I've owned my 2008 Softail Custom for a few weeks now. When I was ready to pull out of the dealer on purchase day the Sales Manager told me that when the gas light came on I would have 1 gallon left in the tank.

So the first time my gas light came on I drove to the station to fill up. Once filled the tank only took 3 gallons. The trip meter read 145 miles driven.

Now according to the spec sheet this is a 5 gallon tank.

So I reset my trip meter and when the fuel light came on I kept driving. The fuel light came on this time around 161 miles on the tank. I ran it up to 181 miles before swinging into the gas station. When I filled it up it took 3.8 gallons. That means I still had 1.2 gallons left in the tank.

How can this be right if the light only comes on when there is 1 gallon left. According to my math I'm getting around 47-48 mpg and doing the math I should be able to drive 235 miles before completely running out of fuel (which I wouldn't do). I should be able to run it safely up to 188 miles on a tank and have one gallon left in the tank. but the light comes on way before that point. I think my light is coming on right around 2 gallons left in tank.

When I pulled in that last time to fill up my guage was on empty but still showed that I had gas. At this point I think the guage is accurate. I wonder how far down the needle can be before running out? Right on the E or what?

So I guess what I'm getting at is: Is this normal? I read on this site that the light comes on when 1 gallon is left in tank. But that can't be accurate.

You know what? When it comes right down to it I'll figure out how far I can go on a tank and fill up when needed. It's just that I thought I may as well ask and see what others think or have exerienced.

Being told I have one gallon in my tank when the light goes off triggers me to start looking for a gas station when it lights up. But from what Ive found I can ignore it.

 

Gas light on at 1 gal is just an avg for Harleys. Mine comes on with 2+ gal left. Mine is not as accurate as others, but once you learn how yours works then just adapt to it. Harley gauges and gas lights are not as accurate as many caranufacturers in my experience

 

True. The guage is just a float i'm sure. I actually think I can use my guage as it seems damn close to being spot on. The light is more a aggravation than anything. But you are right and I will adapt.

 

My gauge is not too accurate either, but both err on the caution side, meaning when the light comes on i have 2+ gal left and when gauge shows empty I have 1 gal or so left. I basically just use tripometer, but am used to that from my old Honda.

 

The gauges are notoriously inaccurate. There are numerous threads on the topic that give some remedies that have worked for folks. I just use the odometer and start looking for gas at 180 miles. I don't know why they put gauges on if they can't calibrate them to be accurate with the shape of the tanks.

 

Yeah I've been using the odometer for years and now I'm using the trip-A.

Thanks guys.

 

Yup, another thread about this going right now. I'm currently doing a mileage run on this tank of gas. In the past, mine has come on around 170, put 4 1/2 gallons in. Stretched it to 195 once and put in 4.7 gals. Haven't been able to ride due to weather, so hope to update this weekend, so we can all show and tell!

 

screw fuel gauges and low level lights. Play it safe and use the trip meter.

 

Just doin it out of curiosity. ***** and giggles. Better than a couple other threads goin on right now.

 

My tank is spec'd as 4.7 gallons. My fuel light used to come on around 125 miles and if I stopped right away to fuel up it would take anywhere from 3 to 3.5 gallons. I stretched it one day to 165 miles just to see exactly what really was left in the tank. I put in 4.3 gallons.
Two weeks ago I had the bike dyno'd again to make up for some exhaust mods I did. My low fuel light now comes on at 171 miles. I'm a happy biker now.