I'm only getting 35MPG .... reasons ?
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,625
From: along the shore of Mishigami
QuaDancer, have you thought about a #46 pilot jet, if the mileage goes up then go back to the stock 45 pilot, if performance goes down go back to the 46. I've got the stock jets in my carb, raised the needle two washers and have the a/f mix out 23/4 -3 turns. About 42-44 intown and 48 on the road.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 362
Likes: 1
From: Texas
I was out of the USA and not driving vehicles for a while. I came back and found the ethanol fuel gets poor MPG.
I would hope that 93 oct is 93. Wind has been rather strong in my area too.
Have you;
Changed oil type.
Check tire pressure.
Checked spark plugs.
Still feel you ride the same.
I would hope that 93 oct is 93. Wind has been rather strong in my area too.
Have you;
Changed oil type.
Check tire pressure.
Checked spark plugs.
Still feel you ride the same.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,396
Likes: 266
From: Southern California
10% ethanol might drop MPG by about 0.5 % to 1.0 % maxium. To drop MPG by 10% would mean that the BTU content of ethanol was zero . . . and that's not happinin'. More likely that cold weather means a greater amount of cold start enrichment and for a longer period of time. But most of all I'd be willing to bet that when the weather is warmer we all ride just a bit more, idle the engine a bit less and ride a bit further each time we ride . . . put all that together and it'll cause a huge change in MPG along the lines that some in this thread mention.
QuaDancer, have you thought about a #46 pilot jet, if the mileage goes up then go back to the stock 45 pilot, if performance goes down go back to the 46. I've got the stock jets in my carb, raised the needle two washers and have the a/f mix out 23/4 -3 turns. About 42-44 intown and 48 on the road.
Trick for the enrichener I use is to pull it out ONLY for idle, and shove it in once leaving a stoplight, until I don't need it anymore. Forgot it was out once and my mileage definitely tanked.
EDIT: Woopah!!! Just gassed up from our last run where I was solo and hit 41.7 mpg! Best ever yet, and I'm satisfied nothing is really wrong if I get that again. I think the ol' lady needs to get back on the diet again.
Last edited by Quadancer; Apr 18, 2010 at 12:21 PM.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
mine dropped 10% and all i can find so far is it is the fuel causing it. i get same mpg in summer or winter maybe because thundermax retunes for conditions. I even went so far as to change to the stock ecm and same 10% drop there. if i ad fuel additive i gain back the 10% loss. i guess epa thinks you can pollute less with cleaner burning fuel but use more of it.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Road trip last year, two weeks through the midwest, late June to early July. 40-45 MPH on a 2008 Heritage loaded down...except in Kansas. Dropped to 28-33 MPG after my first fill up in Goodland, KS. Crappy mileage all the way across Kansas, so much so that after leaving Wichita and dropping to 28 MPG in to Oklahoma, I called the HD dealership in OKC to bring my bike in. Told them what was happening with fuel mileage and they said bring it in. Filled up in OK at the same time I called the dealership. When I rolled in, I was back to 40-42 MPG. Service manager asked if I had come through KS because they'd been getting a lot of bikes coming out of Knsas having the same drop. Their belief is a lot of stations in KS are using higher levels of ethenol than reported. They said there was no point in them looking at the bike because the mileage was back up, indicating gas issues. Averaged 40-45 MPG the rest of the trip.
Getting ready to hit the road again in two weeks, including Kansas. We'll see if we have the same issue. Taking a few bottles of additive in case it happens again.
Getting ready to hit the road again in two weeks, including Kansas. We'll see if we have the same issue. Taking a few bottles of additive in case it happens again.
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