1100 Fuel Tank Capacity?

[adlowe]

Everywhere I check, the capacity of my fuel tank is 4.2 U.S. gallons with 0.6 U.S. gallons in reserve. The shop manual is a bit more specific, listing 4.17 U.S. gallons for the total and 0.58 U.S. gallons for the reserve.

That means when I get to reserve, I should be able to pull into a gas station right away and put in 3.59 gallons. But that never happens. If I fuel up right after hitting reserve, I generally can only squeeze (and I mean squeeze) in 3.2 to 3.3 gallons. (It's about a half gallon less than that if I use a McCuff.) So I'm making about 10% more fuel stops then I should need to make.

Is this consistent for 1100 owners?

Has anyone got a technique for squeezing in more fuel?

[chicago]

It's that neck in the tank that keeps you from getting full capacity. I believe this is so that when the gas warms up and expands, it doesn't leak out all over the paint (and your lap).

[Gunnuts]

Here's all you need.

[HaChayalBoded]

Originally Posted by adlowe

Everywhere I check, the capacity of my fuel tank is 4.2 U.S. gallons with 0.6 U.S. gallons in reserve. The shop manual is a bit more specific, listing 4.17 U.S. gallons for the total and 0.58 U.S. gallons for the reserve.

That means when I get to reserve, I should be able to pull into a gas station right away and put in 3.59 gallons. But that never happens. If I fuel up right after hitting reserve, I generally can only squeeze (and I mean squeeze) in 3.2 to 3.3 gallons. (It's about a half gallon less than that if I use a McCuff.) So I'm making about 10% more fuel stops then I should need to make.

Is this consistent for 1100 owners?

Has anyone got a technique for squeezing in more fuel?

Fuel capacity if you were able to utilize every inch of the inside of the tank is 4.3, but you can't so you get 4.2 and change. You go into reserve at anywhere from 3.2-3.4 (every petcock I've taken apart had a slightly different height petcock tube, which accounts for the slight change in capacity to reserve).

I get fuel a few minutes after reserve and also squeeze in around 3.4 gallons, if I get fuel right as I hit reserve it's 3.2. That happens at right around the 120 mile mark.

You have 30 miles exactly to get fuel once you get into reserve. Wanna know how I know the EXACT amount of mileage?

I ran out of gas twice in the middle of nowhere. One time after going into reserve I prayed and prayed for a gas station, there was none, as I was going up a hill the bike sputtered and quit on me. I put it in neutral and managed to coast up the hill, at the top I noticed a gas station on the center meridian of the highway. The bikes enertia was enough to get me most of the way through the entrance to the gas station, I had to walk it about 50 yards to the pump. Bike took in 4.28 gallons and the carbs and lines were completely dry at the time. Took a good 5 minutes of cranking to get the fuel into the carbs and have her start.

Another time, same trip, this time on the way back I was getting nervous and we stopped for fuel. My speedo was out during this trip btw which is why this happened. Anyway I put in 4.23 and asked my friend how many miles we had done. We did 150 miles even and I had .05 gallons remaining, probably completely empty in the tank and was running on what was left in the lines and carbs.

So since I routinely go into reserve at 120, getting to 150 with such little fuel left is how I know you have exactly 30 miles remaining to get your ass to a gas station.


BTW my numbers are for an ACE T which is the heaviest 1100 out there, these numbers are also loaded for road trips and I'm hightailing it at around 85-90mph the whole time.

The standard ACE is considerably lighter and you are probably getting a few mpg more than I am. I get between 36-38mpg

[jpr1968]

I think you're over thinking the whole thing. Just go out and ride. It's more likely that the gas pumps are not calibrated(just another way to ripoff drivers).

[h13man]

Originally Posted by adlowe

Everywhere I check, the capacity of my fuel tank is 4.2 U.S. gallons with 0.6 U.S. gallons in reserve. The shop manual is a bit more specific, listing 4.17 U.S. gallons for the total and 0.58 U.S. gallons for the reserve.

That means when I get to reserve, I should be able to pull into a gas station right away and put in 3.59 gallons. But that never happens. If I fuel up right after hitting reserve, I generally can only squeeze (and I mean squeeze) in 3.2 to 3.3 gallons. (It's about a half gallon less than that if I use a McCuff.) So I'm making about 10% more fuel stops then I should need to make.

Is this consistent for 1100 owners?

Has anyone got a technique for squeezing in more fuel?

Mine is the same way @ 3.2 -3.3 gal. safely filling it on the sidestand. @ 130 mi.+, I'm ready to get off anyway if not before. I went 160 mi. on a tank a while back w/o pushing.

[adlowe]

Originally Posted by h13man

Mine is the same way @ 3.2 -3.3 gal. safely filling it on the sidestand. @ 130 mi.+, I'm ready to get off anyway if not before. I went 160 mi. on a tank a while back w/o pushing.

I've been getting 150+ on "normal" runs and happy with that range. But on high-speed (over 75 MPH) runs I'd like to get a bit farther.

And it just irritated the heck out of me on Tuesday to run 20 miles on reserve and only be able to get 3.8 gallons into my 4.2 gallon tank. If I'd tried to go another 5 miles I would have probably run dry.

Time to start sharpening the scratch awl...

[Bubba1954]

I always got over 3.5 gallaons in mine and that was before hitting the reserve. I always filled it while I stratled the bike to keep it perfectly level and I would fill it until the gas would just get past the lip of the neck.

I know that cemetrically the tank looks better with the filler in the middle but it would be much more pratical to have it positioned on the right side like other cruisers and the earlier 1100's had.

[adlowe]

Originally Posted by Bubba1954

I always got over 3.5 gallaons in mine and that was before hitting the reserve. I always filled it while I stratled the bike to keep it perfectly level and I would fill it until the gas would just get past the lip of the neck.

And your nuts haven't burst into flames yet?

[brashrube]

Damn am I that old to remember that reserve was for getting to the Sweet spot with your Girl and telling her you've run out of gas.
I hit 150 on my speedometer and we're stuck here for a while. Then afterwards; I Finally remember I got (you say Vt1100C 0.6 Gal US in reserve) something in reserve. Which could be taken two ways depending on how good you were the first time! But in rteality you got maybe 18 miles tops!!!

But really if your Vt11000c is not getting to 145 before reserve your in need a of a good tune or Carb clean. My earliest Reserve hit was 137 mi on suspicious gasoline. Good 87(10% ethenol) in Colorado with Chevron Cleaner( not an actor) should get 150 with stock exhaust drilled and punched. I have made 170 mi with a gas can ready.