|
SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Bad Gas mileage /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1308173364 Message started by rl153 on 06/15/11 at 14:29:23 |
|
Title: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/15/11 at 14:29:23 My bike is a 2005 with 4k miles on it . I haven't changed the plug yet . What does it mean if you're only getting 35 miles to the gallon. Otherwise the bike seems to run good and strong ,except for ticking valves( Plenty of oil) Thanks. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Boofer on 06/15/11 at 15:59:37 rl, You are AT LEAST 15mpg short. I don't think the wickers among us with highly moded bikes get that low. I would check first and very carefully for leaks. Or a brother-in-law with a siphon hose. ;D |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by drums1 on 06/15/11 at 17:57:34 Cleaning and adjusting the carb might help some. You may be running rich. How high is idle set? How heavy is your throttle hand? Mostly highway or city miles? All these things could factor in. I'm running pretty much stock on my '87 and getting 54.5 mpg. If you're only getting 35, something ain't right. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/15/11 at 18:24:36 They are city miles ,my idle isn't really high, I don't see anything on the floor under the bike, I do get into it a bit when I ride ,nothing unusual. It seems last year ,it got better mileage. I put seafoam in it once this year. Thanks for your input. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Routy on 06/15/11 at 18:45:49 All city riding, heavy throttle,......you're not far off the bottom side of normal. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Oldfeller on 06/15/11 at 18:52:13 He doesn't know his reason for his low gas mileage. He has to find out why he gets the same mileage I do. Start with simple stuff -- clean your air filter (or replace it) Plugged up air filters can cause very rich run conditions. Clean or replace your plug with a nice new one so you can see if the rich running conditions abate after replacing the air filter. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Max_Morley on 06/15/11 at 19:48:29 Something is not right. I get 50-60 with my 96 set up as a bagger. Full fairing, side hard bags and a trunk. Hauling my 200 lb. body around. I like the sound of a big single w/ HD muffler so have serious twist the wrist syndrome. One size up on the slow and main jets. Stock air inlet, and stage 2 cam. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/15/11 at 21:38:55 IDK how fast youre going b4 ya change gears, but this bike has Torque,,change gears with the engine loafing,, High gear at 40 MPH is okay.. Your best MPG is found at the lowest speed you can get in high gear & not lug it. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Routy on 06/15/11 at 21:55:44 Didja ever hear about these 2 old cojers that bought identical cars, but one got a ho bunch better gas miliage the other,........ Naw,...last time I told it people got all paranoid and stuff ! ;D |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Sunchasers on 06/15/11 at 22:11:51 I've never checked my Savage's gas mileage. I use it primarily for short commute to work and running quick errands around town. All I know is that it's a HELLUVA lot more than I get with my Suburban or our Chrysler 300!! :D And ALOT more fun to ride! not to mention easier on the wallet than filling the 40 gal tank in the Suburban) ;D |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Howitzer on 06/15/11 at 22:13:23 I also get around 38 mpg. I've cleaned my air filter before, and not noticed any leaks around the carbs. I do all city driving, pretty heavy on the throttle. Oh, I also don't think I'm running rich because there are pops on decel. I've tightened the header bolts, and am using the stock muffler. I dunno what else could be wrong, so perhaps 35 is just what you get driving in the city all the time. And by city, I mean an urban, stop every few blocks situation. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/15/11 at 22:27:28 I ride the snot outta mine & I have the Stage 1 cam & a Supertrapp with 14 disks & I get 49 MPG. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Routy on 06/16/11 at 04:43:05 524D4B4C51566757675F4D410A380 wrote:
