The member photo gallery is now integrated and live!!  All user albums and pictures have been ported from old gallery.


To register send an e-mail to admin@bmwr65.org and provide your location and desired user name.

Author Topic: Fuel tank capacity and reserve  (Read 1618 times)

ambrose78

  • Guest
Fuel tank capacity and reserve
« on: July 24, 2009, 10:47:25 PM »
I've read somewhere that the tank capacity is 22l including the reserve. The same article also said reserve is about 2 litres

Yesterday after hitting reserve and filling up about 7km later, I could only put in a smidge over 18l until the fuel was at the bottom of the filler neck.

Does this mean My one should have about a 4 litre reserve or is it missing some capacity?

Is filling it to the bottom of the neck the right thing to do?

Offline beemer

  • Lives in Foothills of Mt. Olympus
  • **
  • Posts: 320
  • The Red Tomato!!!
Re: Fuel tank capacity and reserve
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2009, 03:52:21 AM »
I never fill up that much,but the most important thing is to make sure you have a overflow pipe connected,you don't want fuel on a hot engine!!! :'(

Offline Motu

  • Lives in Foothills of Mt. Olympus
  • **
  • Posts: 380
  • My Cow is my friend! ;)
Re: Fuel tank capacity and reserve
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2009, 04:11:20 AM »
Same as my Mono - I just hope I've got 4 litres in reserve.

Offline Bob_Roller

  • Global Moderator
  • Mt. Olympus Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 9124
  • -7 hours GMT
Re: Fuel tank capacity and reserve
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2009, 07:59:05 AM »
There's about .5 gallons (2-ish liters ) that is 'unusable', due to no fuel tap on the right side of the tank, like the larger bikes .

You can get that fuel if you elevate the front wheel, then lean the bike over to the left .

Good trick to know, if you ever get into a low fuel situation, and no re-filling stations nearby .
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline Barry

  • Mt. Olympus Resident
  • ****
  • Posts: 5145
Re: Fuel tank capacity and reserve
« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2009, 12:41:49 PM »
I've never quite got 18 L in after running on reserve. That's Filling up to the bottom of the neck which I think is correct as the fuel needs some room to expand.

Riders Handbook says 22L inc 2L reserve. The initial 2L reserve is not far out as I've managed to use it up after 25 miles but as Bob Roller says there is more on the RH side of the tank which got me out of trouble.

You can never use every last drop in the tank at least with my petrol tap which has a short and long tube.  Even on reserve the short tube is a little above the bottom of the tank to stop any sediment being washed into the carbs.
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45

ambrose78

  • Guest
Re: Fuel tank capacity and reserve
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2009, 09:20:38 PM »
Thanks for the responses.

Yep hooked up an overflow tube that runs down in front of the rear wheel.

hmm mono's have the same capacity - interesting.

So the bike has a 0.5G reserve reserve! That could well be handy in a tight situation Is it easy to put a second tap in? alternatively I suppose one could lift the tank and tilt it to get hte extra.

So the practical capacity of the tank - 20l is. Which gives the bikes practical 330-360km to reserve and an additional 30-40km is range on reserve. and another  30-40kms on reserve reserve.

Offline Justin B.

  • Administrator
  • Mt. Olympus Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 5983
  • I love my Beemers
Re: Fuel tank capacity and reserve
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2009, 12:03:19 AM »
The mono should have an almost 1 gallon larger tank, at least that's what I've always thought...
Justin B.

2004 BMW R1150RT
1981 R100RT - Summer bike, NEKKID!!!

Offline Motu

  • Lives in Foothills of Mt. Olympus
  • **
  • Posts: 380
  • My Cow is my friend! ;)
Re: Fuel tank capacity and reserve
« Reply #7 on: July 26, 2009, 01:52:42 AM »
Monos are 22 litres with twin taps.

Altritter

  • Guest
Re: Fuel tank capacity and reserve
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2009, 10:06:24 PM »
 i think the US-version of the Owners' Handbook says 4.8 US gallons (18.24 liters @3.8 liters/gallon), with a .5 gallon reserve. (I'm not positive because my handbook is under the seat of the bike, which is having a physical examination at the moment.) Query: Does that mean plus the reserve, or including the reserve?

On the question of availability of the reserve: I haven't experienced the problem yet, because I haven't let my fuel get low enough to require the reserve. I was under the impression that this is a problem only when one mistakenly rides on reserve first. Am I mistaken?