Premature Fuel light
 

ok so the last two or three time i have fuel up its cost me about £11 (1.13p a litter) i fueled up from when the light comes on so am i right in thinking the SV has a 17 litter tank ? because i seem to be filling up about 9-10 litter's at a time (to the brim) so that would suggest the fuel light is coming on with 7 litter's of fuel still in the tank that seems wayyy to much to me, i would expect 3 litter's or so to be left when the light comes on (my old bike was 4 litter and had a 15 litter tank)

or is this normal and i just need to run it in to the light more ?

K3 naked

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

I thought the light is supposed to come on with 5L remaining?

But..yeah it does seem premature if you can only squeeze £11 in.

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

i tend to get 150-170 miles to the light on a k4'..normally 2 up, and i dont hang around;)...

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

^ how tell me your secret lol i usually get about 80Miles to £11 (when giving it some)

but on the MWay its about 160miles before the light when i first got the bike but i seem to be filling it up less EG £11 it used to be about £14 from the light when fuel was cheaper so no idea whats going on with the fuel light :S

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

make sure ur tyres are at right pressure, ur chain is well adjusted and lubed, air filter is clean...all these can affect mileage'..as for giving it some, i normally ride with 1000-1400cc bikes, we dont hang around and i stll get 130-40 min to light..;)

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

^ well i do know my air filter is in a right mess and the oil and filter were desperate (the bloke i lied about putting new oil and filter on by the looks of the oil and filter that came off the bike)

new oil is in and oil filter the air filter i ordered went missing in the post as well as the rubber grease that i ordered so have another coming

tire's are at the correct pressure but will check again to make sure, exhaust has been sealed properly again as of today, e may have been a good chance the front brakes were binding as well but have been striped and cleaned with new pads just awaiting rubber grease

chain is well lubed but never looks it after one ride, tension looks fine but will check again with some one sitting on the bike this time

bike runs about 80c up to 90c in traffic (coolant is toped up in rad and rez)

new wheel bearings in the front rears are fine

so from that lot my also low mileage per litter could be down to oil ,breaks and/or air filter

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

Sounds like it's the sensor, mine often comes on, then goes off again for a bit.

£11 will get you around 9l, maybe a bit more. That is quite a bit for 80mi.
Im assuming the other chap is more progressive with the throttle and maybe changes up earlier than you. Check your brakes and sort out the air filter and anything else, but style of riding makes a massive difference to economy.

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

as i said, i ride with alot of bigg cc bikes, zzr1400, busa's blades, so dont hang around...changing up at 8-9k mostly and i still get 130 to light;)...best ive seen 2 up is 174 to light

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

Personally I'd be inclined to correct that first, before you start looking for other reasons.

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

i kick up about 9k but do a lot of engine breaking no idea if that uses more fuel i presume it would, and brake have new lines/pads and have been given a good going over. at the moment looking at the air filter again i would say thats where most of the problem lies, given it a good brush and hoover for the time been

and yes the sensor bounces on and off for about 15 - 20 miles

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

I have tried, was suposed to be finished doing all this by last Sunday but air filter went a stray :thumbdown: i was also lied to by the seller saying it had a K&N and it doesn't it has a standard one that looks like it needed changing 5k ago

just trying to get it to a good state before its MOT in may and my trip down south next month

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

sounds just like mine as i get on av 90-110mile befor light comes on and my bike is alwase well looked after. like u said its not normal unless suzuki changed somthing on the k4+ bikes to the k3 bikes in the fule tank. mabe moved the sensor down in the fule tank or somthing but i dout it.

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

^ i think im going to clean up all the connections to the tank and see if that makes a difference, they most likely haven't been unplugged in the last 7 years but more than likely have gotten wet

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

It does if you change down doing it, but the main thing that makes you get through fuel is using the throttle as an on-off switch, rather than being steady and gentle, and observing so as to not need to brake/gas/brake/gas. A bit boring, granted, but it makes everything come together!
Now stop wasting time and buy a new air filter. 200 miles and you'll have spent the extra on petrol anyways!

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

^ i have brought a new filter about............12 days ago and it went missing in the post, have another one on is way though so hopefully it will be hear tomorrow

PS after i Hoover'd the air filter and did the oil change, new pads and brake lines and 16mm tank risers im getting a hell of a lot more mid range and i mean a hell of a lot the bike is now picking up the front in 2nd it wouldn't do that before , now i was obviously not riding economically but hopefully i will get better mpg as well im willing to say its defiantly the air filter thats to blame (and maybe partly me )

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

My K3 didn't have a flashing fuel light, it came on at a solid fuel light with ~ 2L to go!

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

FWIW... There is no need to go out and buy a new filter every time.

Blow the old one out with bulk air - not one of those little blowers. I use a 1/2" barbed end (effectively an open hose) as the nozzle from about 6-8". Air cleaner should be good for 60-100k km providing it doesn't get wet with either water or oil.

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

i dont have access to compressed air :( and my air filter has done about 17k mile's just going to replace it as its the easiest option

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

You are right. A hoover or air line will get most carp out, if the filter is clogged up it needs changing. They aren't exactly the most expensive of parts. Oh, BTW, when was your oil filter last changed?

RE. Mattcollins - some bikes have foam filter elements and they need to be oiled. For those who have them.

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

my oil filter looked as though it had dent been changed in the last 10k but i have just replaced

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

imo the oil filter change recomended in the service manual is way too optimistic,...i change mine every 3000 miles;)

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

Seeing as the bike in question is an SV with a paper element... :)

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

I guessed, but some people might have other bikes and not be aware of the differences. Thought I'd be helpful!:smt026

Re: Premature Fuel light
 

just filled my sv1000s up today after testing from full to the light coming on. I got 91 miles to 12.5 litres (about £14.50). Not happy days. My sv650s 2005 hit 120 miles constant before the light came on.