Jog, Keep it up and I'll be forced to tell the "2 old cojers" story ! ;D |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/16/11 at 05:16:26 I've got the same problem. Plug is black, pipe is black. 86 model, stock carburetor, stock muffler. New air filter and a Raptor petcock. Needle has the stock white spacer. Cleaned the carburetor (soaked) at least three times and blew it out with compressed air and I'm still only getting max 37 miles per gallon. It has about 8,800 miles on it. I'm a conservative driver and travel mostly open back roads with few hills (not many of them here in Florida.) at between 55 and 60 mph. Very seldom do I romp on the throtle. The bike seems to have more than enough power to pull my 260 pounds down the road. It only requires a little over 1/4 throttle to maintain 55 - 60 mph, flat and level and no wind. I also replaced the main and pilot jet thinking PO might have messed with them. 155 main and 47.5 pilot. I wnted to replace the needle jet and needle but they're out of production. New dle screw and O ring and it's set at 2 and a half truns out. I plugged the choke (starter enrichment valve) opening thinking it may be leaking extra gas into the venturi. Also forced the deceleration valve (air shut off valve) open so it can't close. That does cause a little exhaust backfiring when decelerating but not bad. I get the standard pop when shutting it off. I've got the float set at the very lower limit also. The 86 doesn't have the drain valve so you can't check the gas level with a tube like Verslagen suggested. Even replaced the float, float needle and seat. In all from what I've done the mileage did increase from about 34 to about 37 but that's no where near what I've seen reported here. Bike starts and idles perfectly even without the choke. If I get on it at 55 it'll be going past 75 in a heartbeat. Then I chicken out. I do have a little studdering (miss) at low speed like when driving through town but that has actually improved since I made the changes I mentioned. I think that's tied in somehow to the poor mileage problem. Too rich. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/16/11 at 05:20:24 I think back n the stone age they came stock with jets fat enough to run rich,, late models had leaner jetting to get thru EPA requirements, Some Guru can clear that up,, |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/16/11 at 05:26:30 2533342C3270410 wrote:
I hear what you're saying JOG and I've thought about that but his 87 is supposed to have the same jets as mine and he's getting 54.5. I don't get it. Anybody else here running a 86 - 88 completely stock? What kind of mileage are you getting? |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/16/11 at 05:31:45 Well,, where are ya doin the gear changes? Low rpm or you windin that thing out? I think I know the answer, I just hafta ask,cuz Im not gettin it either. I really dont see how one can drink that much gas & not be messin plugs UP,, but, I spose they do, cuz the MPG youre gettin is in the Normal range, just not the desirable end of it,, HEY! YOu dont live where my dad did when he was a kid do ya? Back then, when he had to walk to school, it was uphill gettin there & uphill goin home,, You may need a smaller front wheel.. get that thing pointed downhill a bit. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/16/11 at 05:39:47 Well I'm usually in top gear by 45 mile per hour and I wouldn't consider that winding it out, would you? Lower gears pretty much the same but I don't know the exact speeds. As I said, the plug is black but it never fails to start and runs down the road just fine. Ha! I think your dad was telling a little story there cause I haven't been able to find any hills down here yet. :) I'll consider the smaller front wheel. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/16/11 at 05:46:56 I figured you were riding it reasonably,, just had to ask. How many lmiles a year you put on it? |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/16/11 at 06:08:39 445B5D5A4740714171495B571C2E0 wrote:
Well, from 93, when I bought it, till last fall I had only put about 2,000 miles on it but since I retired and moved down here I've put over 3,500 miles on it. Haven't been riding quite as much lately since it's been over 100 almost every day and I just don't like riding around in a furnace. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Bubba on 06/16/11 at 06:20:51 I just ran 120 miles before I had to switch to reserve (Raptor petcock) filled it this morning 2.1 gallons...guess I'm doing ok! :) |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/16/11 at 07:25:30 686A4E4B4B4255270 wrote:
Well, from 93, when I bought it, till last fall I had only put about 2,000 miles on it but since I retired and moved down here I've put over 3,500 miles on it. Haven't been riding quite as much lately since it's been over 100 almost every day and I just don't like riding around in a furnace.[/quote] The reason I ask is,, IF youre gonna go chasing Better MPG, youre gonna spend some $ & some time. Before I did a deal like that, Id have to decide if its gonna be worth it in the long run,, If you spend $100.00 & 20 hours of hair pullin & you get 10 MPG improvement, how many miles will you need to ride before youve saved enough gas to make it al worth it? I figure I could change the plugs & wires & rotor & cap on my ol pikkup & get better MPG,, but its okay now,, not too bad, & Id have to run thousands of miles to recoup my investment in saved fuel, so, Im not messin with it now,, |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/16/11 at 08:35:23 I'm going to try cleaning the air filter ,which I didn't check this year cause I cleaned it last year ,and only drove about 800 mi. Also It used to backfire going down a hill ,and now it doesn't any more ,but it does pop on shutoff. How can you tell if your air filter is beyond cleaning with an airgun ? I should probably just go get a new one . Thanks . |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/16/11 at 09:57:18 rl153, if it were me I'd just bite the bullet and buy a new filter, then there's no question that it's good. JOG, not really chasing fuel mileage. I could live with the 37 mpg and just go on but what bothers me is why is it running so rich to start with on a completly stock engine. Running rich, at least that rich, just isn't good for the engine. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Serowbot on 06/16/11 at 10:34:33 Have you ever checked that your not dragging somewhere?... Brakes,... wheel bearings,.. belt too tight?... :-?... |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/16/11 at 10:42:06 Well, my belt is a tad too tight, but that's a personal problem :) Oh, you mean on the bike. I've checked it and it seems ok. The bike rolls plenty free enough and actually the rear brake could stand adjusting up a little. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Serowbot on 06/16/11 at 10:47:12 Just to rule it out... How to check your petcock,... (http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1251932429/1) |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by babyhog on 06/16/11 at 10:57:30 Check your tire pressure too. Including with load. Shouldn't have that much effect, but several little things could add up. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/16/11 at 11:06:18 4D5B4C51495C514A3E0 wrote:
I don't know about rl153 who started this thread but mine is a Raptor. Checked tire pressure and added a little and didn't make any difference at all. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Serowbot on 06/16/11 at 11:16:04 15173336363F285A0 wrote:
One thing,... that's a transient enrichment valve... forcing it open is adding fuel... ...at least I think so... ??? :-?... |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by verslagen1 on 06/16/11 at 11:21:24 if you're changing the air filter, change the plug too just cause. a little seafoam in the tank and check for leaks. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by weracerc on 06/16/11 at 11:23:29 kind of off/on topic - my 96 now gets 55mpg around town max speed 5th gear 60mph occassionally - i was putting 2.1 2.2 gal/per 100 miles now 1.7 1.8 gal/per 100 miles - raptor, re-jetted, air fuel screw 1.5 turns CCW, idle screw set for <1000 rpm'ish...now at 10K miles |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/16/11 at 11:30:37 4355425F47525F44300 wrote:
One thing,... that's a transient enrichment valve... forcing it open is adding fuel... ...at least I think so... ??? :-?...[/quote] Some call that thing an air shut off valve. I saw it on a parts beakdown somewhere called that. From what I can tell there are actually 2 routes for idle air to enter the carburetor and one of them is through that valve. The extra vacuum created by closing the throttle plate at higher speeds pulls the diaphragm and plunger outward and cuts off that second path for air creating a richer mixture. That's the way I understand it. Don't mean I'm right though |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/16/11 at 11:56:28 I ran out and bought a new air filter and installed it . $40, ouch. The old filter was dark grey and fuzzy. This might do it. The parts guy at the mc shop said you usually change them at 8k , mine has 4k mi. I don't know if this is normal or not . It did smell a little gassy in the air box ,but no wetness or oil.He also told me to run high test 93 ,I been running 89 .I'm going to change the plug soon,and add seafoam. Well thanks again ,we'll see what happens. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/16/11 at 12:06:39 0F06150A0D0652515A5A630 wrote:
