Reserve Fuel?

[texas tracy]

I was reading my owners manual for my 2006 GL 1800. It stated that the fuel capacity of the fuel tank is 6. ???? something gallons including the “RESERVE”. My Suzuki Volusia did not have a reserve supply of fuel. On the other hand my son’s Honda 1100 has a fuel reserve, but to accesses it he has to turn a value.

The 2006 Goldwing owners’ manual refers to the reserve fuel, but I can not find anywhere it says how to access it. The question is: How do you access the reserve fuel tank/supply? Is there a switch or value that is used to switch over to the reserve fuel supply? (If there is, where is it at?) Is it automatic? (IF it does, how do you know when you have started using it?) Can someone please clear up this matter for me?

I am not just fueling around, I would like to know. Thanks

[WingAdmin]

Here's what the manual says:

At F (Full) there are 6.7 US gal (25.5 liters), including reserve supply. When the gauge needle enters the red band, fuel will be low and you should refill the tank as soon as possible. The amount of fuel left in the tank when the needle enters the red band is approximately 0.79 US gal (3.0 liters).

To me, that says that there is no separate "reserve" valve - it means that when the needle is in the red, you're in the "reserve" zone, so go get some gas soon.

[Snowclem]

1st post here guys. Maybe this will help. I've had my 03 gl1800 for just a couple of months now. The low fuel indicator light came on yesterday for the 1st time. filled the tank with about 5.4 gallons. I believe that the reserve on my wing is about 1.5 gallons and the low fuel indicator means you are in the reserve.

[ggrider]

I purposly ran my fuel down on my GL1800, while riding in the city and near a gas station, to find out when the 'low fuel' warning light would come on. When it did so I filled up the tank and to do so I needed 21.7 litres of fuel. (Full tank 25 litres - 21.7 litres means about 3 litres of 'reserve'). As far as I know, this warning is your reserve. There are no other taps to turn on like there was with my 1952 BSA...these old bikes had no fuel guages, when the old bike started to sputter, you switched on the reserve and headed for the nearest gas station...now you have a fuel guage and a warning light and I would suggest using them both as a guide to when you should be filling up unless you don't mind walking now and then with a gas tank in your hand. Personally I am not a big fan of seeing my fuel guage reading near empty since many years ago I experienced an empty tank and I'm doing my best to not have that experince again. On the road these 3 litres of 'reserve' fuel will take you about 30 miles...just a guide.

[texas tracy]

Well guys, with my luck, the one time I would trust my fuel gage/red warning light I would be out in the middle of no where when it starts spitting and sputtering to a halt. My other bike (Suzuki Volusia) has a fuel gage and no reserve tank either. I found out the hard way that the gage could not be trusted. The gage indicated that there was a quarter tank of fuel left in the tank. I found myself halfway between some-where and no- where when the bike ran out of gas. With no one to call on the cell, I had to walk for gas. So, from that point forward I use my trip odometer to show how many miles I have clicked off since my last fill-up. I have been averaging about 30 mpg 2up to 35 solo mpg on my GL1800. That is roughly 180 to 210 miles. I choose the low end average which gives me a good cushion. When my trip odometer turns 140, I start looking for fuel. But one day, when I have some time and have back-up, I am going to run it dry. I want know how many actual miles I can expect after the warning light comes on. I don’t want to walk for fuel again. That is why I asked about the reserve fuel tank/ valve on my new GW.

Thanks for you in-put

Tex. Tracy

[WingAdmin]

Yep, one day I'll strap a 2 gallon can of gas to my back seat, and go out and see just how low I can get the tank before I run out - just so I know.

[dwatc]

The way I do it and have done it since day one of buying my '09 is reset the trip meter when I fill up and watch both the low fuel warning light and trip meter. I also keep a pretty good idea of where I am in relation to possible fuel and the trip meter. I don't like walking or pushing that heavy thing.

[WingAdmin]

I trust my fuel gauge pretty well - I know it moves very slowly when full, and speeds up as it gets lower, because of the shape of the fuel tank. It sits showing full for the first 30-40 miles. By the time it's showing 3/4 full, it's actually down to about 1/2. Showing 1/2 means closer to 1/4. When it's showing 1/4, it's time to start thinking about finding a gas station.

I also know that the style of riding affects the mileage greatly. All highway riding at 65 mph, and I'll get a good 140 miles before I want to start thinking about filling up. All twisty back-road riding, and I'll be lucky to get 110 miles out of it.

