R1200GSA Gas Tank/Gauge Madness

I thought my gas gauge was working correctly after it switched over from zero miles remaining to a full tank reading.  All was well with the world until about 150 miles later it went to about 1/4 tank and at 200 miles it went into it’s low fuel count down.  I went ahead and filled the tank and it took 5 gallons.  This got me wondering if the suck pump wasn’t working or the gas gauge was just wacky.  After a little digging on the web I think I found out what is going on.  There are a number of threads on the Adventure Rider forum on the topic.  Someone even threatened to send BMW the cork out of their lawn mower gas tank to show them how a real gas gauge was designed .  I guess my first guess about the computer being confused is probably not far off the mark.

Apparently the gas gauge feature is self calibrating.  The web wisdom says that two tanks of fuel have to be used from a full tank to almost empty and then the gas gauge will be calibrated to the volume of the new tank.  Unfortunately I will not be able to accomplish this before I leave for Palm Springs, CA. next Friday.  I will just have to keep track of my mileage until I can make sure it represents something that looks a little more like reality.

The weather forecast isn’t looking real good for getting through the Siskiyous so I might be taking the slow route down US 101.  If I have to swing over to the coast at Corvallis it may kill my SS1000/BB1500 plans unless the weather is more favorable on my trip back home.  I can probably squeeze a SS1000 in from Palm Springs back to Northern California and a BB1500 may still be doable.  I won’t know until I try.