OP
@sportsguy avatar
UTC

Hooked
GTS 300ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 319
Location: Camarillo CA
 
Hooked
@sportsguy avatar
GTS 300ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 319
Location: Camarillo CA
UTC quote
Many of us share the common demon that is filling up the gas tank in the Vespa GTS 300. I can only assume the 250s were similar, if so, the problem is widespread!

Yet, thanks to this community, the answer is upon us.

In the wiki section is a post about it. With a video no less (what does it say about us that we need a video to demo this process...).

Thus in the truest testament to taking others' advice, it was with trepidation that I ignored the flashing yellow warning light when it first came on this morning, telling me I was low on fuel. I think we can all agree the gauge is lying at the best of times, so the light is your, umm...light? No...BEACON! Yeah, that's better!

The low fuel light is your beacon!

Let's clarify one thing, however: the light, when it first flickers, can come and go a bit while the fuel level moves around a bit. If your light is flicking between on and off (not back and forth, but randomly), you're merely "almost low" on fuel, but heed the warning. Word is we've only got about 20 miles on riserva.

I was 6 miles into a hard low fuel light as I rolled into the Chevron - not my usual one with the fancy new nozzles, but a close to similar setup at the pumps.

Went all James Bond on the per carrier with the Q-branch move (prop the carrier up with the fuel cap at the rear).

Grabbed the nozzle, inserted said nozzle into the gas tank and put it all the way in, with the handle essentially "pointing" up the centerline of the scoot, facing the handlebars.

1.3 gallons went in and it clicked off. I took a peek inside and could see there was still room for more benzene, so GENTLY, I trickled the nozzola to get me up to 1.5 gallons. I knew I was close and at 1.6 I saw a minute splash of fuel that didn't so much as wet the capture area around the filler neck on the bike.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Given I was as close to topped up as I cared to push it, I suspect our riserva has more than 20 miles of range, but...we can all test that theory some other time.
@wleuthold avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2006 Vespa GT (Rocket): 2007 Vespa GT (Vanessa): 2009 Yamaha Zuma 125: 2018 Yamaha Xmax (Big Ugly), 2023 Vespa GTS300 (Ghost)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5251
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@wleuthold avatar
2006 Vespa GT (Rocket): 2007 Vespa GT (Vanessa): 2009 Yamaha Zuma 125: 2018 Yamaha Xmax (Big Ugly), 2023 Vespa GTS300 (Ghost)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5251
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
UTC quote
Putting 1.6 gallons in your scooter means that you had .8 gallon still in the tank when you stopped. You were good for 45 more miles if you chose to try. I know that GT's have a slightly bigger tank, but I have put 2.6 gallons into them several times. 2.4 gallons many times and almost always more than 2.
OP
@sportsguy avatar
UTC

Hooked
GTS 300ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 319
Location: Camarillo CA
 
Hooked
@sportsguy avatar
GTS 300ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 319
Location: Camarillo CA
UTC quote
WLeuthold wrote:
Putting 1.6 gallons in your scooter means that you had .8 gallon still in the tank when you stopped. You were good for 45 more miles if you chose to try. I know that GT's have a slightly bigger tank, but I have put 2.6 gallons into them several times. 2.4 gallons many times and almost always more than 2.
WOOT! I sense a challenge coming on!

Thank you.
UTC

Enthusiast
GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 70
Location: NY
 
Enthusiast
GTS 300
Joined: UTC
Posts: 70
Location: NY
UTC quote
Yeah, I want to know how far into the red we can go. On my previous scooter, empty on the fuel gauge meant 22 miles left.
@paperino avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
GTS 250 "Audrey"
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Posts: 2117
Location: New Harbor, Maine
 
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@paperino avatar
GTS 250 "Audrey"
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Location: New Harbor, Maine
UTC quote
Glad you're figuring it out. Learning to "read" your scoot is better than griping about it. As stated above, you still had about .8 in the tank.

For my typical riding, if I fill when the light goes on steady I'll put in 1.7. If I note the miles and cruise another 25 miles or so, I'm still in far from fumes. Depending on how aggressively you're riding, your mileage will vary. Meaning, if I'm on the highway (or will be going on) I'll fuel up soon after the light, if I'm puttering around town, I'll hold off.

So now you know you can put in 1.6 without worry, and then top off slowly. Just keep an eye on it as you top off bringing it up to the bottom of the filler neck. I nudge the scoot with my knee to see the fuel slosh so I can tell where the level is.
@wleuthold avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2006 Vespa GT (Rocket): 2007 Vespa GT (Vanessa): 2009 Yamaha Zuma 125: 2018 Yamaha Xmax (Big Ugly), 2023 Vespa GTS300 (Ghost)
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Location: Jacksonville, Florida
 
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@wleuthold avatar
2006 Vespa GT (Rocket): 2007 Vespa GT (Vanessa): 2009 Yamaha Zuma 125: 2018 Yamaha Xmax (Big Ugly), 2023 Vespa GTS300 (Ghost)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5251
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
UTC quote
When riding around town or in areas where I know where the fuel stations are located (GPS helps), I am perfectly fine with running the tank almost dry. On group rides where everyone likes to keep from running out, I will fill up with the others.

The non digital fuel gauge on the GT and 300 GTS's lets you see how much fuel remains after the light comes on. On Rocket, I know that I have 30 to 40 miles. Razzo is different. The gauge doesn't move off full until I have covered 60 miles. Then it drops quickly. If I fill it when the light comes on continuously, it takes just over 2 gallons.

