12GSA tank holds 37.3 litres

Tim Cullis

Tim Cullis

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After reading some experiences of poor tank capacity on the 12GSA, I implemented the 'must-do' tank mod on my 1200GSA. The tank range was showing 12 miles as I headed off to pick up some new TKC80s from Hastings. By the time I arrived the range was down to 2 miles, so I bought a plastic petrol can and stuck a couple of litres in it as a reserve.

Zero came and went on the way back, and I noted the milage. 10 miles past zero I reached the outskirts of Eastbourne, so I headed for the furthest petrol station. By then I was getting a bit fed up with the tension of being about to run out of fuel at any moment, and at 15 miles past zero I filled up. The tank wasn't empty but was undoubtedly pretty close to it.

When I filled the tank I got 37.3 litres in it.

Tim
 
Tim Cullis said:
After reading some experiences of poor tank capacity on the 12GSA, I implemented the 'must-do' tank mod on my 1200GSA. The tank range was showing 12 miles as I headed off to pick up some new TKC80s from Hastings. By the time I arrived the range was down to 2 miles, so I bought a plastic petrol can and stuck a couple of litres in it as a reserve.

Zero came and went on the way back, and I noted the milage. 10 miles past zero I reached the outskirts of Eastbourne, so I headed for the furthest petrol station. By then I was getting a bit fed up with the tension of being about to run out of fuel at any moment, and at 15 miles past zero I filled up. The tank wasn't empty but was undoubtedly pretty close to it.

When I filled the tank I got 37.3 litres in it.

Tim
Click to expand...

You're brave man! :D I figured a while back that range 0 probably wasnt the end of the tank, but I've never been brave enough to work out where it is.

Out of interest, what is the likely effect on the injectors if you do run out? I'd always thought is was a generally bad thing to do - or is that just older diesels?
 
Diesel injectors are different, running out of petrol won't do a fuel injection system any harm.

It doesn't do a diesel any harm either, but the injectors have to be primed before they will work again :)
 
Mouse said:
Diesel injectors are different, running out of petrol won't do a fuel injection system any harm.

It doesn't do a diesel any harm either, but the injectors have to be primed before they will work again :)
Click to expand...


Sorry, but it will do a diesel harm if you run the pump with no fuel or the wrong fuel, they are very easy to damage if run dry and unlubricated :(

Shep
 
Shep said:
Sorry, but it will do a diesel harm if you run the pump with no fuel or the wrong fuel, they are very easy to damage if run dry and unlubricated :(

Shep
Click to expand...

Ah but some diesel injector pumps have an oil sump of their own.

Greg
 
LiquidLAN said:
just the old risk of sucking cack from the bottom of the tank.
Click to expand...

Ah, the old urban myth!

I think that you'll find that most fuel is drawn from the bottom of the tank.

:rolleyes:

Besides, there's a filter.

Greg
 
dunno if its a myth or not, and I do know that you have fuel filters... but I also remember getting blocked carb jets on an old Scirocco after running very low once or twice, I always thought the two where connected, but I guess I might have been wrong. :nenau :nenau
 
'tis a true urban myth, given the sloshing about fuel does (in car or motorbike) tank, any crap in the tank would get mixed into the fuel and get sucked through anyway.

Same as the people who lift up petrol hoses to get the last drips out, if the nozzle on the end isn't open it won't pour out, and if the nozzle is open the pump senses the loss of pressure and fires up.
 
I ran my standard 1200GS out of fuel a couple of weeks ago. (The fuel gauge showed 17 miles to go)
After a heart-bursting push, filled her up with 22.5 litres, let it self-check and have a bit whirr, as it does and it fired up and ran fine.

:thumb

The bike had been in for a service and some warranty work so the battery/sensor/gubbins may have been disconnected.
I'm a bit wary of trusting the guage though, as I've gone 8 miles past "0" before.

:beerjug:
 
Greg Masters said:
Ah but some diesel injector pumps have an oil sump of their own.

Greg
Click to expand...

Agreed, the operating camshaft inside the diesel injection pump may well be oil lubricated by its own sump especially on older inline diesel pumps, but the plungers and sleeves inside the fuel delivery quadrants won't be as they are fuel lubricated and will become scored through dry running.

Basically, its good practice to avoid running out of fuel on any engine (just in case).
 
Same thing happened to me....

ChrisKelley said:
I ran my standard 1200GS out of fuel a couple of weeks ago. (The fuel gauge showed 17 miles to go)
After a heart-bursting push, filled her up with 22.5 litres, let it self-check and have a bit whirr, as it does and it fired up and ran fine.

:thumb

The bike had been in for a service and some warranty work so the battery/sensor/gubbins may have been disconnected.
I'm a bit wary of trusting the guage though, as I've gone 8 miles past "0" before.

:beerjug:
Click to expand...

A couple of days ago..gauge said 17 miles left in the tank and she ran dry.. :spitfire v.v.v.annoying..called out some emergency juice and she fired up 1st time no probs. :thumb
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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