When the fuel gauge starts to blink..

[alx123]

So I was running late this morning and suddenly my fuel gauge indicator started to blink, I figure I still have approx 20 kms (12.43 miles) to go before reaching my workplace, so I decided that i don't have enough time to stop for gas and went straight to work. Luckily I made it without running out of gas.

Am I right in thinking that once the fuel gauge starts to blink i still have around 1 liter of fuel left?

As far as I can remember, the last bar on the gauge means I still have 1.5L left in the tank.




Which one are you anyway?

[chicaboo]

I can only speak for the OWL, but 1L or thereabouts seems about right when it starts blinking.
The LED holds another 2L, so it may proportionately have more left when it starts blinking?

On the scooter I hold out until it's almost dry before I put a full tank in and continue the cycle.
In the cars I start looking for deals when I'm between 1/4 and 3/8 tank left.

[iceman]

I got over 240 miles on the LED version and made it to a filling station so dependant on how you ride and speed, it can go a long way. That was around the time I got over 147mpg soon after I bought the bike. Didn't know there was still 2 litres left when it starts to blink, but that is some reserve!

[alx123]

So I refilled and it took 7.4 liters to got it full again, I got the 2016 one (LED?). Full tank is 8L.

Probably around 1 L too when the gauge starts to blink right?

[homie]

I once set out to know the miles you could go after the warning on a 2015 PCX. Carried a little fuel with me to get home but after 30 miles I gave up the quest. Later my mechanic told me never run a fuel injected engine dry if you don't have to. I figured if I couldn't get to a station in 30 miles I deserve to push.

[honkerman]

I give myself about another 20-30 miles when it starts blinking at me. I haven't gone dry yet.

[ScottDR]

On my 2013 I can go approximately 50km once the gauge starts blinking.

FYI I have always run my previously owned Honda cars on every tank until they had a hard time starting and have never had any repercussions. And two I owned for over 400,000 km.

[flyingzonker]

I got over 240 miles on the LED version and made it to a filling station so dependant on how you ride and speed, it can go a long way. That was around the time I got over 147mpg soon after I bought the bike. Didn't know there was still 2 litres left when it starts to blink, but that is some reserve!

You are talking about a 125 I presume? Over here we don't do 125 PCX's.

Either you are talking about a 125 or you are using some kind of short miles in your calculations.

[chicaboo]

You know by now that UK miles are shorter.

[gn2]

No, UK miles are the correct length and our gallons are the correct size.
Its you lot who are doing it wrong.

[ScottDR]

On my 2013 I can go approximately 50km once the gauge starts blinking.

FYI I have always run my previously owned Honda cars on every tank until they had a hard time starting and have never had any repercussions. And two I owned for over 400,000 km.

Oh, one possibly critical additional tidbit: I get 2.2 liters per hundred kilometers or 107 US MPG, 128 UK MPG. Don't want to leave someone stranded.

[alx123]

So today I took off a little late to work from our place when the fuel bar started to blink. I figured, as usual I'll make there, plenty of time to refill during lunch.(w/c I forgot to do anyway)

I was wrong. Scoot won't start when im about to leave home, so I have no choice but to rely on a coke bottle. 2kms away from the nearest gas station. That's 30 mins delay on my way home.

Probably started to blink yesterday and i didn't notice.

Lesson learned, refill ASAP when it's started to blink.

[PCX150Rider]

It's no fun running out of gas is it? Sort of like that feeling when you can't find your keys. . ..

Years ago I actually did run out of gas in an old VW Beetle. It was on a Sunday. . .I was returning from a great weekend journey. . .every gas station I passed was closed. . .and my mantra was "Please God get me home and I swear I'll never let the tank get this low again. . .ever".

I never forgot that moment. No cell phones back then and a kind resident in that rural area allowed me to use their phone to call a good friend. He ended up driving about 50 miles with a big can of gas to rescue me. Of course I was thinking 25 MPG back then. . .only needed about 2 gallons and I should be OK. Never ran the tank so low the gas gauge bounced off the bottom before so I was in uncharted territory. STUPID ME!

The moral to the story is to top off the tank when it's half full. . .not half empty. With your PCX that should be around 100 miles between gas stops. That said I have a couple of gas cans I keep filled for my lawn mowers (I do add fuel preservative) and there are times when it's just easier to top off the PCX from one of those rather than deal with a line at the gas station. Works great for the motorcycles too. Just have to be even more careful pouring it in.

No fuel petcock on the PCX so having a reserve option is out of the question. . .it makes you rely totally on the gas gauge. Such are the times.

[GeorgeSK]

The gas gauge is there for decoration. Rely on the trip odometer. I fill up the PCX somewhere between 100 and 110 miles, and the Forza when I get to 150 miles. There are plenty of stations around me, but I prefer to stick with one brand from one place, and will not fill up if the station itself is taking a delivery.

[PCX150Rider]

The gas gauge is there for decoration. Rely on the trip odometer.

Oh yes. . .that too. . .good point!

That said I found the gas gauge on my PCX is fairly accurate. When it gets about half way it does only take about a gallon plus or minus a few drops to refill it.

[gn2]

The Mk1 PCX LCD fuel gauge was simple and very effective.
The last segment starts to blink consistently at the same level and you know its time to get juice.
No ifs or buts.
Forza 300 you need to rely on the fuel computer and you also need to brim the tank every time to get an accurate idea of fuel range.

I prefer the old style manual fuel tap <ON-OFF-RESERVE> although I once managed to run out with one of these because the owner hadn't put the tap back to ON after it went onto reserve.
Happened on the M8 motorway miles from anywhere, DOH!

[Mel46]

I once drove a VW bug that ran out of gas, but it had a reserve switch, which i remembered as it was coasting to a stop. Flipped the switch and it started right up, but that particular version of the VW did not have a fuel gauge either. I didn't like that at all. Years later, when I purchased my first VW Bug I made sure it had a gas gauge. You don't realize how much you depend on that gauge until you don't have one.

[BobS]

Another old VW story.

Many years ago, a friend was driving one on the PA Turnpike, and ran out of gas about 2 miles from a service plaza.

Since there would be a very expensive fee to bring him gas, he poured in a bottle of 100 proof Old Grand Dad bourbon. That got him the two miles to get gas.

He said that he filled up with high test - the VW ran rough for a while but eventually cleaned itself out.

[relic]

Had a Karmann Ghia with a reserve switch. back in the day when one would pull into a full serve gas station and say put a couple bucks in.

[alx123]

Running out of gas is not a pleasant experience, you'll endlessly blaming yourself for being so lazy. LOL

The PCX started without any hesitation once I poured the "zero sugar "coke in though. Refill and start in an instant.

Might've been a different story if it happened on the middle of the night, somewhere where there is no accessible gas station.