For what it is worth, I have never run dry on a scooter. I did on the second or third fill up with my Honda and its stupid digital fuel gauge, but the timing was perfect as I rolled up to a gas pump at a station downtown. I ran out once on a borrowed Honda cruiser that had no gas gauge, but the same thing. I was across the street from a fuel station when that happened.

I have over 400 fill ups of Rocket on Fuelly. More on Razzo, Lightning and Vanessa too. Most are over 2 gallons. Feel free to check it out.
@web-tech avatar
UTC

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2008 MP3 500, 2013 BV350, 2020 Vespa Sei Giorni, 2008 Vespa S150
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@web-tech avatar
2008 MP3 500, 2013 BV350, 2020 Vespa Sei Giorni, 2008 Vespa S150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 8951
Location: Ashburn, Va. Home to the Internet
UTC quote
sportsguy wrote:
WLeuthold wrote:
Putting 1.6 gallons in your scooter means that you had .8 gallon still in the tank when you stopped. You were good for 45 more miles if you chose to try. I know that GT's have a slightly bigger tank, but I have put 2.6 gallons into them several times. 2.4 gallons many times and almost always more than 2.
WOOT! I sense a challenge coming on!

Thank you.
Just remember, the fuel in the tank is the coolant for the fuel pump. So if you run your tank low on fuel, your fuel pump is running hot.
@blackmoon181 avatar
UTC

Hooked
LX125 (in bits) , Honda sh300i & NC750x
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Posts: 333
Location: NE Scotland
 
Hooked
@blackmoon181 avatar
LX125 (in bits) , Honda sh300i & NC750x
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Posts: 333
Location: NE Scotland
UTC quote
I know my B350 will cut out when not completely dry. I beleive i have around 1 litre left when this happens. have tested this a couple of times.
@cottonpatch avatar
UTC

Hooked
GTV(Alberta) LX150(Victor) GTS300(Enrico)
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Posts: 201
Location: Metro Atlanta
 
Hooked
@cottonpatch avatar
GTV(Alberta) LX150(Victor) GTS300(Enrico)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 201
Location: Metro Atlanta
UTC quote
Blackmoon181 wrote:
I know my B350 will cut out when not completely dry. I beleive i have around 1 litre left when this happens. have tested this a couple of times.
My 150 did NOT like running in the hot temps yesterday of Atlanta while low on fuel. My engine shut off while pulling up to the gas pump. I put in 1.20 gallons of premium and had no further problems. I'm going to test it again today, but I do believe that the high temps and low fuel levels were complicit in my engine cutting out.
@raputtak avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2016 GTS 300 Super - red, of course.
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4755
Location: Hertford, North Carolina
 
Ossessionato
@raputtak avatar
2016 GTS 300 Super - red, of course.
Joined: UTC
Posts: 4755
Location: Hertford, North Carolina
UTC quote
WEB-Tech wrote:
sportsguy wrote:
WLeuthold wrote:
Putting 1.6 gallons in your scooter means that you had .8 gallon still in the tank when you stopped. You were good for 45 more miles if you chose to try. I know that GT's have a slightly bigger tank, but I have put 2.6 gallons into them several times. 2.4 gallons many times and almost always more than 2.
WOOT! I sense a challenge coming on!

Thank you.
Just remember, the fuel in the tank is the coolant for the fuel pump. So if you run your tank low on fuel, your fuel pump is running hot.
Plus, I believe, the fuel pump takes up space in there.

I have never put more than 2 US gallons in the tank. (On one occasion I squeezed in 2.0) since I first bought the GTS 250 in December 2009. Ditto for the 300. Usually, I head for a filling station as soon as the light comes on and put in 1.4 - 1.8 gallons. This gives me a normal range or 80 to 90 miles. This whole issue of range is the one thing I dislike about modern scooters. I have to fill up every time I go out.

My Hooligan tank holds 6 liters, 1.58 US gallons, and takes me 80 miles before the last square begins to twinkle whereupon I put in 0.9 - 1.3.

GasBuddy or no GasBuddy fuel stations are as rare as hen's teeth around here so I do not let the tank run dry.
@wleuthold avatar
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
2006 Vespa GT (Rocket): 2007 Vespa GT (Vanessa): 2009 Yamaha Zuma 125: 2018 Yamaha Xmax (Big Ugly), 2023 Vespa GTS300 (Ghost)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5251
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
@wleuthold avatar
2006 Vespa GT (Rocket): 2007 Vespa GT (Vanessa): 2009 Yamaha Zuma 125: 2018 Yamaha Xmax (Big Ugly), 2023 Vespa GTS300 (Ghost)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 5251
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
UTC quote
WEB-Tech wrote:
Just remember, the fuel in the tank is the coolant for the fuel pump. So if you run your tank low on fuel, your fuel pump is running hot.
This is true of the fuel injected models after the GT. I can safely run my carbureted GT's to the bottom.
OP
@sportsguy avatar
UTC

Hooked
GTS 300ie
Joined: UTC
Posts: 319
Location: Camarillo CA
 
Hooked
@sportsguy avatar
GTS 300ie
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Posts: 319
Location: Camarillo CA
UTC quote
Awesome info and tips gang! Thank you.
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