Definitive answer on fuel tank capacity please.?

Question

I have a 2008 Vulcan 500 LTD and the web site (and manual) says my bike has a 4.0 gallon capacity. But the past three fill ups, I've only added about 2.4-2.6 gallons of fuel.

I always wait until I have to put the tank on reserve before I fill up, but is the reserve tank that big (1.5 gallons)?

Answer 1

I'll bet it is.  Sorry I can't give a more "definitive answer" but on my bike, an 85 kawasaki zl900, nearly half of the 2.9 gallon tank (1.03gal) is reserve.  Seems a little unneccessary in my opinion.  If you really want to find out for sure you can detach your fuel line, and let it run into a gas can (you may have to switch your petcock to prime) and let ALL the fuel run out and you'll have your answer.

Answer 2

yes actually it is,i got 4 wheeler that has 1.2 gallon reserve tank on it,they got a large reserve tank on them,they do this so that you wont run out of gas,most bikes have 1/3 of the tank as a reserve now days,so that's about right,good luck.

Answer 3

Yes, the reserve tank probably really is that big. However, don't get confused, there really isn't a seperate tank. What you have is two "straws" on your petcock running up into your tank. The "On" straw is usually a couple of inches tall...has a screen on top of it, and once the fuel level gets below where that straw can get gas...then you have to switch to the "reserve" straw. The reserve is a short straw with a screen on the opposite side that is closer to the bottom of the tank.. It will take every drop of fuel out of the tank (well almost..they usually are up a little from the bottom so if you gas has water in it, as long as it isn't a lot of water, then it will stay in the bottom of the tank and not get drawn to the carbs)

They probably set your reserve so high, because the factory has no idea who is going to be riding the bike, or where.... if you were lets say, in a remote part of the country where gas stations are 100 miles apart..then you would probably want to know as soon as possible that you are going to need to stop for gas soon. 1.5 gallons on your bike is probably 70 miles or so.

You can adjust it though, drain the fuel out of your bike. Just pull the hose off of petcock and drain the fuel into a gas can. Now, loosen the screws, or bolts which ever applies that are holding the petcock onto the tank. pull the petcock off and you will see the two straws, one short, one long. The long one is your "on" straw. GENTLY pull it out of the petcock..it may take a little working it to get it out. Once you have it out, cut 1/4 to 1/2 inch off of it(cut it from the bottom..not the top where the screen is) ...then superglue it back into the petcock. Now your "on straw" opening is further down into the tank, allowing it to draw gas closer to the bottom... increasing your "On" fuel and decreasing your "reserve" fuel.

NOTE: this only works if you petcock has plastic straws, I have seen some that are one peice and molded metal, or ones with metal tubes that s***w into the petcock,  those can still be modifiled but you have to be a little more creative. Once you get you petcock out and see how its made, you will figure out how to shorten the longer straw. BUT..however you do it you NEED to leave the screen intact, or figure out a way to put a screen on it. It doesnt take much garbage from a tank to clog a petcock... and I am not sure if your bike has an inline filter either, so leave the screen.

You also may want to shorten it a little at a time until you get the amount you want in your reserve. Its an easy measure, just shorten it a little... then turn the petcock to "on" and start putting fuel in from a 1 gallon can.. as soon as fuel starts to come out, thats how much fuel is in your reserve, guesstimate how much is left in the can, whatever is gone is now your reserve level.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

Answer 4

yes the reserve on the tank of a lot of bikes is around a gallon some hold more if the manufacturer says its 4 gal then its 4 gal if not they can get into some legal issues for false advertising.