Gas tank never full.

10933 Views 48 Replies 25 Participants Last post by Garouda, Dec 13, 2011

Mongoose

Discussion Starter · May 19, 2011

When I fill up i use a plastic gas can. I sit on the bike to keep it upright. I fill to the top of the bar in the hole as the manual says to... but still.... gas gauge never reads "Full"... always one bar missing. Is a full fill-up even possible?

21 - 40 of 49 Posts

madd-trapper

· #21 · May 23, 2011

Mongoose said:
ideally you don't wanna let it get that low... lol. Also.... helpful hint for everyone.... my dealer told me to use nothing less than 89 octane. Not for performance reasons but because 89 is where they start to "regulate" gas. 87 could have all sorts of contaminates and stuff. Also i read on the net that Sonoco gas has the least amount of sulfer parts per million in it (sulfer is bad for the aluminum in our motors).
PS. I filled up today (on kickstand) to about 1/4" above the bracket and got 6 bars =)

What? Maybe if you use Shady Joes Gas Company there will be stuff in the gas? Think thats why the have filters on the pumps.
Since Honda says use minimum 86 octane, thats what I use. Keep in mind that these engines are designed where their gasoline quality is much lower then ours. So you get the bonus of higher quality gasoline and new and inspected tanks at the big chain gas stations.
Heck mine even runs on old whiskey.

Boonty

· #22 · May 23, 2011

madd-trapper said:
What? Maybe if you use Shady Joes Gas Company there will be stuff in the gas? Think thats why the have filters on the pumps.

It’s true. Specially where the underground fuel tanks are old. Some of the old tanks had liners that 20 years on are starting to cause impurity’s in the fuel. I worked at a fuel distributor for about 7 years and you would be amazed at what ends up in the fuel sometimes.

madd-trapper

· #23 · May 23, 2011

Yep if they have old tanks doesnt matter what the octane is.

cappy1223

· #24 · Sep 19, 2011

I usually fill up once my odo reaches 150+. Typically i'll put 2.1 to 2.3 gals in it and am averaging roughly 77mpg.
I noticed that if you stagger your refilling, put a little in, wait, put a little in, repeat, then you can achieve 6 bars for the first 15miles or so.
I typically use 87octane but on my next fill up i'll try 89 or 90 depending on the price.

Paying about 3.31$/gal here in texas.

CBR-STL

· #25 · Sep 19, 2011

My biggest complaint about the bike, actually my only real complaint is that I just can't gas her up without tiny gas specks all over the tank. Some nozzles are more friendly than others but still impossible not to get any splash back. When I wipe it off I wonder if I am taking the wax off or if I am scratching the tank with paper towels. It looks a little swirly. But, I bought my bike to ride not stare at the tank so not that big of a deal. On a quick unrealated note. Got to take my friends new Griso out for a ride Saturday. All kinds of torque, great handling, ergos almost identical to the cbr250 It was a real blast. Believe it or not I was very happy to get back on my bike. I am convinced it is more fun than anything I have ridden.

Mongoose

Discussion Starter · #26 · Sep 19, 2011

CBR-STL said:
My biggest complaint about the bike, actually my only real complaint is that I just can't gas her up without tiny gas specks all over the tank. Some nozzles are more friendly than others but still impossible not to get any splash back. When I wipe it off I wonder if I am taking the wax off or if I am scratching the tank with paper towels. It looks a little swirly. But, I bought my bike to ride not stare at the tank so not that big of a deal. On a quick unrealated note. Got to take my friends new Griso out for a ride Saturday. All kinds of torque, great handling, ergos almost identical to the cbr250 It was a real blast. Believe it or not I was very happy to get back on my bike. I am convinced it is more fun than anything I have ridden.

I have filled my bike at the pump a total of 2 times since i bought it for this very reason. Do yourself a favor.... buy a 2 or 5 gallon blitz gas can. That way you can slowly fill with no splashing. I also use Startron ethanol treatment so i just dump it in the gas can b4 i fill it so i have "treated" gas standing by. Just food for thought =]

250 Tom

· #27 · Sep 20, 2011

I fill up and only show 5 bars. If I sit on the bike and fill it all the way up I sometimes will get 6 bars but a few miles down the road and it drops back down to 5 so its not calibrated right. Still fighting with those damm mode buttons to.

ptcary

· #28 · Sep 20, 2011 (Edited)

Mongoose said:
I have filled my bike at the pump a total of 2 times since i bought it for this very reason. Do yourself a favor.... buy a 2 or 5 gallon blitz gas can. That way you can slowly fill with no splashing. I also use Startron ethanol treatment so i just dump it in the gas can b4 i fill it so i have "treated" gas standing by. Just food for thought =]

Thank you Mongoose! I was wondering how I was gonna ride to the gas station with that bottle of Startron on me somewhere and how I was gonna pour it into the tank before filling up.

The local Aprilia dealer sells the mini bottles of Startron, I might buy one and just refill it from the bigger bottle; but I like your method better!

Here they are for reference $6.99

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bungie4

· #29 · Sep 20, 2011

Ya, aren't those little mode/reset button a bitch! Mine has gotten better with use but still... My other peeve with this bike is that sheet metal dealie directly below the filler cup. Whoever thought that one was a good idea has never ridden, or fueled, a bike even once.

