For the last two tanks, my fuel gauge doesn't read full after I fill the tank on my 02. It reads at 7/8 full (The last bar doesn't light up.) I'm suspecting a fuel float problem because it drops to 3/4 between 18 to 25 miles in town. Normally, I wouldn't expect that to happen so quickly. I normally run premium (91 octane), but have had to pick up E10 (90 octane) on occasion. I've had the bike about 16 months and put about 9k miles on it to take it to 35k.
My only recent change has been in riding style. While my bike was in for the 32k valve check, I was able to see a fair amount of deposits on the valves that are opened by VTEC operation. I've been trying to run up my RPMs to get them engaged more often. I don't think this is related.
1st it does you no good to use octane above the 87 required(unlees you suspect the stations ground tanks get used up slowly), but do use name brand fuel for the additives(all fuel is the same, till the fueling truck pics it up, if it going to a name brand station the additives are added at that time by the tanker truck driver).
As far as the reading on your tank, wait till you get to the half way mark and re-fill and see how many gallons needed to top off, at least you will know if it a top reading gone wrong or a whole totally off reading.
I agree with the using the vtec more often, I also put an ounce of Marvel Mistery Oil every few tanks........
I've got a similar deal with my 07, which I just bought. I put it on the center stand to fill it, and take it to within an inch of the top of the filler neck. This weekend, I went exactly 3.2 miles before the gauge went down to 7/8 of a tank. The bike had only 890 miles on it when I got it, so I assumed it was just a VFR oddity... I'll hang back and see what comes of the thread.
[image: View Post]FortWorthVFR, on 29 August 2011 - 01:28 PM, said:
I've got a similar deal with my 07, which I just bought. I put it on the center stand to fill it, and take it to within an inch of the top of the filler neck. This weekend, I went exactly 3.2 miles before the gauge went down to 7/8 of a tank. The bike had only 890 miles on it when I got it, so I assumed it was just a VFR oddity... I'll hang back and see what comes of the thread.
Your's sounds normal....But the OP's sounds like it's off to much.
I really don't care about it being off on top just as long as it's correct below the half way mark.........Just for the stats'..... Mine won't stay on full after about 5/10 miles.......
I believe there have been threads on this before ...
If the first bar never lights up, that sounds unusual--though I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
Mine behaves the way others have noted: no matter how full you fill the tank (and I've filled it so that there's gas in the filler neck, right below the cap ...) the first bar doesn't last very long. It always seems to go out within a few miles.
The VFR is my first bike with a digital fuel gauge, so I assume that has something to do with it. Probably placement of the float. I notice it will vary between, say, three and four bars depending on whether I'm going uphill or downhill--just as my car does.
I suppose I was a little surprised at the fuel gauge accuracy given all the other technical wizardry on the VFR--I would have thought the engineers could have accounted for float position, tank shape, whatever causes the issue.
On the other hand, I've had many bikes with no fuel gauge. You fuel based on the trip meter, or if you're pushing it, the rev-then-die that indicates you need to flip to reserve--exciting when it happens on the freeway.
The flashing final bar is a bit conservative too--which is probably by design and not a bad thing. According to my owner's manual, it starts to flash when there's .92 US gal. remaining. On a recent 1,500-mile trip in the US, I let it get down to the flashing final bar a couple of times before refuelling (plenty of small towns en route so I wasn't worried). On one of those fills (and I didn't find a gas station immediately either time), I put in 4.642 gallons. The tank is supposed to hold 5.81 US gallons, meaning there should have been 1.168 gallons left.
I suspect your float might not be going all the way to the top. You could try the Seafoam that some folks here swear by, or Monk's choice (Marvel Mystery Oil?), which others like to dissolve any gunk that might be obstructing it. But again, even when working "properly" the first bar doesn't display for long.
I think the thing that bugs me the most is that I didn't see this at all for the first 8500 miles. I have used some Techron, but it never occur to me that I am loosening stuff in the tank that could be holding up the float. I'll try some Seafoam to see if that resolves it. Thanks for the input.
[image: View Post]Africord, on 29 August 2011 - 03:20 PM, said:
I think the thing that bugs me the most is that I didn't see this at all for the first 8500 miles. I have used some Techron, but it never occur to me that I am loosening stuff in the tank that could be holding up the float. I'll try some Seafoam to see if that resolves it. Thanks for the input.
I could be wrong(it's happened before)... But I use Seafoam more for getting rid of moisture, And MMO for lubing.........
I once put a how-to on here with instructions on how to remove the tank, remove the fuel gauge float, and how to bend the arm to fix this. It might still be on here if you do a search, but basically you can just bend the arm that the float rests on a tiny little bit if it bothers you that much.
The problem (aside from it being a PITA to remove the gauge from the tank) is that you don't know how much to bend it, and it's way too much work to do by trial-and-error, so I would recommend just getting used to what the fuel level actually means.
P.S. High octane fuel is a waste of money in an engine with no danger of predetonation (such as a VFR engine) Save your cash.
One thing about the sixth generation and fuel accuracy, the tank has to be burped. Had the same problem when first got the bike went one mile and it drops a bar. What has worked is straddle the bike fill it and when it looks full rock it back and forth and fill it some more. This does not address every post but did not see it.
Thanks for posting about deposits btw. Do need to use four valves more often and for longer intervals. Clean it out every once in a while. It's nice hearing it.
