| Author | Message | ||
     Mark_weiss |
A few weeks ago I noticed that the top of my '08's muffler was stained, it wasn't just dirt or mud. A close look revealed that the muffler covered with oil. It took a while, but I traced the oil leak to the rocker box on the rear cylinder. It was leaking above the exhaust port, dripping onto the pipe and running onto the fins, finally onto the trans and down to the muffler. I cleaned it up and re-checked each day. The leak was very minor, but persistent. I had no idea how long the leak had been going, it was that slow. How does this relate to fuel mileage? When the engine was rotated to replace the rocker box gasket, it was discovered that the oxygen sensor was coated with oil. The sensor was cleaned up, but when the bike was running, the technician noted that the O2 sensor was giving erratic readings. Not enough to trip a check engine light, just not consistent. With the O2 sensor replaced, my mileage has jumped up about 3 mpg. Right back to the level that it was at in September. Looking at my mpg records, I'd say that the sensor became fouled in early to mid October. Mark in Arizona | ||
| Froggy |
Not sure if its done your area, but many states switch to oxygenated blends of fuel during winter, and as result you lose a few MPG. Typically goes from November first to mid March. | ||
| Teeps |
I've been tinkering with the 02 sensor input on my Uly. Why, you ask? Because it's there and I can... Anyway, prior to the tinkering my '06 Uly got a consistent 50mpg. Since tinkering it's getting 45mpg. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
That was my initial thought & why I really did not look into the drop in mileage. However, mileage dropped prior to switching to our winter blend and was consistent when on a trip, running non-oxygenated fuel too. Also, the mileage increase occurred prior to the change back to summer blend. Mark in Arizona |
