4.6 gal without reserve? Possible?

[Davemn]

I filled up this morning and it took 4.6 gallons. I was NOT on reserve. I dont know how this is possible. Is it maybe a problem with my petcock (oem)? Bike is a 98 standard.

[Hoser]

Yes.  Either do the cover set rebuild or replace it with a pingel, they have a manual petcock or a vacumn model, your choice.  Hoser

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Honda tanks are usually a little over the size that they state. If you filled her up to the max it is possible to get that much in there without hitting reserve. I've put 6.2 or 6.3 in my I/S and still not be on reserve.

[Davemn]

Yep ok, I filled her up pretty good this morning. Maybe I will do the Pingle as a precaution anyway. Sounds like the right thing to do.

[9Ball]

4.6 gallons isn't alarming.....6.4 might be.

Don't trust the pump reading to be an accurate indication....they can be manipulated.

[X Ring]

Yep ok, I filled her up pretty good this morning. Maybe I will do the Pingle as a precaution anyway. Sounds like the right thing to do.

Best price I've found for a manual Pingel is Eastern Performance.  $90 and free shipping.  http://www.easternperformance.com/products.php?product=Pingel-Hex-Chrome-90-Degree-Forward-Petcock-for-Harley

Marty

[gordonv]

Once doesn't make a pattern (I forget the saying). If it happens over and over again, then you might have an issue.

The other thing to do, if you know your mileage/tank, is to run it down a little lower to empty, while you're close to home/gas, or carry a gal can of gas with you. This is to insure that you are into the reserve area of you petcock. Run to empty even.

[Gryphon Rider]

Yes.  Either do the cover set rebuild or replace it with a pingel, they have a manual petcock or a vacumn model, your choice.  Hoser

Cover set parts have nothing to do with the reserve function.  They only affect the vacuum turn on function.

[Davemn]

I am thinking I might take my 6 gallon gas can and fill it with the same pump. I have never put that much gas in before with or without being on reserve. Still puzzled by this.

[Willow]

I normally put in 4.2 when on the edge of reserve.  If you were determined you could easily get in 4.6.  The pump wouldn't have to be off much to measure 4.6 when it was really 4.3 or 4.4, especially if you did a lot of short bursts to get to the top.

Like someone else suggested, find an opportunity to safely run it to the bottom.  Check when it hits reserve and when it's empty.  My guess is you're just fine.

[John Schmidt]

I'm with Willow on this. There have been times I've filled to the same spot on the neck and the pump readings varied by a couple tenths from one station to the next . I have an I/S tank on my Tourer which is supposed to be a 6.9 gal. unit. Yet, there has been a couple times I've actually pumped slightly over 7 gals.(per the pump) and the bike was still running fine, although it was on reserve at the time. Once, when bone dry and sitting on a box in approx. the same attitude as when installed, I actually was able to pour in a measure 7.3 gals., so it appears Honda understates the capacity somewhat. I can only assume the Std. and Tourer tank is no different...understated.

[Red Diamond]

If you feel there is problem with the  petcock because of the differences in the amount of gas you put in the tank each time you fill, you might want to load up with Pingles also. Sometimes you will have more time on your hands to diddle around with the gas nozzle to put in more fuel. Other times you may not have that much time, i.e riding with a group. IMHO, that does not indicate a problem with the petcock. My .02 worth.

[Davemn]

I think I may have solved this problem. When I filled up on Tuesday I recall the bike being in a very upright position. This is due to the slope of the cement on this particular pump. I remember kinda testing to make sure the bike wasnt going to tip over the other direction. Normally the bike leans way over toward the pump as you all may know. So, its is plausable that the upright position allowed me to fill more than usual. Plus I did fill it just to the bottom of the filler neck.

[gordonv]

That's what you do when you're on a long drive and don't know when your next fill is, sit on the bike and stand it up and fill while you're on it to the top.

This is why I said just once doesn't mean anything.

[Jess Tolbirt]

yep normally 4.2 gals at reserve and one gallon left,,,when you hit reserve and dont know where the next stop is i suggest you SLOW DOWN!!!!running 50mph will get you about 45 more miles,,running 70 will get you about 35 miles...

[Ferris Leets]

No fond of the idea of sitting on the bike during fuel up.  Twice I've seen bikes catch fire at the pump.  I don't need to get the extra 4 oz. in that bad.

[MarkT]

A few years back there was a scandal of gas stations installing pirate circuit boards with selectable and radio-controlled theft from the customers.  They also had an option, that exactly five gallons - or close to it - was never scammed because that was the only size metering tank the weights and measures agents used.  And they would show up in the same vehicles - it was obvious from a distance who they were.  Otherwise - the crook inside would hit the button on the garage door opener control, and you'd get ripped off.  There was one station in particular - a Phillips66 - right next to my office at Arapahoe and I-25 at the south end of the Denver Tech Center - that when I caught them stealing, which was several times, it always calculated to 33.3% - I kept careful records.  I really wanted to burn them.  Before I had my Interstate tank, one time I was expecting to hit reserve any second, but didn't.  At this time, my petcock was working properly.  The pump charged me for 5.8 gallons.  Could not have been more than 4.4.  And the tank is supposed to hold 5.3, total.  I contacted the weights and measures people - they said it was very hard to catch them.  The scandal was on the news.  Later I sic'd Tom Martino - radio crusader, now on TV - on that same station because their car wash ran into my parked explorer and ripped the roof rack and mirror off, damaged the sheet metal to about $1000 - and they refused to pay because they had a sign that said "not responsible."   They paid - and the Indian manager was no longer not long after that.  Wrong attitude, not to mention being a crook.  I still have a copy of the on-air interview.

[gordonv]

No fond of the idea of sitting on the bike during fuel up.  Twice I've seen bikes catch fire at the pump.  I don't need to get the extra 4 oz. in that bad.

Not my idea either, but I do know some who do it. I need to get off the bike and stretch a little. Always vacate the vehicle while fueling, an old military habit, but I don't make the passengers do it. How many times have you seen a fuel fire? (bad statement, seems you've seen it twice, but I think that is very rare, how about others?).

I was thinking a little more of a person on an Iron Butt ride, where time matters, even on a fill up, both toping the tank, and doing it while seated.