Does the light flash ?

[Huzo]

Last week I did a ride on my '07 Norge, just a couple of things.
The temp was 31 deg C ambient and no wind.
Almost no hills to speak of, but here's the thing..
My averager gave a reading of 4.8 L/100 k which I am more than happy with, I was on 100 kph for 120 k's then 110 kph for next 380 k's.
But @ 4.8 L/100k's, I SHOULD have run out @ 480 k's.
I filled up upon departure and got to Tarcutta which is 498 k's and rode up the hill for 1 k then back.
At EXACTLY 500 k's I filled up and the Norge took 21.8 litres.
Now IF I had consumed 4.0 L/100 k then I would have needed 20.0 litres, given that I consumed 21.8, that's 10% more, so my REAL  consumption was 4+0.4= 4.4 L/100 k
Is it conceivable that the averager is that inaccurate or am I making a fundamental error ?
Also.
The yellow fuel warning came on 60 k's before Tarcutta, (ie @ 440 k's), I thought I was rooted and would run out for sure but not so.
Question...
Will the yellow light begin to flash or will it remain solid yellow 'till the end. I'm thinking of putting a 5 litre container in the top box and running it out one day to find out.

[johnk]

I've only done this check in a couple of cars that claim to tell you your mileage per tank but I've found that they often don't match up with the how many miles did I just drive/gallons I just put in method.
The other issue is how accurate your odometer is.

johnk

[Kiwi_Roy]

4.8L/100 (49 miles / USg) is remarkable for a large bike like the Norge IMHO
You are getting even better which is amazing.

I think the ECU calculates the rate by injector open time / speed, it doesn't have any way of actually measuring the volume, It wont take into account fuel pressure which is a square root relationship.
I think the biggest single factor on fuel consumption is the rider, you must be doing something right.

I don't see anything that will make the light flash, once it drops below the operating point of the thermistor.

[Wayne Orwig]

The light on my 2009 Stelvio was based on the dashboard calculation. The dashboard based that off of the level sensors. In other words, the sensors gave the dash an idea on the fuel level, then the dash would calculator fuel consumed and light the bars and the yellow light based on that. So the dash could do whatever it wanted as far as blinking the light or not.
But, I ran it out twice, since I carried a small fuel bottle. The light never blinked or anything.

[tris]

I THINK that on my B11

a) It tends to flash on and off a bit but due to the surge in the tank
b) Once the light comes on steady it shows the mileage you do after that point - NOT how far you can go be for it all ends in tears

[Huzo]

4.8L/100 (49 miles / USg) is remarkable for a large bike like the Norge IMHO
You are getting even better which is amazing.

I think the ECU calculates the rate by injector open time / speed, it doesn't have any way of actually measuring the volume, It wont take into account fuel pressure which is a square root relationship.
I think the biggest single factor on fuel consumption is the rider, you must be doing something right.

I don't see anything that will make the light flash, once it drops below the operating point of the thermistor.

It's all down to Beetle and Roper
I know I can get 500 k to a tank @ 90-100 kph.
460 to dry @ 120-130. At realistic hwy speeds, the light will come on @ 400 so you can safely do another 50 k's @ 110-120, but at those speeds you'd be walking in another 20 k's.

[Kiwi Dave]

Too many assumptions.

1.  The dash implies accuracy that is not real.

2.  Have you ever measured the capacity of the tank after you've spluttered to a stop?  This is the real capacity of your tank, not what it takes to fill an empty tank.

3.  Consumption will vary, especially with ambient temperature and to a lesser extend how active your right hand is.  Also elevation plays a significant influence.

4.  Tyre diameter(s) will vary with temperature and wear.

5.  All bets are off if you have a power commander or reflashed ECU.

I've run out of gas on numerous occasions before I realized that this ain't an exact science.  Unfortunately, doesn't stop me trying again; slow learner!

[rodekyll]

I'd say the speedometer is off by 10%.  Kiwi Dave has the right idea -- forget the actual mileage stuff and make your notes according to the reported distance (even if it's 10% wrong it will be consistent) and observed fuel consumption.  The idiot light is nice, but it's named its name for a reason.  Me, I don't pay attention to the low fuel light.  I plan my fuel stops by miles ridden, with respect to the FAA.