[texas tracy]

Well, I almost got brave today. I have a 64-mile round trip commute to work. (20 miles at 70mph, 40 miles at 65mph and 4 miles in stop and traffic.) I have been averaging between 30 and 35 mpg. I left home this morning with my trip odometer showing 155.5 on this tank of gas. I was riding solo, no wind, on a flat hwy. When I pulled into the parking lot at work I notice that the warning light was on. It had to have come on within the last 2 miles. I was going to drive it dry, there are gas stations everywhere, well I got cold feet. I drove it across the street on my way home and put 5.545 gals of gas in the tank. Base on my calculations there was about ½ a gallon of fuel left in my tank. Based on my average mpg, I figure I had about 15 to 18 mile left. I think that is close enough for me. So, I can go, on an outside average, 200 mile on a tank of gas. However, I think I will use the leaser average and have a soft line at 180 miles per tank and a hard line at 200.

[2008retiredplb]

You do not have a reserve fuel tank per say. The reserve is the fuel you have left when your low fuel light comes on. I was told one time that the best way to determine how far you can travel on reserve is to take a gallon or two of gas along with you and ride until the low fuel indicator light comes on. Then reset your trip odometer to zero and ride hard until it runs out. Look at the trip odometer and that should tell you how far you could go after the low fuel light comes on. Remember that you rode hard on reserve and if you ride easy you can go a little farther than you did when you run it out. This is a guide as to how far you could go. This procedure works for any bike that has a reserve or low fuel indicator light.

[mightymousesr]

Actually what you really need to remember is that at about 3/4 tank your fuel pump is coming out of the gas that keeps it cool, therefore every time you go below that level your fuel pump is running hotter as the level drops. The more often you let the fuel level drop, your fuel pump loses more of its life. I refill every time I get close to that 3/4 level unless of course you're on a ride and the gas station spacing makes you go beyond. So I just figure I'm at reserve at the 3/4 tank mark. Priced a fuel pump lately ? The same thing goes for any fuel injected car/truck. Just food for thought.

[ptilford]

All posts are interesting on this subject but I am curious about gas mileage numbers. Over many thousands of miles on my 2008, 1800 ABS I have averaged 37-38 in town and 41-42 out in the open. Even on my trips to Utah, Colorado, New Mexico where I rode tens of thousands of feet in altitude change, up and down, I still never averaged below 38. I have done the math hundreds of times and used different fuel pumps in many states...same results. My bike is 80% "ride ready" at all times meaning carried equipment. I throw on a piece of luggage and a soft sided cooler and I'm down the road. My mileage does not change enough to hardly calculate. A buddy of mine recently acquired a used GL1800 so we compare our numbers, the same. Both of us are aggressive throttle twisters and impatient multi-thousands of hour pilots. We are not timid, so far!

Two small things I do is use mid-grade gas (89 octane) and Iridium spark plugs. Just food for thought.

[Justin K.]

On my '05, riding one-up, light luggage I get 250+ a little to a tank on average
The light comes on steady at about 220 or so. At that point I'll probably pump about 5.5 gallons.

Using up the first tank of the year, after sitting for 5 months with stabilizer will get much lower mileage for some reason...closer to 190 at the light which replicates my old GL1500 mileage.

[Terry D]

I have been riding motorcycles since 1964 and have owned 27 different bikes which 4 were Goldwings. Every bike I've tested how far I can go until It is completely empty and dies along the side of the road. But, when I'm doing that test, I have a gallon of fresh fuel with me and am able to restart and get to a gas station. I only do the test when I'm close to being empty in the first place and am going to not be far from a gas station. I discovered on my 2012 and 2014 Harleys that the stated capacity of the tanks was not what was reality. How do I check that. I fill up and know that I added a gallon so simple math will make it possible to figure that out.

[AZgl1800]

Reserve is when the LOW FUEL light is first visible.
On the 1800 that should leave you with 1.1 gallons of gas,

My fuel gauge is at the Red line when that happens.

Observed that many times over several 1000 miles.

I use the GPS miles to next fuel stop to get the most out of each tank of gas.

I always carry a 1 gallon fuel can in the right saddle bag.

I can consistently get down to about 1 gallon of gas remaining, fill up with 5.9 gallons on average.

[AZgl1800]

On our Pontiac Vibe that leaves 2.0 gallons of gas.