The Suzuki owner's manual and just about everybody on this forum reccomends using 87. I don't think they're all wrong. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/16/11 at 12:08:23 I said that to the guy . I don't know. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by CalisOsin on 06/16/11 at 13:07:11 I'm not an expert by any means but I can usually regurgitate their info pretty well, so what I've read here is that the bike was designed to run on 87 and if you do run smoother with 91 it may mean there is too much build-up in your cylinder.... did I get that right? |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Serowbot on 06/16/11 at 13:18:51 That would make sense... High compression engines need higher octane... Less cylinder volume would raise compression... Ours run fine on regular,... high octane will hurt your mileage if anything... |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Routy on 06/16/11 at 16:12:01 Anybody can get 55 mpg,........35 just means you're havin fun ! |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/16/11 at 18:59:32 When I bought the bike the previous owner told me they ran 89 octane. Do you think it would be a mistake to switch at this point to 87? |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/16/11 at 20:22:39 Nope |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Boofer on 06/16/11 at 20:30:14 232A3926212A7E7D76764F0 wrote:
I run a Hi Flo Filtro air filter. $15. Bolts right up. Performance and mileage the same as OE filter I took out. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/17/11 at 10:34:27 Thanks for the tip boofer ,where do you get the hi flo filtro ? Also if you think your have carbon buildup in you cylinder,what is the best thing to do about it? |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by bill67 on 06/17/11 at 11:24:04 Put Sea Foam in the oil to clean up the engine,If you have Sea Foam you don't need to wait till you change the plug to put it in. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/18/11 at 09:11:54 how much seafoam in the oil? Do you have to change the oil shortly thereafter ,or just leave it in there? Thanks Bill . |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by bill67 on 06/18/11 at 10:14:24 It says on the can how much to a quart,No you don't have to change the oil the filter will pickup anything if their is any. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Serowbot on 06/18/11 at 10:22:50 I put a little Marvels Mystery Oil in mine once in a while... about a teaspoon, every other oil change or so...and another in the tank... For absolutely no logical reason whatsoever... :-?... The mechanical equivalent of giving my bike a cookie for good behavior... ;D... |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/18/11 at 10:25:49 I'm definately going to do the seafoam in the oil..Thanks |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/18/11 at 10:27:46 I dump a bit O diesel in the gas engines once in a while. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by bill67 on 06/18/11 at 10:44:10 I dump a bit o gas in the diesel engines in the winter time. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by OE on 06/20/11 at 19:38:06 51584B5453580C0F04043D0 wrote:
What happened after you changed the air filter? Make any difference? |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by rl153 on 06/21/11 at 08:22:34 I haven't driven far enough to tell if the air filter helped . My tank is still almost full . And this week were supposed to get rain . Oh well. Thanks for asking. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by spacepirates on 06/21/11 at 10:41:37 I've had bad gas mileage for a little over a year now. I checked compression, which may be off due to a crappy tester, but long story short BurnPGH tore down my engine, discovered a bad head gasket, and replaced it. Unfortunately I've been trying to get the jetting right before I actually decide if that helped with my issue. I just bought a replacement pod filter (ebay special for $10 or so), new plug, and will run seafoam for a while once I feel a bit better about the jetting. It is raining here all week (blasted "scattered" t-storms. never know when or if they'll get ya) and progress is always slow.... |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by spacepirates on 07/11/11 at 14:20:10 Just an update: Replaced my head gasket and rejetted (though i'm not sure i'm 100% yet). after that and adjusting the belt tension, I've gone up from 30-35 mpg to 47ish. I filled up after 50 miles, 35 of which were on the super slab doing 75mph. still not quite there, but a huge improvement none the less. I'm going to adjust my valves and keep on trying to get the jetting right. |
|
Title: Re: Bad Gas mileage Post by Boofer on 07/12/11 at 07:00:28 30392A3532396D6E65655C0 wrote:
Sorry I just read your question. My dealer got it for me. HMFA3608 fits perfect in original air box. I have to say I have three great mc shops/dealers in 20 miles. I haven't done this for the filter, but if you just Google that number it should come up. ihth :) |
|
SuzukiSavage.com » Powered by YaBB 2.2! YaBB © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved. |