[Ducati Scotty]

I'm sure you can dissolve a fair amount of things in the gas tank over time without noticing any performance differences.

[SteveThackery]

This was solved by letting the tank get low, (almost empty) and tipping the bike on the side stand, with a 2x4 under the rear tire, so i didn't have to remove the tank.

As you've got a B5 you don't need to do that.  Just lower it onto the footrest.  It sits there quite happily, with nothing other than the two tyres and the footrest anywhere near the ground.

In that position you can remove the engine side cover without losing any oil.  Also you can work on the exhaust system very easily, and numerous other bits and bobs that are normally quite awkward to get to.

[SteveThackery]

As it dissolved into a goo there must be a change in viscosity of fuel and burning characteristics of fuel in the combustion chamber. Nobody noticed any change in engine performance ? Is there some un-dissolved matter or goo blob sitting at the bottom of fuel tank somewhere ?

My main concern wasn't so much what got into the engine, but whether it might clog the fuel injector.  As it happens, it doesn't seem to have.  I didn't notice anything different about the performance.

[B5 Ben]

 Thanks for the foot rest trick idea SteveThackery, I will try that next time I need more access to hard to reach areas.

 I did not notice any rough running after my fuel sensor quit working. but i was wondering if there might be some left over stuff floating around in the tank.

[Arizoni]

My low fuel sending unit looked just about like SteveThackery's but as I remember, the translucent blob was larger.

I've never had a problem with the pump or the injector and that switch problem happened over 3 years and 17,000 miles ago.

[JVS]

Sorry to bring this thread back up. My low fuel sensor had never worked for a long time. I got the bike in early 2012 and I think the sensor failed in early 2013. Since then I was just recording the odo readings in my cell phone and was filling up every 300km/188mi. But lately, I've been forgetting to keep track of the 300km mark and just can't be bothered to look at the records all the time.

So I purchased a new low fuel sensor and installed it today. Let us see how this one goes. I'll still record the odo readings whenever I fill up. The original sensor nicely turned into the Green Goblin, despite always using 95 octane UL, never ethanol based.

[mattsz]

Nice!  So, it isn't ethanol that's causing these melt-downs...

[gremlin]

Sorry to bring this thread back up. My low fuel sensor had never worked for a long time. I got the bike in early 2012 and I think the sensor failed in early 2013. Since then I was just recording the odo readings in my cell phone and was filling up every 300km/188mi. But lately, I've been forgetting to keep track of the 300km mark and just can't be bothered to look at the records all the time.

So I purchased a new low fuel sensor and installed it today. Let us see how this one goes. I'll still record the odo readings whenever I fill up. The original sensor nicely turned into the Green Goblin, despite always using 95 octane UL, never ethanol based.

watchout for the MTBE label on your gas-station pumps ......

[Richard230]

Mine doesn't work, either.  What I do is fill up every 200 miles (when the odometer reads an even hundred number), which takes about 3 gallons of fuel.  That leaves .7 gallon in reserve.  (I once ran the tank down to where it needed 3.5 gallons and the light never lit.)

[Kevin Mahoney]

This part commonly fails. Best to keep one in your tool box

[Arizoni]

This part commonly fails. Best to keep one in your tool box

Or a narrow tip permanent black marker pen so you can write the last three digits of the odometer reading on the handlebar. 

Although the marking is "permanent", it can be wiped off with a little spit and some rubbing with a thumb.

[Scotty Brown]

What is the old adage of rollerskates on a fish My fuel sensor failed at about 700 miles and I haven't missed it in 8000 miles.  Just keep track of mileage somewhere, and carry on as we used to do.

[Ice]

Or a narrow tip permanent black marker pen so you can write the last three digits of the odometer reading on the handlebar. 

Although the marking is "permanent", it can be wiped off with a little spit and some rubbing with a thumb.

 +1 !!  That tiphas served many well for decades and continues to do so.

 
  Grease pencil is a nice alternative for rain soaked climates because it writes in the rain and rubs off with my shirt sleeve.

[rtillery02]

The ONLY time my 2012 C5 put me on the roadside was when that bulb failed, sender was "fine" @ that time. Replaced bulb, fueled up & took off...no problems. Now, think I'll just buy a replacement sending unit & keep handy for when it does "krapout".  Thanks guys for the heads up.

[HUdson51]

They must have made that float out of old soda pop bottles. Its amazing that a bike that works so well has so many little things that go bad. That being said, I do believe they have made many improvements and it is a great motorcycle.