[piecemealadventurer]

It's all down to Beetle and Roper
I know I can get 500 k to a tank @ 90-100 kph.
460 to dry @ 120-130. At realistic hwy speeds, the light will come on @ 400 so you can safely do another 50 k's @ 110-120, but at those speeds you'd be walking in another 20 k's.

I think I will have to change the tuning set up on my breva as I get nothing like that fuel economy. Best I've ever got was 420km to a tank. And that was a heart in mouth moment as I tried to find a petrol station in North West NSW. My breva warning light starts a steady flash when down to the last couple of litres. Not a place I would recommend reaching

Sent from my F8131 using Tapatalk

[beetle]

 :1: what Kiwi Dave said.

I use a very simple algorithm: Light come on -> find fuel dispensary soonest

Also, stop showing off with your 500km per tank. 
My light comes on around 215 on a cruise, and I reckon I'd be bone dry by 260.


 

[bad Chad]

I can't really make sense of your volumes because they are proper metric, and my mind won't work that way at the moment. 

My 07 B1100 has a very accurate speedo, so I doubt yours is off by much.  Yet I never get accurate readings from the computer for MPG/L.  It always reads low, but if I understand it you got something close to 50mpg US, that's really good, better than I have ever got.

[Huzo]

I'd say the speedometer is off by 10%.  Kiwi Dave has the right idea -- forget the actual mileage stuff and make your notes according to the reported distance (even if it's 10% wrong it will be consistent) and observed fuel consumption.  The idiot light is nice, but it's named its name for a reason.  Me, I don't pay attention to the low fuel light.  I plan my fuel stops by miles ridden, with respect to the FAA.

I have checked it many times against the GPS RK, and it's very close, but I won't argue about it with decent people.

[Huzo]

Too many assumptions.

1.  The dash implies accuracy that is not real.

2.  Have you ever measured the capacity of the tank after you've spluttered to a stop?  This is the real capacity of your tank, not what it takes to fill an empty tank.

3.  Consumption will vary, especially with ambient temperature and to a lesser extend how active your right hand is.  Also elevation plays a significant influence.

4.  Tyre diameter(s) will vary with temperature and wear.

5.  All bets are off if you have a power commander or reflashed ECU.

I've run out of gas on numerous occasions before I realized that this ain't an exact science.  Unfortunately, doesn't stop me trying again; slow learner!

It's more out of interest than anything else mate.
Thing is, my odometer was spot on with the GPS and I did 500.00 km and put 21.2 (actually not 21.8) so it's kind of indisputable.

[Huzo]

:1: what Kiwi Dave said.

I use a very simple algorithm: Light come on -> find fuel dispensary soonest

Also, stop showing off with your 500km per tank. 
My light comes on around 215 on a cruise, and I reckon I'd be bone dry by 260.


 

No chance Mark, it's fabulous, I know it, and I'm happy as hell with it ...!

[Huzo]

I THINK that on my B11

a) It tends to flash on and off a bit but due to the surge in the tank
b) Once the light comes on steady it shows the mileage you do after that point - NOT how far you can go be for it all ends in tears

My bike is the same as your part b

[Huzo]

Too many assumptions.

1.  The dash implies accuracy that is not real.

2.  Have you ever measured the capacity of the tank after you've spluttered to a stop?  This is the real capacity of your tank, not what it takes to fill an empty tank.

3.  Consumption will vary, especially with ambient temperature and to a lesser extend how active your right hand is.  Also elevation plays a significant influence.

4.  Tyre diameter(s) will vary with temperature and wear.

5.  All bets are off if you have a power commander or reflashed ECU.

I've run out of gas on numerous occasions before I realized that this ain't an exact science.  Unfortunately, doesn't stop me trying again; slow learner!

Well yes..
But on point #2.
It wouldn't matter if I had a 40 litre tank, I still only burned 21.2 litres (sorry not 21.8) for 500 km on the GPS which checks out against the odometer.
Why anyone would dick around with any other map has got me rooted !

[Huzo]

:1: what Kiwi Dave said.

I use a very simple algorithm: Light come on -> find fuel dispensary soonest

Also, stop showing off with your 500km per tank. 
My light comes on around 215 on a cruise, and I reckon I'd be bone dry by 260.


 

Locomotives always were thirsty bastards..

[Huzo]

I can't really make sense of your volumes because they are proper metric, and my mind won't work that way at the moment. 

