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Terrible gas mileage
- Thread starter pitzerwm
- Start date
pitzerwm
New member
Follow up
I'm at Spyderfest and thanks to Cheryl and Laurie we all went on a 4 hour 110 mile run, essentially 25% of my riding. I had replaced the air filter with a K&N and ran 2 cans of Sea Foam thru it. Pleased to report that I got 37.85 mpg riding 2 up. So either riding around in town and working on the bike wasn't a fair test or the new air filter and Sea Foam did their job.
I'm at Spyderfest and thanks to Cheryl and Laurie we all went on a 4 hour 110 mile run, essentially 25% of my riding. I had replaced the air filter with a K&N and ran 2 cans of Sea Foam thru it. Pleased to report that I got 37.85 mpg riding 2 up. So either riding around in town and working on the bike wasn't a fair test or the new air filter and Sea Foam did their job.
Great news - I am a big fan of sea foam used in my boat, lawnmower and Spyder when resting over winter to keep gas fresh - works for me.
ThreeWheels
Active member
Sea Foam is a great product, and an easier breathing engine is also a plus, but I sincerely doubt that those changes will more than double your gas mileage.
To be honest, I'd question your original calculation. You can't really measure your gas mileage on a single tank of gas.
Nevertheless, I'm glad you're now getting a good result.
To be honest, I'd question your original calculation. You can't really measure your gas mileage on a single tank of gas.
Nevertheless, I'm glad you're now getting a good result.
Coreythebody
New member
I am new to Spyder Ryding, but I am also seeing "poor" mileage to date as well (I am only on my third tank of fuel). I have always used K&N air filters in my previous bikes and cars, but i was wondering if you could go into a little more detail about how you "ran 2 cans of Sea Foam thru it". Did you just add it to the gas at fillup or did you put some thru the oil crankcase too (a method i read about from their site)?
I have been using premium fuel and I added some Star Tron (Start Brite) to my last tank of fuel based on what I read on here in a different post to try and counteract the effects of Ethanol, but i was wondering if you (or anyone else for that matter) could enlighten me as to how you are using this product.
Thanks in advance, Corey
I have been using premium fuel and I added some Star Tron (Start Brite) to my last tank of fuel based on what I read on here in a different post to try and counteract the effects of Ethanol, but i was wondering if you (or anyone else for that matter) could enlighten me as to how you are using this product.
Thanks in advance, Corey
Bob Denman
New member
Hi Corey,
Please define, "poor"... :shocked:
What sort of readings are you getting? :dontknow:
Please define, "poor"... :shocked:
What sort of readings are you getting? :dontknow:
Coreythebody
New member
I have yet to do the math, but I will fill up later today or tomorrow and I will let you know. But for example, i last filled up about 120km (75 mi) ago, and I am well below the half tank level on the analog gauge.
Now i have read that the digital gauge is more accurate (honestly i did not even look at it yet), and i also have read on here that i may not be filling the tank properly (nozzle inserted too far so not really filling it up). I am used to my old bike where i could easily see the fuel level in the tank, so i will correct my fueling procedure and calculate the mpg's and get back to y'all.
Now i have read that the digital gauge is more accurate (honestly i did not even look at it yet), and i also have read on here that i may not be filling the tank properly (nozzle inserted too far so not really filling it up). I am used to my old bike where i could easily see the fuel level in the tank, so i will correct my fueling procedure and calculate the mpg's and get back to y'all.
Bob Denman
New member
Once you get the re-fueling routine down; just keep track of the mileage between fuel stops, and the amount of fuel that the bike takes with each stop... :thumbup:
pitzerwm
New member
Ok, Went on a 228 mile run today, other than a sore butt and shoulders, it was fun. Checking the mileage, I am getting 26.8 running around town last night and 32.4 on the return leg of the run.
As for the Sea Foam, I put one can in each of 2 tanks of gas. I agree just the filter and the SF wouldn't have made gthat big of difference. I was working on the bike, it was cold mostly city driving with the poor beginning results.
The old air filter, didn't look that bad, but might have been the original. 7400 miles.
I don't care what it is/was I'm happy that its normal.
As for the Sea Foam, I put one can in each of 2 tanks of gas. I agree just the filter and the SF wouldn't have made gthat big of difference. I was working on the bike, it was cold mostly city driving with the poor beginning results.