I've found that high octane fuel causes my fuel gauge to drop quicker and not read full. We're talking 98 RON here - which would be USA 93.
Since I don't do that anymore I dont' have the problem, but the VFR gauge is quite pessimistic. Sometimes it flashes reserve and I find there's still 8 litres in it.
[image: View Post]kaldek, on 29 August 2011 - 11:07 PM, said:
I've found that high octane fuel causes my fuel gauge to drop quicker and not read full. We're talking 98 RON here - which would be USA 93.
Since I don't do that anymore I dont' have the problem, but the VFR gauge is quite pessimistic. Sometimes it flashes reserve and I find there's still 8 litres in it.
Does that mean that the float will ride lower in high octane fuel?????????
Like the human body will float higher/easier in salty water........
[image: View Post]kaldek, on 29 August 2011 - 11:07 PM, said:
I've found that high octane fuel causes my fuel gauge to drop quicker and not read full. We're talking 98 RON here - which would be USA 93.
Since I don't do that anymore I dont' have the problem, but the VFR gauge is quite pessimistic. Sometimes it flashes reserve and I find there's still 8 litres in it.
The only way I can get mine to read full is with the bike on the mainstand and dribble in the last few litres.
There is a neck in the top of the tank which forms an airlock and makes it difficult to fill fully, almost impossible on the sidestand.
Even then the last bar goes out after about 10-20 Kms.
I always use 98but i dont see how the octane rating could affect the SG of the fuel.
[image: View Post]landlover, on 30 August 2011 - 10:21 PM, said:
[image: View Post]kaldek, on 29 August 2011 - 11:07 PM, said:
I've found that high octane fuel causes my fuel gauge to drop quicker and not read full. We're talking 98 RON here - which would be USA 93.
Since I don't do that anymore I dont' have the problem, but the VFR gauge is quite pessimistic. Sometimes it flashes reserve and I find there's still 8 litres in it.
You sure about this???
I'm sure about the behaviour, just not sure about the reasons why! It's happened enough times to be empirical.
[image: View Post]dogman, on 30 August 2011 - 10:38 PM, said:
I always use 98but i dont see how the octane rating could affect the SG of the fuel.
Shell themselves state on their V-Power website that the 98 RON V-Power fuel is higher density and results in a richer actual AFR for a given charge of fuel (whether an injector pulse or carburetion).
The only empirical test an end-user could run would be real-time monitoring of closed-loop mixture control and watching the trims as you switch from one fuel to another.
[image: View Post]kaldek, on 30 August 2011 - 10:43 PM, said:
[image: View Post]landlover, on 30 August 2011 - 10:21 PM, said:
[image: View Post]kaldek, on 29 August 2011 - 11:07 PM, said:
I've found that high octane fuel causes my fuel gauge to drop quicker and not read full. We're talking 98 RON here - which would be USA 93.
Since I don't do that anymore I dont' have the problem, but the VFR gauge is quite pessimistic. Sometimes it flashes reserve and I find there's still 8 litres in it.
You sure about this???
I'm sure about the behaviour, just not sure about the reasons why! It's happened enough times to be empirical.
Thanks for the reply.
[image: View Post]Monk, on 30 August 2011 - 11:57 PM, said:
What about finding a float (say a fishing float)and put it in a cup of both hi and low octane and see if it floats differently?????????
Or weigh say 500mls of each and see if there is a difference.
I wonder if the info quoted on the Shell V power 98 regarding its density is the same thing as mass/volume, or energy/volume.
Something else that can affect richness/leanness is fuel viscosity. A less viscous fluid flows easier through jets / injectors.
Riders here regard shell v power fuel as something to avoid as their bikes dont run well on it.
Maybe because they are running richer. I havent tried it myself.
I might try weighing the 98 compared to the 91, if I can find an accurate measuring cylinder, and accurate scales.
[image: View Post]dogman, on 31 August 2011 - 12:55 AM, said:
[image: View Post]Monk, on 30 August 2011 - 11:57 PM, said:
What about finding a float (say a fishing float)and put it in a cup of both hi and low octane and see if it floats differently?????????
Or weigh say 500mls of each and see if there is a difference.
I wonder if the info quoted on the Shell V power 98 regarding its density is the same thing as mass/volume, or energy/volume.
Something else that can affect richness/leanness is fuel viscosity. A less viscous fluid flows easier through jets / injectors.
Riders here regard shell v power fuel as something to avoid as their bikes dont run well on it.
Maybe because they are running richer. I havent tried it myself.
I might try weighing the 98 compared to the 91, if I can find an accurate measuring cylinder, and accurate scales.
I run Shell regular in my bike most of the time because it's the local station in my area(and I believe in name brand fuels), also run other name brands since alot of my riding will leave me short on fuel to get back home. I for one have not seen any problems running Shell. If any peeps here do have problems with it, I'd like here about it.
And, If it does make it run richer I'd think that would be a good thing, since these bikes run on the lean side.
2. Save my money, and buy straight 87 octane, (Due to state subsidies as a corn growing state, E10 (90 octane) is actually cheaper here. But I don't want to start the entire ethanol debate.)
3. Consider using MMO to lubricate the float.
4. Try to fill on level ground.
5. Continue to exercise my VTEC valves, regularly!
I think we can call this one case closed. Thanks!
End of thread · 22 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 30 Jul 2012