strainer. When looking at the strainer, it seems to me that the white plastic disc should be trapped inside the white pump holder. You can pull the strainer off easily, whereas, if the white disc were trapped in the pump holder, it would be fixed solidly. Can anyone confirm that this is assembled correctly? This is the way it was when I opened the tank, so I have no way to know.








Thanks for any comments. For Dauntless, I haven't had the hesitation since I pushed the strainer on a bit more. Don't know for sure, but you might try that.

[deilenberger]

Before it goes back together - could you take some closeups of the strip to wire connector?

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

Don, The strip is already back in the tank, but I did take this pic while it was apart:



And here's a crop to get closer:




The top of the strip and the wire connections are encased in resin. So you can't actually see the connections. Pretty nice arrangement, and should be trouble free for all except the most ham fisted.

Any comment on the fuel pump strainer attachment?

[deilenberger]

Almost anything could be going on under/inside the resin.. and I'd be willing to bet that's where the failure is.

What's interesting to me - the hose on the fuel pump, and your level strip are both badly discolored. I know the strip in the fuel level strip is normally transparent with the evaporated metalic coating/resistor pattern on each side. I believe that hose likely also is.

Wonder what's causing this much discoloration?

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

I'm not real good with colors, but wifey says it's honey color. The strip and the fuel hose are pretty close to the same color. I thought of the strip as being the color of circuit board plastic, so it didn't raise any alarms with me. Inside the tank area is spotless, so it's gotta be the gas doing it.

Lacking info from you on the suction strainer attachment, I'm gonna put it all back together and see if the gauge works.

Thanks for the help. BTW, my brother lives straight west from you in Doylestown. Great part of the country!

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

OK. The bike is back on the road, and time to report. Prior to this last pump and strip removal, the display showed full tank and 256 miles to go until empty. Turning the key after assembly showed the same thing, but we all know it takes a few minutes for the gauge to respond. So I took off with a positive attitude. After about 2 minutes or less, the low fuel light came on. This is with around a half full tank. So I scrolled over to the miles to empty and see the numbers going down by one or two miles every three seconds. This count down continued until the display shows the three dashes indicating that I'm out.

So that's the current status. Next thing is to call the dealer and tell him to warranty fix the thing.

Other than this item, this is a great running bike

Here's a pic from breakfast this morning:

[websterize]

After about 2 minutes or less, the low fuel light came on. This is with around a half full tank. So I scrolled over to the miles to empty and see the numbers going down by one or two miles every three seconds. This count down continued until the display shows the three dashes indicating that I'm out.

So that's the current status. Next thing is to call the dealer and tell him to warranty fix the thing.

My bike did the same thing, and it was the fuel strip. All fixed under warranty.

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

deilenberger just posted this in the tire pressure thread:
Quote
BTW (total disgression) - just spotted this in a Google search: http://www.schrader-bridgeport.com/inde ... &Itemid=72

"BMW and Schrader announce MotorBike Fuel Level Sensing Contract"
article wrote:
The contract provides for the future supply of Fuel Level Sensors to fifty percent of BMW motorcycles. Stephen McClelland, Managing Director commented: “We are delighted to have won this initial contract with a new and innovative product.” This new product allows Schrader to grow into differing product ranges in the very tough Automotive Sector and is a just reward for continuing hard efforts of all of the teams at Schrader Electronics”.

This contract was signed March '08 - so I guess we can't blame them for the bad fuel level strips.. mebbe. Maybe they'll make ones that last.
End Quote

I wish I had thought to look for a manufacturer label on the fuel strip while I had it out! Bummer.

Have a date tomorrow morning with Max=NY for warranty fixing of this issue. They indicated no new stuff. Just replace sensor with the same part. I'll try to find out who makes the fuel strip they install.

[RadRider]

Same problems here. Ran out of gas with the fuel gauge indicating 1/2 tank full. I should have been more attentive to the miles ridden. This on a 2010 R1200R with 1400 miles. Will be replaced under warranty next week.

[motoracer8]

As this seems to be a reacurring probblem, I wonder if it is the Ethenol in the fuel causing the probblem, as it has caused many fuel system issues in vehicles using verious plastics in the fuel system. I have a 08 R12R and have had no fuel sensor probblems to date. Alittle optimistic on range when full but once the the first level mark disapears it seams to be quite accurate, when the low fuel light comes on it says I have about 40 miles to go, I have never run out of fuel. At that point it will take around 5 gals. of fuel.

Ken G.

[intrepidpilot]

Hi, BMW Fuel System Cleaner. I had the same problem. Problem gone with one tank full. I also use Sunoco Ultra. Now about every 5 tanks I use the cleaner.

[websterize]

Hi, BMW Fuel System Cleaner.

Also known as Chevron Techron — same bottle, same stuff.

[Bob Ain't Stoppin']

Update from the OP: I have had a new strip installed under warranty. Now the display reads nicely. I haven't been able to run the tank all the way down, but have gone what I thought was a full tank worth of 220 miles. The computer said I still had 80 miles to go! Max I have put in so far is 4.6 gallons (figured that was pretty good against a 4.8 rated tank, but I'm hearing that you can stuff 5 gallons in ?). I need more info to assure I don't get stranded.

What is a max fill up in US gallons?

How far have you guys (and gals) gone on a tank without running out?

Thanks

[websterize]

What is a max fill up in US gallons?

About 5.5 gallons (21 liters)