The old air filter, didn't look that bad, but might have been the original. 7400 miles.
I don't care what it is/was I'm happy that its normal.
belowme29
New member
I have a 2008 SM5 GS with 11,000 miles on it - I typically get 25 mpg. All this talk of trying to run it at 5500 RPM, does this also apply to the 990 engine?
It floors people when I tell them that my gas mileage is lower on my Spyder then what I get on my larger Saturn station wagon. I look so much cooler on the Spyder - so that is the preference in terms of transportation to work or hauling the kids around town. :doorag:
It floors people when I tell them that my gas mileage is lower on my Spyder then what I get on my larger Saturn station wagon. I look so much cooler on the Spyder - so that is the preference in terms of transportation to work or hauling the kids around town. :doorag:
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gin
Corey;
I use trip A in the mileage mode display to keep track of mpg between fill ups. This screen will
give you average mph and accumulated mileage for the fuel used. After I get the receipt for the fill up, I write that information on the receipt and then reset trip A to zero. Do that at every refill and you should have an accurate record for mpg.
AY4B
New member
sea foam will only help if you have an old engine with old gas.
AY4B
New member
That gives me a range of 181 miles. I entered that on my Garmin Gas app. If I do a reset on it every fillup, it will give me a low fuel warning with 25 miles to go.
isthatahemi
New member
Define not not working as hard! Less throttle opening?
There is a reason every new automatic transmissioned vehicle lugs as soon and often as possible. A heavier loaded engine running at low rpm with less throttle restriction is almost without exception more efficient. Higher rpm has more friction, more pumping losses, and generates more waste energy in the form of heat.
To sample what sort of efficiency you are achieving at a certain rpm, do a coast down test. It quickly becomes apparent that high rpms are a waste of fuel, engine life, and ear wax. Volumetric efficiency and fuel efficiency are being confused quite frequently on this forum. They are not one and the same.
coz
Active member
The Rotax 998
Is designed to run at higher rpm's, so the power band is higher up. Maybe 4 k - 7 k ? I forget the exact numbers. When I started keeping the rpm's up, the gas mileage improved noticeably. Many many other spyder owners have posted the same thing over the years. Personally, I don't worry about the gas mileage. It's just a fun toy to play with.
If your making more horsepower at a higher rpm, wouldn't that translate into less throttle opening to maintain the same speed?
The rt's are a whole different animal. They are bigger and heavier, more likely ridden two up, and loaded with stuff in all the trunks. High twenties is about normal.
Is designed to run at higher rpm's, so the power band is higher up. Maybe 4 k - 7 k ? I forget the exact numbers. When I started keeping the rpm's up, the gas mileage improved noticeably. Many many other spyder owners have posted the same thing over the years. Personally, I don't worry about the gas mileage. It's just a fun toy to play with.
If your making more horsepower at a higher rpm, wouldn't that translate into less throttle opening to maintain the same speed?
The rt's are a whole different animal. They are bigger and heavier, more likely ridden two up, and loaded with stuff in all the trunks. High twenties is about normal.
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isthatahemi
New member
My current truck revs to 7K rp, and the torque peak is 4500
That said, it loafs along at 1400 rpm in 6th as soon as it can to get best mileage.:thumbup: The difference between running 6th vs 2nd gear (4500rpm same speed) at the same speed, mileage wise is almost 30%! And each gear in between is just noisier and less efficient than the last.
My Spyder pulls cleanly and vibration free from 3K, as low as 2500rpm with light throttle, and there is no way on earth that it will get better mileage spinning 5000rpm.:shocked: I rented a SE5 and kept the revs around 5000-5500, as per the renter, the mileage was awful compared to my bike, and it is a pretty close comparison.
That said, it loafs along at 1400 rpm in 6th as soon as it can to get best mileage.:thumbup: The difference between running 6th vs 2nd gear (4500rpm same speed) at the same speed, mileage wise is almost 30%! And each gear in between is just noisier and less efficient than the last.
My Spyder pulls cleanly and vibration free from 3K, as low as 2500rpm with light throttle, and there is no way on earth that it will get better mileage spinning 5000rpm.:shocked: I rented a SE5 and kept the revs around 5000-5500, as per the renter, the mileage was awful compared to my bike, and it is a pretty close comparison.
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