11 km/l (34mpg) worryingly low mileage per tank and snokel/flapper mod

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by Albz, Jun 4, 2015.

  1. Albz

    Albz New Member

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    :disturbed: I just picked my VFR up 2005 model with 40 000km on it and its returning only 220 odd kilometers till empty. Had a 08 R1 and it was doing similar mileage (sometimes more) on a smaller 17 l tank.

    What could be causing this and what mods could you recommend to help it regain some mileage on a tank? I am running a slightly softer pressure on the back (2.60 bar opposed to 2.90, recommended) to allow for more grip at quick pace. would this make a huge difference?

    Would the snorkel, flapper and PAIR valve modifications make a difference in fuel consumption and would you recommend them? I am really struggling with the bikes economy and would greatly appreciate any help.

    Thanks
     
  2. Scotto

    Scotto New Member

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    PM Badbilly; he knows the answer to everything, if you don't believe it, just ask him.
     
  3. Pliskin

    Pliskin New Member

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    What's the operating temperature of the bike once warmed up? You should be at 80-104C once fully warmed up. If you are running below these temps, chances are your thermostat is stuck open, causing the bike to run too cool and causing it to run too rich.

    Scotto - BB will be happy to know you finally came around.
     
  4. Scotto

    Scotto New Member

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    The water temp answer makes good sense. If that's not the deal, make sure you don't have a warped disc that's creating a boatload of drag. That'll eat fuel, too.

    But still, for the best results, sans guessing and process elimination, PM Badbilly and get it resolved in just one email.
     
  5. Albz

    Albz New Member

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    Thanks guys, my running temp is around 85 c and I don't think I have warped disc, don't feel a pulsing through the lever under braking
     
  6. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Sorry, I don't know. Good call on the warped disc.. There are several contributors who use their bikes as commuters and will have really solid info and suggestions that are not guesswork from the geriatric set..;)
     
  7. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    I was happy until it became clear that between having two Harleys, a couple of underpowered Beemers and old age catching up with Scooto, he may need more help than I can provide.

    I'll get over it.. ;)
     
  8. Bryan88

    Bryan88 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

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    Howzit. Do you know when the plugs and air filter were last changed? That could be making it a bit thirsty.
     
  9. TNRabbit

    TNRabbit New Member

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    the next thing I would check is your fuel pressure regulator. Pull the vacuum line off of it let's see if gasoline is present in the vacuum line.
     
  10. Scotto

    Scotto New Member

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    Yes, wasted electrodes will certainly trash mpg, as will a fouled air filter. Sometimes a hung up piston in a brake caliper will create drag and not pulse like a warped disc, so that's something to check out too. There are enough things here for you to check out and then get back with us. I hope this sorts it out....
     
  11. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    ...and if it doesn't square it away or sort it oot, Scooto has this missive to present to all participants:

    To those of you who have made use comments, thank you. For those of you who did not, I know you're not my son as your mom swallows (most of the time). I'm surprised you actually came (no pun intended) to be

    We are now taking up a collection for an online anger management course for this dude. Send your dimes and dollars to Dr. Phil.
     
  12. Scotto

    Scotto New Member

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    One other thing with the hung up brake caliper is that sometimes the master cylinder may have an issue with not releasing pressure exerted on the caliper piston. That should keep you busy for a time, yet.
     
  13. Lint

    Lint Member

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    Check your tire pressure.
     
  14. scorpuco

    scorpuco New Member

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    Wait, 34mpg is considered bad? I average 36 and assumed it was normal! Most of my time is sat at red lights and in heavy traffic, though, so maybe it's more when on the open road.
     
  15. Lint

    Lint Member

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    I have yet to ever see better than 46mpg with my bike and that was running pure gas and a tail wind. My Triumph Sprint RS with a 955cc triple would get 46 all day long. 44 in the canyons. My VFR gets 32-38 depending on how I ride it. I've even gotten as low as 30. The engine just isn't that great for fuel economy unless you ride slow or weigh little and don't have shoulder that stick up in the wind. My brother's Harley get 50+ carrying two people and luggage after he put some type of add on fuel controller on it.
     