We consistently drive to the Low Fuel light, and it takes 11.1 gallons to fill up. That gives us 50 miles to get to a gas station.

The fuel lights are very reliable, never ran out of gas. On bike or car.

[joeincalif]

Something everyone should do,. Fill up when your gauge reaches different points. You will know when it reaches 3/4 tank, 1/2 tank etc how much fuel you have left and about how far you can go. I always reset my trip meter at every fill up and fill up after every ride on my way home so the next time I take the bike out it is full and ready to go.

[oilboy1162]

FOR ME,AT LEAST ON MY '13, WHEN MY LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON I CONSISTENTLY CAN PUT IN 1-1.5 GALLONS. LIGHT COMES ON AT 220- 250 MILES. IF I CANT FIND A STATION 40-70 MILES, I'M LOST!!!!!

[Terry D]

That has been my signature for years: "You are not lost until you run out of gas!"

[Big Bob]

With my 06 1800 if freeway/highway riding averaging 55 to 65 mph I can get around 205 miles b4 the reserve light comes on. At that point I safely feel I need gas within 20 miles. Running out of gas is not a option when riding your wing or any other mc IMO! Really ruins your ride/day!!

Bob

[AZgl1800]

With my 06 1800 if freeway/highway riding averaging 55 to 65 mph I can get around 205 miles b4 the reserve light comes on. At that point I safely feel I need gas within 20 miles. Running out of gas is not a option when riding your wing or any other mc IMO! Really ruins your ride/day!!

Bob

you still have 1.1 gallon, so if you slow to 40 mph, you can go at least another 35-40 miles if necessary. Lots of 1800s can get 50 mpg at the slower speeds, I don't push it past 35 mpg when estimating

[raven41951]

OK so it started as reserve fuel capacity and access and has expanded to fuel mileage etc.

Has anyone given any thought of effort on the Brand of fuel we use?

Many years ago I had a '66 Superhawk. As I was young and suffered from the dreaded disease of fundsrlow, I wanted the best fuel mileage I could get. I tried all the brands, Mobil, Sunoco, Esso/Exxon, BP, Shell, Getty, No-Names et al. My best mileage came with Mobil at ~55 mpg. The worst came from Sunoco (260) at ~35 mpg. The others were all somewhere in between.

Needless to say I run Mobil fuel in my vehicles. Note I am not endorsing Mobil (well, I guess I am) but I do suggest you try a few different brands under all your driving conditions which will require several tanks of each brand to find which is best for you.

BTW, my 1500 got 35-37 mpg and my 1800 got 33-35 new and 37-40 after a 3500 mile break-in period, even though Honda says 1000 miles. I can get 200 miles from a tank no problem and have maxed out at about 230 running on fumes. Interstate speeds over 3000 rpm (>70-75) greatly reduces mpg.

[Terry D]

My 92 1500 averaged 39 - 42 mpg. And, that was pulling a small Shoreline trailer keeping speeds under 70. My 01 and now 05 1800 constantly get 40 - 41 mpg without trailer. Twice I have put 250 miles on a tank. In the 1970s My 71 Camero and CB 750 got their best mileage using Shell. Usually 2 - 3 mpg better. Remember the commercial showing two cars with each having a container of fuel on the hoods and Shell would win the distance test. In my mind as good as I thought it could be, the commercial was spot on.

[Wingsconsin]

On my GL1800 (2002) and my Sons GL1800 (2003) we can go routinely go 200 Miles on a tank of fuel -

At that point he warning light comes on and we put in about 5.3-5.4 gallons of fuel

The GL1800 holds about 6.5 gallons (+/-) so we have about a gallon left .

AT THAT TIME - you should know your average MPG at any given speed/riding situation (from experience) -

I can go 40 miles further usually - but at 80 mph+ I will be out of fuel before that happens .

I HAVE seen 250 miles on a tank but that is unusual - mostly I plan for 200 miles and buy fuel when the light comes on.

The early model GL1800s had a approx 6% error in the odometer - a 70 series rear tire seems to fix that to really close.

I know because I have tried it

[Brentt4]

As if this thread is 12 years old and still going. Here in Canada, I’ll hit reserve at around 263 kms and continue with 3 litres left until completely empty. I figure another 60 kms at 20 kms/litre. And, yes I reset my trip meter, so I know exactly haw far I can go. Only ran out of fuel once doing this. Lol
2001 Gl1800 by the way, amd always run 87 octane. Staying COVID-free