SuzukiSavage.com - fuel mileage

BARoth

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fuel mileage
04/17/12 at 14:23:06

I am a new owner of a '98 Savage (4000 miles), but a long time rider. Looking for some tips on my bike. I hope to become a contributing member in time.

Right now I have a question. I've read that I should be getting between 50 and 60 mpg with a Savage. I've run two tanks of gas through it and I am hitting reserve at 70 miles, which equates to a bit over 31 mpg. Shoot, my HD gets 45 to 50, so this puzzles me. I haven't taken the carb apart so I don't know the jetting it has, the PO removed the cover over the air mixture screw, so I know that has been messed with. The screw is presently 2.5 turns out, the pop when shutting down is there. It still seems to run lean, as the idle smooths out when the choke is slightly pulled out.

I know that I need to pull the carb out and check the jets, but with the low mpg I'm getting, I doubt that could be the only issue, and I'm not flogging the bike by any means, but neither am I riding it like a grandma (no offense to grandmas). Any insight?

BARoth
'98 Suzuki Savage
'99 HD FXDX
'78 Honda Hobbit

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BARoth - NW Ohio
1998 Suzuki Savage
1999 Harley FXDX
1978 Honda Hobbit PA50i

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28884 L.A. California Gender:	Re: fuel mileage Reply #1 - 04/17/12 at 14:49:06 I'd run some seafoam 1st, sticky slides can hurt mpg. Check your petcock (see tech section link below) Check the vac line for any gas. Make sure the rear brake is loose and the front's not dragging.
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Savage_Rob

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Re: fuel mileage
Reply #2 - 04/17/12 at 15:50:12

verslagen1 wrote on 04/17/12 at 14:49:06:

I'd run some seafoam 1st, sticky slides can hurt mpg.
Check your petcock (see tech section link below)
Check the vac line for any gas.
Make sure the rear brake is loose and the front's not dragging.

+1, especially on checking the petcock and vacuum. Mine is a '98 and I have an Amal Mk2 carb on her (more responsive but less fuel efficient than the stock carb) and she still gets mileage in the mid to upper 40's.

Does she belch black smoke? Does your oil smell like gas? When you stop, can you smell fuel? Just thinkin' out loud...

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BARoth

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Re: fuel mileage
Reply #3 - 04/17/12 at 19:00:10

I did run SeaFoam through it on this tank.
It doesn't smoke.
I put tires on it between tank fulls and checked the brakes, no drag.
The oil doesn't smell like gas.
The vac line from the petcock to the right side of the carb has no gas in it.
What should I be looking for with the petcock?

I did pull the air filter, and will be changing it soon (see attached picture). I assume that is at least part of the problem...

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BARoth - NW Ohio
1998 Suzuki Savage
1999 Harley FXDX
1978 Honda Hobbit PA50i

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28653 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: fuel mileage Reply #4 - 04/17/12 at 19:24:28 31mpg.. you ain't lean, that's fer' sure... If it's running good, and not smoking,.. I'd be looking for a balloon in my tank.... ... Seriously,.. how much gas do you put in when you hit reserve?...
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BARoth YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 13	Re: fuel mileage Reply #5 - 04/17/12 at 19:29:30 Serowbot wrote on 04/17/12 at 19:24:28: Seriously,.. how much gas do you put in when you hit reserve?... The last time it was a bit over 2 gallons. I have no reason to suspect it would be less this time.
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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: fuel mileage Reply #6 - 04/17/12 at 20:37:50 Two gallons before reserve is just about right. Are your vent tubes tucked into the frame? Can you monitor them to see if maybe you're venting some fuel due to a sticking float or a needle that won't seat properly?
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BARoth

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Re: fuel mileage
Reply #7 - 04/18/12 at 04:07:14

Savage_Rob wrote on 04/17/12 at 20:37:50:

Two gallons before reserve is just about right. Are your vent tubes tucked into the frame? Can you monitor them to see if maybe you're venting some fuel due to a sticking float or a needle that won't seat properly?

I haven't watched the vent tubes, but I haven't seen any puddles under the bike after sitting a short time or overnight (and I monitor those things very well).

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BARoth - NW Ohio
1998 Suzuki Savage
1999 Harley FXDX
1978 Honda Hobbit PA50i

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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: fuel mileage Reply #8 - 04/18/12 at 04:39:04 If you do much heavy throttle, a dirty air filter is going to make a big difference in mpg. I "can" get 50, but I have to ride like Grandma to do it.
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LANCER

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Re: fuel mileage
Reply #9 - 04/18/12 at 05:48:01

A '98 model with only 4000 miles and poor milage ?
Seafoam through it with no or little effect ?
Bite the bullet and pull it apart for a complete cleaning and check.
All of those years just sitting has likely left hard deposits in the carb and manual cleaning is often the only way to get them out.
A carb cleaning tool is invaluable for this job. It cheap and saves lots of frustration.
#950-203 $10.50 at Sudco
There could also be cracks in the diaphragm but you gotta put your eyeball on it to know for sure.

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Joe F Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 85	Re: fuel mileage Reply #10 - 04/21/12 at 04:33:32 BARoth wrote on 04/17/12 at 19:00:10: I did pull the air filter, and will be changing it soon (see attached picture). I assume that is at least part of the problem... Changing the air filter gave me a 5% boost. Yours looks worse than mine did so it you might get even more
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BARoth

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Re: fuel mileage
Reply #11 - 04/30/12 at 04:00:07

Well, it's been busy around my house lately and the weather hasn't been too conducive to riding, BUT. I did replace my paper element with a some Unifoam air filter material, removed the snorkle, and rmoved the door. I guess I'll see what that does first. The next step will be to pull the carb and give it a good cleaning. I'll end up doing that anyway, when I check the jetting.

With a son graduating high school in a couple of months, I'm not getting the free time like I used to...

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BARoth - NW Ohio
1998 Suzuki Savage
1999 Harley FXDX
1978 Honda Hobbit PA50i

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: fuel mileage Reply #12 - 04/30/12 at 06:22:06 You got a boy about to graduate? Heck,, make him do it,,
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BARoth YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 13	Re: fuel mileage Reply #13 - 04/30/12 at 15:16:40 That would be nice, but the "tinkering" gene didn't get passed on... justin_o_guy2 wrote on 04/30/12 at 06:22:06: You got a boy about to graduate? Heck,, make him do it,,
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