  16. Pliskin

    Pliskin New Member

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    In his initial post, he says he was getting 220km (136 miles) until empty. So assume he uses 5 gallons, still leaving half a gallon, that's only 27mpg he's averaging. That's not so good.

    I personally never got over 40 on my Y2K, and averaged about 33-34.
     
  17. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    When I first got my '09 it came with a 2 Bros exhaust system on it and periodically it would run oddly and back fire on me. At that time I was getting roughly 200 miles or slightly higher (210 max) out of a tank but the bike didn't feel right. I ended up doing the flapper mod an snorkel removal but that didn't cure anything. I then added a Power Commander 5 and a K&N air filter and she ran much better but at the sacrifice of mileage per tank. Although I did leave the flapper and snorkel mods for a while, I have since restored their operation as it seemed that I really only gained intake noise and mileage didn't seem to change either way. At this stage I would get at least 180 miles out of a tank with the highest being 207 miles.

    Right now I have a map in the PCV I downloaded from VFRD and the bike runs great. I wanted to see what kind of mileage I was actually getting, vice going by miles per tank, so I started to keep track of it recently. Based on the last 31 fill ups (~5k miles), the lowest MPG I got was 37.38 MPG and the highest was 46.07 MPG. Based on the numbers I have, the average from the 31 fill ups would be 38.69. Out of the 31, I got 40+ MPG 21 times, the rest were 39 or below. I can say the latest runs after running a can of Sea Foam in two tanks of gas (1/2 bottle each tank), all but one run was at 40 MPG or above, the one being at 39.78 MPG.

    So how do I typically ride? Most of these miles are commuter miles, short street runs to and from the freeway but predominately freeway/highway miles, albeit with lane splitting traffic runs. I always try and keep my tires inflated to 36f/42r and I use Michelin Pilot Road tires, prior to the PR4 rear tire I have now, I had a PR2 rear tire. The front in both cases is a Pilot Power 3. I also lube the chain around every 500-800 miles. My last oil change and air filter cleaning was done approximately 9k miles ago, and the tires were changed about 5k miles ago. The last time the spark plugs were changed was 19k miles ago. For the record I run Rotella T6 5W40 and Purolator Pure 1 oil filter (PL14612) and I change the oil every 8k-10k, so it looks like I'm due...

    When was the last time your bike was given a "tune up"? i.e. Plugs, oil and air filters changed. The last time the chain was lubed and/or adjusted?

    All that being said, after having done the tracking of mileage on the 09, I recently started doing this with my 01, what a difference! The lowest MPG I have gotten was 41.71 MPG and the highest was coming home from the R3 event this year where I got 52.46 MPG! This is based on the last 5 fill ups and ~730 miles.
     
    Last edited: Jun 5, 2015
  18. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    Any mileage figures to three decimals for the bean counters?
     
  19. Albz

    Albz New Member

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    thanks guys, sorry been offline for quite a while. Did check the air box, had a K&N in there and it was extremely blocked up... I dont know how the bike was still running. Cleaned that out and its got some bark now and on the track this weekend I got 30 mpg, which I considered pretty decent in track conditions (V-Tec the whole time),. so I believe the air filter was to blame. 2000km since I bought her and freeing up nicely now, plugs are due in 5000km(again could improve my economy, so doing it this weekend) and valve clearances will be checked at 48000 km too. running at 2.6 and 2.4, back and front respectively (fast road riding), going to try pump up to 2.9 and 2.7 as per manual, for next weekends 250km ride, try do a economy run and get some decent feed back figures. Should decrease rolling resistance. Thank you for all the help, greatly appreciated and has helped me diagnose some possible issues, also putting S3 ceramic compound race pads in this weekend as well as braided hoses so I'll have a look the pistons on the calipers, am hearing a slight grinding noise so could be stuck piston
     
  20. Albz

    Albz New Member

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    oli and oil filter replaced 1500km ago
     
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