Run it until empty = 290 km

[El_Guapo]

Hello everyone:
I have a Interceptor 650, he only mod I have done is the air filter, it has a DNA air filter.

As per my calculations the Interceptor's 13.7 L tank with dead stock of 0.75L and a low fuel warning at 2.9 L were not adding up. So I decided to run it until empty and get real numbers
I finally did it. Equipped with 0.5 L bottle of fuel in a pannier and hoping the my "run empty" does not happen with more than 12 km from a fuel station.
I did my daily commuting to work for few days, hoping to run out of fuel not ungracefully. Around 80km day trip does it rather fast.
Low light warning came up at 200 - 205 km, as usual. I kept going hoping for the best.
Luckily for me, the engine started to sputter and turn off at 288km in an 80km road with no much traffic in that moment.
Turn the bike on again, no worries, kept running for another 2 or 3 km and stopped again.
I was in an 70km/h road. 3 lines each side and there was a fuel station just in the opposite side of the road.
Then I decided that 290 is good enough and I don't want to damage the fuel pump.
I added the 0.5L of fuel , just o avoid any issues and head into the highway , looking for traffic light to change directions and done , back to the fuel station.

A grand total of 11.15L were added to the tank. that means I was at 11.65 l when I run out of fuel.
So the tank specs says 13L of usable fuel, yet I run it until it start to run out of fuel and I ended adding 11.65L Where are those 1.35 L ? Who knows!


Note, all my refuelling are done until the liquid reach the lower limit of the metal cylinder and I do that with the bike in the centre stand.

 

[1984shovelhead]

Good info

 

[Haggisman]

Did you fill it up on the centrestand?

 

[El_Guapo]

Did you fill it up on the centrestand?

all my refuelling are done until the liquid reach the lower limit of the metal cylinder and I do that with the bike on the centre stand.

 

[Woodstock]

all my refuelling are done until the liquid reach the lower limit of the metal cylinder and I do that with the bike on the centre stand.

I've never thought about it until now but does the fuel drain completely from both sides of the tank or is some left on one side?

 

[Alan F.]

I've never thought about it until now but does the fuel drain completely from both sides of the tank or is some left on one side?

Here's a screenshot of the bottom of an Interceptor tank:

 

[Woodstock]

Here's a screenshot of the bottom of an Interceptor tank:

View attachment 14023

So equal enough there is not 1.35 liters sloshing on one side. Per El_Guapo's post 1. Thanks.

 

[jackthebiker]

Ok, for us USA people:
That means you went 125 miles to low fuel light, I go about 145 miles.
You went 179 miles to no fuel, I have never gone to no fuel, but I have gone 170 miles and it only took 2.7 gallons.
I have filled it in the center stand, and on the side stand, and they look about the same to the bottom of the filler tube.

They advertise 3.4 gallons usable. My low fuel light goes on at 2.4 gallons, so about 1 gallon left.
I get about 62 MPG, so low fuel light at 145 miles means at 205 miles I am out of gas. I would never push it beyond 30 miles after low fuel light to be safe. So I am looking to fill at 175 miles.

I do fill it even to bottom of fill tube on the low side, 1/4 inch up tube on the high side.

 

[jadorff]

interesting. , I always fuel up around 120 km it is a small tank.

 

[Alan F.]

Ok, for us USA people:
That means you went 125 miles to low fuel light, I go about 145 miles.
You went 179 miles to no fuel, I have never gone to no fuel, but I have gone 170 miles and it only took 2.7 gallons.
I have filled it in the center stand, and on the side stand, and they look about the same to the bottom of the filler tube.

They advertise 3.4 gallons usable. My low fuel light goes on at 2.4 gallons, so about 1 gallon left.
I get about 62 MPG, so low fuel light at 145 miles means at 205 miles I am out of gas. I would never push it beyond 30 miles after low fuel light to be safe. So I am looking to fill at 175 miles.

I do fill it even to bottom of fill tube on the low side, 1/4 inch up tube on the high side.

My experience is very similar, I start thinking about a fuel stop at 150 miles or so and will put in anywhere from 2.4 to 2.7 US gallons depending on how I've been riding.

 

[El_Guapo]

I think that the fuel pump inlet for fuel might be higher than advertised . I assume that "deadstock" fuel is beacuse the fuel pump is not flush at the bottom of the tank, but a bit higher than that. how high , no idea. but as per my experiment , seems to be just over 2L (1/2 gallon)) from the bottom of the tank

 

[Alan F.]

I wonder if a spacer and another gasket can be used to "lower" the fuel pump position and gain some more useable range before empty?

 

[jadorff]

I think you will find the intake for the pump is off the bottom so u dont pick up anything on the bottom of the tank Even on the fuel taps they sit above the floor of the tank

 

[Alan F.]

I'm not arguing with that logic but there is a fuel filter which probably has a service interval. I'd suppose flushing the tank out every few seasons recommended as well.

 

[El_Guapo]

all that makes sense, but realistically, nobody does a Tank flushing until you start having issues. Normally when the fuel pump star playing up, if any.

 

[NVDucati]

I wonder if a spacer and another gasket can be used to "lower" the fuel pump position and gain some more useable range before empty?

It wouldn't be big magic to get more of the fuel out. If you look at the pump and the attached "filter bag" it will be pretty obvious to insert a slightly downward bent plastic dip tube inside the filter bag and into the intake port of the pump. From memory that screen bag is about 3+ inches long. EZ access.
Also as an aside my 2020 INT came with a strong magnet sitting on the bottom of the tank at the low point. And the inside of the tank has a bonded coating on it. Think ceramic coating or similar.

 

[Roy Gavin]

all that makes sense, but realistically, nobody does a Tank flushing until you start having issues. Normally when the fuel pump star playing up, if any.

With today's fuel some like to tip the tank when it is removed at service time.
The pump gauze screen is not much of a filter and doesn't hold dirt for removal at service time like an oil filter or in line fuel filter, so it seems tipping is the only way to remove any crap from the tank.

 

[Gone in 60]

I can go till about 150 till I get nervous. I am spending a lot of time cruising at 70-75, so my burn rate is a factor.

 

[Woodstock]

Ok, for us USA people:
That means you went 125 miles to low fuel light, I go about 145 miles.
You went 179 miles to no fuel, I have never gone to no fuel, but I have gone 170 miles and it only took 2.7 gallons.
I have filled it in the center stand, and on the side stand, and they look about the same to the bottom of the filler tube.

They advertise 3.4 gallons usable. My low fuel light goes on at 2.4 gallons, so about 1 gallon left.
I get about 62 MPG, so low fuel light at 145 miles means at 205 miles I am out of gas. I would never push it beyond 30 miles after low fuel light to be safe. So I am looking to fill at 175 miles.

I do fill it even to bottom of fill tube on the low side, 1/4 inch up tube on the high side.

Does summer or winter gas make a difference? I get less mpg now but I figured I just open it up more. I seem to get less in winter, but then I also ride less and it may be my imagination?

 

[2LZ]

I can go till about 150 till I get nervous.

That's where I'm at.
In all my other bikes with gas gauges, I just bent the float wire to make the gauge more "true".