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Buell Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through November 30, 2008 » Running rich in cold weather & lower MPG « Previous Next »

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Deanbush
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 06:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I ride my bike 2006 XB12ss year around,and in the cold 30 -40 degrees I am getting approx 4mpg less than summer riding. I have removed RSS and still engine is running rich and the exhaust fan comes on sometimes, so I reinstalled RSS and blocked half of the scoop off and still runs rich and the fan still comes on sometimes. Does anyone modify fuel map with ECM SPY to cure this or does anybody have any suggestions.
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Ikeman
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 11:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm willing to bet it's not running rich.

Given the same volume of air going into the cylinders the colder air is more dense (more oxygen molecules) than warm air.

More oxygen means more fuel to maintain the same air:fuel ratio. More fuel = less mileage. On the upside - more fuel/air = more power!

I love riding in cooler temps
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Jlnance
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 11:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

It could be a couple of things:

- Gasoline formulation changes between winter and summer.

- Combustion is less efficient when the engine is cooler.

- Takes longer to warm the engine up

http://www.cartalk.com/content/columns/Archive/199 7/March/01.html
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Punkid8888
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 02:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

+1 to what Jlnance just said
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Mmcn49
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 03:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I'm a year round daily commuter near Seattle. My commuting bike is a 72 R75/5 BMW. It has about a 6.5 gallon tank with around a 1 gallon reserve.

In the summer I can commute 8 days before hitting reserve. In the winter it’s about 7.
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Socalbueller
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 04:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

That is about the same for me in Los Angeles. I get about 4-6 mpg less in the winter than the spring, summer, or fall.
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Moosestang
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 04:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

My fan almost never runs when it's cold. Not even after my 15 mile commute home, 3-4 mile drive through my neighborhood at about 45mph and stopping twice for stop signs.

Am I the only one who's fan doesn't run often? Maybe the 12 runs hotter?
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Froggy
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 05:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I had to use ECMspy to check my fan last night moose, lol : )
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Iamarchangel
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 06:01 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I've noticed that runs of less than half an hour in temps in the low teens (C) don't trigger the fan. I usually run at about 4200 rpm.

I would expect lower mileage in colder weather for many reasons.

(Message edited by Iamarchangel on November 21, 2008)
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Fireboltwillie
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 06:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

25 lbs of extra clothing, for one.
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Moosestang
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 07:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I had to use ECMspy to check my fan last night moose, lol : )

Is it just me or is the fan louder when testing with ecmspy? Scared the crap out of me the first time I tested it.
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Htekwo
Posted on Friday, November 21, 2008 - 07:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Ikeman is correct. Do some reading on Air Fuel ratios and cold weather. As stated, in the cold, the amount of fuel added to the denser air must increase for the relative A/F ratio to remain the same. If you lean out the mixture, you risk detonation and engine damage, usually resulting in cracked ringlandings or bent rods or both.
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Deanbush
Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 08:06 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I agree. with both Ikeman & Jinance. I start out running 45mph first 10-15 min,approx 5 miles. Then freeway running 70-80mph 15-20 min,approx 12 miles. Then approx 5 miles at 45mph. I did the above to see if I could get the engine to run and heat up faster, and in both conditions the fan would come on approx 75% of the time. I just did the 10,000 mile service and the spark plugs are both black and dry at the base. I also found the rear spark plug wire crimped on connector was rusted and the retainer ring was broken into. I cleaned up connector and and put conductive grease on it and the new NGK Iridium plug just to test run engine. I have ordered a new set of wire's from Al at American Sport Bike. When I reinstalled the rear plug wire I noticed that the wire starts bending at approx 80 degrees right where the spark plug boot begins and this causes a small gap between the wire and boot. I will seal this area on both new wires when I receive them, just thought you would like to know about this potential problem and if anybody else has come across the this. Thanks, Dean Bush
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