My last fill up, before the reserve started flashing, I managed to squeeze in 10 liters. Took a little doing though. Squirt, bump the bike to help it digest it, then squirt in some more. I think I've gone about 60km since and it's STILL showing 6 bars.

Aargee

· #30 · Sep 20, 2011

I've completed over 6000 mi & my observation is...
1. 6 bars - when its to the brim (as mentioned in the owner's manual)
2. 5 bars - observed after 18-20 mi (30 Kms)
3. 4 bars - starts from 45 mi (70 Kms)
4. 3 bars - starts from 87 mi (140 Kms)
5. 2 bars - usually starts from 112 mi (180 Kms but goes upto 196 Kms)
6. 1 bar - usually starts after 137 mi (220 Kms but goes upto 245 Kms)

When the bar starts blinking its usually 156 mi (250 Kms)

stumps

· #31 · Sep 20, 2011

The fill limit guide plate is slanted down at the front of the tank so I fill mine till the rear side of the plate is just covered. That is the only way I get the 'elusive' 6th bar....albeit not for very long. If I filled it to only the front of the plate being covered...5 bars only. But what's in a gauge...we are all still getting some awesome economy! Cop that Ninja 250s

Moldy_Dog

· #32 · Sep 20, 2011

I found the best way to fill with the pump is to get off the bike and set it on its sidestand. Then I pump slowly to avoid the splashing, and I just rest the pump nozzle on the bar in the hole. I just fill until the pump automatically cuts off, usually when the fuel covers half of the plate. I have gotten 6 bars every time I have done this. Even pumping slowly, 3 gallons goes by quickly.

CBR-STL

· #33 · Sep 20, 2011

Not a bad idea Mongoose. Just might have to try this!

Mongoose

Discussion Starter · #34 · Sep 20, 2011

Has anyone compared the Startron treatment to the Lucas? I almost wanna say i got better MPG with the lucas... it's an older more reputable brand I think. I will run a full tank and keep track of the MPG on each brand and report back, as well as how smooth it runs and so on.

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llory

· #35 · Sep 20, 2011

Moldy_Dog said:
I found the best way to fill with the pump is to get off the bike and set it on its sidestand. Then I pump slowly to avoid the splashing, and I just rest the pump nozzle on the bar in the hole. I just fill until the pump automatically cuts off, usually when the fuel covers half of the plate. I have gotten 6 bars every time I have done this. Even pumping slowly, 3 gallons goes by quickly.

I normally stay on the bike to keep it leveled as I pump. I learned a long time ago while filling up a 1 gallon can that the pumps at my preferred gas station pump way fast and will make a mess on cans and small tanks so I have made it a habit to squeeze the nozzle up to half way at most to pump slowly. I have been able to consistently get 6 bars and I have never had gas splash all over the tank.

naaim

· #36 · Sep 21, 2011

filled it RM20 every time the gauge blinked, 10.526L to be exact. here in malaysia, fuel price for RON95 is fixed at rm1.90. 10.526L = 5 bars.

CBR-STL

· #37 · Sep 21, 2011

Gas doesn't splash all over the tank, but if you are in the right light you can see tiny dropplets spraying all over the place. Pumping with the handle half squeezed barely helps. I've tried putting it in at different spots and angles. It doesn't help that you have to use one hand to hold the corrigated plastic thing back and the nozzle with the other. Of, course the pump doesn't like this so it is constantly trying to turn off too which means you have to restart it (splash). I do think that this is mostly the fault of the environmetally correct pumps we have here. I can see where a normal pump that you can slowly squeeze would be much easier to control. But these newer pumps are a PAIN!

llory

· #38 · Sep 21, 2011

CBR-STL said:
Gas doesn't splash all over the tank, but if you are in the right light you can see tiny dropplets spraying all over the place. Pumping with the handle half squeezed barely helps. I've tried putting it in at different spots and angles. It doesn't help that you have to use one hand to hold the corrigated plastic thing back and the nozzle with the other. Of, course the pump doesn't like this so it is constantly trying to turn off too which means you have to restart it (splash). I do think that this is mostly the fault of the environmetally correct pumps we have here. I can see where a normal pump that you can slowly squeeze would be much easier to control. But these newer pumps are a PAIN!

Yeah none of the gas pumps where I live have the plastic cover that others have mentioned from different areas in the country. It seems like the diesel pumps do though. I'll have to see if I'm able to notice those tiny droplets you speak of next time I pump. I'm now considering carrying an extra shop towel under the rear seat with a hole in the center that's big enough to cover the tank while fueling up.

CBR-STL

· #39 · Sep 21, 2011

Good idea llory. I might just poke a hole in one of the paper towels supplied and use it like a tank cond...mmm...well you get the idea. I know other people seem to do it but, I don't want to carry rags with any kind of petroleum around for safety reasons and don't want to contaminate wallet, phone or whatever I'm keeping under the seat. Anyway it keeps the gas off the wax and I don't put swirl marks in the tank rubbing it with abrasive paper towels.

naaim

· #40 · Sep 22, 2011

yup, as illorry sed, i always hv a rag cloth handy, i use it to cover the gaps, with my left hand. right hand holding the fuel gun.. & i always fill my bikes standing up, riding position.

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