Fuel Capacity Mystery....

[Wreford Miles]

Just spent a delightful hour standing beside the A5 because my GSA ran out of fuel.

The reserve light was showing 25 miles and it had done 290 miles and as Id been tonking along I would have expected it to have c3litres in the tank.

BMW assist took me to the local garage and the tank brimmed needing only 29 litres - how can that be its a 33 litre tank and the Fecker had run out of fuel!

Thoughts please.

...oh and I always reset my trip when filling up and do a quick mental check on what it takes v what the remaining range is showing and it always appears very accurate and previously it has taken more than 30 litres

 

[Pukmeister]

Thoughts....

Happened to me years ago, same symptoms. Never done it since.

In my case, I had to lean the bike to the left to get fuel back over to the pump side of the tank. I was stuck at the side of the M6 in the middle of nowhere, Cumbria I think. Made it to a 'truck haven' nearby and got 27 litres in. It seems the 'sucking jet pump' that should bring the fuel back to the left side of the tank wasn't doing its job.

Perhaps you have just experienced the same??

 

[Wreford Miles]

Living the (1200) dream...


My 1150 or Airhead never gave me this wonderful experience

 

[Blowzorn]

Hi Wreford
I get that sometimes. I think the pump in the right lobe goes to sleep.
If I find I've suddenly run out of fuel sooner than I though, I lay the bike down on it's left handside and voila you find those missing 5 litres.

 

[Pukmeister]

Try a search for 'sucking Jet Pump', should explain things.

ISTR that fitting a replacement electric fuel supply pump inside the tank improves fuel system pressure and drives the venturi in the jet pump more effectively.

Welcome to 1200 ownership, they aren't that bad mate.

 

[patzx12]

Shake the bike and you will hear fuel sloshing around. Hold the front brake and lift the front wheel right off the ground balancing the bike on the side stand.

 

[Pukmeister]

Shake the bike and you will hear fuel sloshing around. Hold the front brake and lift the front wheel right off the ground balancing the bike on the side stand.

Or get your right hip well into the left side of the seat whilst standing on the left side of the bike, then lay it over as far as you dare and wait for the sloshing noise to stop.

Don't blame me if you drop it!

 

[Bendy toy]

Carry a spare tinny under the tank or fix the weak running fuel pump.

 

[Wreford Miles]

Carry a spare tinny under the tank or fix the weak running fuel pump.

Could the problem be made worse by the fact that Id been sat at 90 mph plus for a good few miles meaning the bike would have been drinking fuel ( making a higher demand on the fuel pump) than normal?

Anyway it's still in warranty so I'll be calling the dealer today as I cannot be living with a bike where I have to worry about if the bike will run out - I've never run out of fuel its a a complete waste of my life and on a wet cold and dark shitty commute when you know you've can just make it home without stopping for fuel the last think I want to do is stop for fuel to be on the safe side.

 

[Beemerman59]

The fuel pump and return system should cope all day at 90mph - your dealer should be able to sort this out with a new pump or whatever is needed. If you brim the tank on a Hexhead GSA it will take 36 litres.

 

[Pukmeister]

You might have something there Wreford, I was also caning it down the M6 from Glasgow into a strong headwind when my bike coughed spluttered and died early. Maybe the pump didn't make enough excess pressure to drive the Venturi?


Sent via my iThingumabob

 

[agent2494]

Simple don't let fuel get so low


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[bikemad]

Simple don't let fuel get so low

That's the best option been they have a big tank it should never be a problem

 

[agent2494]

When I had my new bike last year just after 6000 mile service filled bike to the brim, then rode bike normal speeds I ride at till it run dry got 280 miles till empty. So every time I fill up reset trip and 230 miles fill her up. I got fined once in the army for letting a Land Rover run run out of derv !!!!!!


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[(RIP) Tunneruk]

Simple don't let fuel get so low


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That's the best option been they have a big tank it should never be a problem

No guys, this isn't the answer. Essentially you're saying "Carry a gallon of fuel around with you that you'll never use" Imagine if you had that strapped to your back your whole life!

 

[bikemad]

Well whatever the cause pump related or not I'd sooner not run out full stop in winter,fuck standing by the road for an hour !

 

[agent2494]

Carry jet boil/3 in coffees/water and Mars bars on the bike all the time! only used once when sat on M4 for four hours due to a pileup not nice


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[Bendy toy]

The Venturi is fed from the return flow so if the pump is weak it won't suck properly.
BMW seem to love complicating things. Who knows what's so bad about an external link pipe from one side to the other.

 

[Bendy toy]

Hey they could even fit two fuel taps and have one as reserve. What a novel idea.

 

[Beemerman59]

No guys, this isn't the answer. Essentially you're saying "Carry a gallon of fuel around with you that you'll never use" Imagine if you had that strapped to your back your whole life!

Spot on! You wouldn't accept only having one working cylinder so why accept having to carry around 5 litres or more of fuel that you can't use. The bikes broken - it needs to be fixed.