My 07 B1100 has a very accurate speedo, so I doubt yours is off by much.  Yet I never get accurate readings from the computer for MPG/L.  It always reads low, but if I understand it you got something close to 50mpg US, that's really good, better than I have ever got.

Admittedly the conditions were ideal.
Heading off tomorrow on exactly the same trip, so will see what happens this time.

[RinkRat II]

  Huzo,
   After extensive searching the old Piaggio and Guzzi archives I came across this in their recipe section between Pasta and Prosciutto di Palma,
      " The petrol indicator will flash proportionately to the walking distance of the petrol station you just passed"

        Your welcome
          Paul B

[Mackers]

I'm in awe, Huzo.  My Breva 1100 has improved from 5.4L/100km to 4.8L/100 (dashboard readout) since Roper put Beetle's 1200 map on it.  And I can verify the change by mental maths at the pump and the change in the fuel gauge needle.  But I've bailed out at 373kms, though the pump indicated that there was plenty of fuel left in the tank.

[Huzo]

I'm in awe, Huzo.  My Breva 1100 has improved from 5.4L/100km to 4.8L/100 (dashboard readout) since Roper put Beetle's 1200 map on it.  And I can verify the change by mental maths at the pump and the change in the fuel gauge needle.  But I've bailed out at 373kms, though the pump indicated that there was plenty of fuel left in the tank.

Hmmm.
There may be a dose of reality coming my way with a side dish of humble pie.
The wind is in the North @ around 15 kts so will be quartering or on the nose the whole way.
I will give an honest report but it won't be as fabulous. I'll stick to the same speeds though and find out.
Leaving now so I'll know by tonite.

[piecemealadventurer]

So that was the secret a following wind and you set a spinnaker off the front of the norge for down wind lol

Sent from my F8131 using Tapatalk

[Huzo]

So that was the secret a following wind and you set a spinnaker off the front of the norge for down wind lol

Sent from my F8131 using Tapatalk

Har !!!!  As you say Cap'n  Sir !
But still a fine ship she be !!!

[Huzo]

I still don't get it..
The odometer is within 1% of the GPS accuracy wise.
19.02 litres for 421 k = 4.5 l/100 k and the averager shows 5.1 l/100 k
If it was 5.1 l/100 k, then 19.02 litres would have only taken me 373 k

[tris]

A couple of thoughts

a) If my maths are correct your L/100k are within 10%-15% of each other - maybe its just as accurate as its going to be

b) You need to be careful with distances on GPS systems. I understand that they calculate distance using an algorithm that combines triangles, so the distance is a function of how accurately the triangles match the road traveled. A mate of mine got stung by HMRC (Taxman) here for tax on mileage traveled in his 1 man business as he used GPS distances and it didn't match the true distance. He EVENTUALLY discovered that was the reason, but only after HMRC had hit the business with a bill that made it not worth continuing

[beetle]

Huzo, stop it. Trying to figure out the dash fuel calcumalation will be your undoing. This way madness lies.

[PJPR01]

Maybe you had a tail wind on the way back and a head wind on the way out...that could account for your mileage!

It's fun to get lost in the decimals, but not to drive yourself crazy!!

[giusto]

Holy cow! you guys down under stay up late...wait what.....never mind

fun thread to read...I would have caved and started thinking about food

Gday mates

[Huzo]

Huzo, stop it. Trying to figure out the dash fuel calcumalation will be your undoing. This way madness lies.

if you say so I tend to believe it! Reckon I've had enough.
I'll retire with my candle and egg nog and dream of riding past servos.
Beauty !

[Huzo]

Hmmm...
I can hear it now
"Huzo, ticket number 1200 is ready for collection
A main meal of reality (with a side dish of humble pie..)" 

See what happened was, I took another trip to Emerald City to deliver some goods and on the way back gave my Norge a bit of a "touch up" for 400 k's into a fairly indecent headwind.
This is what happenened.


<br



 405 km for 20.6 litres.
That's 5.1 litres/100 k so not quite the fabulous result that I've been spruiking ad nauseum but in my defence, (which I may need), speeds were the type that attract a fairly serious fine and as mentioned a headwind of at least 15 kts.
Oh and while we're at it, the difference between the stated consumption rate on the averager compared to the actual.
5.4 indicated versus 5.1 actual.
The odometer reads almost exactly with the GPS by the way..