G oog le BadWeB | Login/out | Topics | Search | Custodians | Register | Edit Profile

Buell Forum » Knowledge Vault (tech, parts, apparel, & accessories topics) » Troubleshooting (Poor Starting/Running/Handling/Ride Issues) » Archive through August 08, 2007 » Poor fuel economy « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bigdog_tim
Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 - 03:01 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have an '04 Firebolt (12r). For the first 20K miles, 50 MPG was the minimum (high is 59 MPG). Even in mellow riding, 43 MPG is a high for the last 1000 miles or so.

There are NO starting or riding issues - the bike starts immediately and there is no surging, misfiring etc.

The last TPS reset was down around 5K (I started doing all of my own wrenching about then).

I plan to do a TPS reset as soon as the VDSTS supplier I use supports Vista - but any other ideas? I do have fresh plugs, good air filter etc. The bike is bone stock.

Thanks,
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Alchemy
Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 - 11:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Is it possible that your idle setting has something to do with it? I sometimes wonder if a higher idle has an effect on mileage.

Tire pressure? Has the air filter been changed? Spark plug cables a bit loose?

Just some guessing on my part. No expert here<grin>.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bigdog_tim
Posted on Tuesday, June 19, 2007 - 10:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hi Alchemy,

Thanks for the suggestions - but check, check, check and check. I am pretty fussy about sorting out my bikes. That is what has me stumped. I am hoping this is just a TPS issue. I will report back after a tank or so after the TPS.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Sdlabrat
Posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 12:31 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Try riding on HWY for 5 min at 3000 rpm. This will reset ECM. Have you ever noticed that bike rides one way in morning, then another at night? That's because mix ratio is preset in ECM from some time that the air was more dense, you are now likely running rich. My theory, costs nothing to try? Also, try battery disconnect, it may reset the ECM?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Fullpower
Posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 - 04:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

they changed your fuel formulation ( again)
It would appear that you WERE running some higher BTU value fuel when your baseline was established, and now the local refiner is giving out some less er quality stuff.
I also was regularly getting 56 to 60 MPG highway mileage for the first year or so riding my XB12. the last year or so mileage has declined to 52 on the highway, and 40 around town.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bueluly
Posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 - 11:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Newbie on a Uly. 39 to 42 MPG 1st 1.5K. @ 2K now. 2 tanks after service max MPG 45. 90% hwy. Rich is an understatement prior to service. Sitting at a stop I almost choked on raw gas. Better after service. I was told nothing was changed. Things that make you go Hmmm. Here in Ca octane 91. Whats a newbie to do.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Blake
Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - 01:43 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What is "BTU value"?
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bueluly
Posted on Friday, June 29, 2007 - 01:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

British thermal unit
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The British thermal unit (BTU or Btu) is a unit of energy used globally in the power, steam generation and heating and air conditioning industries. Although it is in common use in these industries, in scientific use it has been replaced by the SI unit of energy, the joule (J).

In North America, the term "BTU" is used to describe the heat value (energy content) of fuels, and * 1 standard cubic foot of natural gas ≈ 1000 BTU (to within a few percent)


[edit] Associated units
The BTU per hour (BTU/h) is the unit of power most commonly associated with the BTU.

1 watt is approximately 3.41 BTU/h
1000 BTU/h is approximately 293 W
1 horsepower is approximately 2,500 BTU/h
1 "ton of cooling", a common unit in North American refrigeration and air conditioning applications, is 12,000 BTU/h. It is the amount of power needed to melt one short ton of ice in 24 hours.
1 therm is defined in the United States and European Union as 100,000 BTU — but the U.S. uses the BTU59 °F whilst the EU uses the BTUIT.
1 quad (energy) (short for quadrillion BTU) is defined as 1015 BTU, which is about one exajoule (1.055×1018 J). Quads are occasionally used in the United States for representing the annual energy consumption of large economies: for example, the U.S. economy used 99.75 quads/year in 2005. [1].
The BTU should not be confused with the Board of Trade Unit (B.O.T.U.), which is a much larger quantity of energy (1 kW·h, or about 3412 BTU).
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bigdog_tim
Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 10:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Update on my fuel economy woes: I had not had a TPS reset done for about 18K miles or so. I started doing my own wrenching at the 5K - and did not have the gear to do a TPS.

I got the VDSTS from American Sport Bike (and after some tech support - thanks again Al), finally got the TPS reset. I put 300 miles on the bike today (all very aggressive) and got 53 MPG. Yes, life is good again! : )
« Previous Next »

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and custodians may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Post as "Anonymous" (Valid reason required. Abusers will be exposed. If unsure, ask.)
Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Rules | Program Credits Administration