Unreliable fuel guage

[catretriever]

I've noticed that my fuel guage seems to give more of an 'estimate' of how much is in my tank rather than an acurate reading, and it often gives about as accurate a prediction as Michael Fish.

Is this a case of 'They all do that sir' or is there something straightforward I can do to fix it?

[beano500]

catretriever said:

I've noticed that my fuel guage seems to give more of an 'estimate' of how much is in my tank rather than an acurate reading, and it often gives about as accurate a prediction as Michael Fish.

Rumoured to have been designed by the great man himself using nothing more than a piece of seaweed nailed to a beach hut on Blackpool prom.

catretriever said:

Is this a case of 'They all do that sir'

They all do that, Sir!!!!!

(Or more accurately "They can all be expected be unique, temperamental and transitory, Sir"!)

catretriever said:

or is there something straightforward I can do to fix it?

Don't look at it and fill up every 150-200 miles depending on heavy your right foot feels on the day!

[catretriever]

OK, thanks Beano that's good advice.

I just wanted to check that I wasn't putting up with it needlessly

I have a track day booked at Brands next month and was a bit concerned about running out of fuel whilst out on the track. Guess I'll just top her up each time before I go out.

[beano500]

I don't believe any of my guages for full accuracy. Interestingly the only one I have had a problem with is the oil pressure. You pretty much realise the sender or guage is kaput when it bangs off the top end of the scale before you've turned the engine over. I have heard plenty of stories and, worse than a BMW bike I had once, they seem to get condensation in them quite easily (the moment the sun comes out!)

But I watch for anything a bit odd.

As far as fuel level is concerned sometimes it will go to 120 miles before it's halfway down and be on a quarter full by 150 miles. I don't like to (contrary to my previous attitude and tight wallet) see the level get too low because any crap will easily affect the running I suspect.

[gooner]

It's that dash of yours, catretriever, all that radiation it's emitting must be buggering up the gauges

My fuel guage is pretty accurate compared to most but still under reads a little. According to the bible it is a common problem so only worry about it if it really matters to you. I make a point of looking for a Shell garage as soon as I get close to a quarter full whereas in my family people carrier I've let it go to 4 miles distance to empty on the trip computer before now

[catretriever]

gooner said:

It's that dash of yours, catretriever, all that radiation it's emitting must be buggering up the gauges

Yeah...but check out my tan

[Ballistic Banana]

If you take the sender out you will see that a contact is made along a band of wires as teh Float goes up and down. If this contact has worn away or some of teh wires over time have got larger gaps between them it will miss read.
Mine seemed be missing making contact with the wire as it was going up so i just bent the contact so it reached the wires all away along and its been great since.
You can aslo bend the wire the float is on by offering it up outside the tank and aligning it to where you want empty/full to show.
Be aware when putting back in though as the float can get caught on the internal baffles of the tank.
Also NO SMOKING

BB

[simpo two]

Mine runs out when it reads 1/8 full - as I discovered once the hard way. Just recalibrate your brain to suit!