My own gas mileage question

B

Blessed Former Atheist

New member
Many of you will remember my rant about bringing my bike to Florida's Panhandle and whining about the rain. Last few days were nice and I did enjoy the ride but while here my mileage suffered dramatically. I left for home last Wednesday and once I got into Ga, SC and NC gas my mileage greatly improved. I see Florida has at least 10% ethanol as does Va and as I live very close to the border I always try to get my gas in NC. The only other thing I can think of that would have possibly contributed to the poor mileage was the fact that I had the rain sock on my Heavy Breather the whole time I was here but I have a hard time believing I would go from an average of 40-44 MPG down to 35-37 in Florida. Take also into consideration it is flatter than a pancake in Fl as opposed to where I live plus I spend most of my time riding the twisties in the mountains. Any other thoughts?
 
I keep the sock on my breather all the time and on my last trip, running 2 up i still got 50mpg. Maybe a bit too much throttle while trying not to get run over down in Fla.? Or too much time sitting in traffic.
 
I can tell ya that here in CO (metro Denver), we have 10% ethanol is our fuel (dammit :@) and I get anywhere from 43 - 50 mpg, depending on 'where' I fuel up.

Last weekend (Labor Day Weekend), I did a road trip to Sun City West (metro Phoenix) to visit my parents) and had some really lousy fuel mileage, based on what I am used to, keeping my riding style constant.

The only things I can attribute the change to are:
1) Lower altitude (though you'd think O2 sensors would accommodate that in the ECM)
2) Fuel in AZ was just crap fuel no. I did notice that coming home, I filled up at a Shell (one of my preferred) across the street from where I had fueled up coming down to Phx and I did get better fuel mileage on that tank.

Not sure I helped or hindered you.
 
I get better fuel mileage in the mountains than on flat land. As stated altitude could contribute as well. If you spend much time in traffic that can kill fuel mileage too. If you are able to get real gas in NC that too could be a problem in FL where our gas SUCKS.
 
I can't think of all of the variables that can affect fuel mileage. Fuel itself with it's additives, air temperature, altitude above sea level, riding habits, tire pressure and terrain (hills). When you ride in what may appear to be fairly flat terrain, there could be some small hills you are climbing that may not be obvious. As most of you have noticed, a stock Harley engine will start loading up when climbing even a small incline.

It can be any one of these factors or the combination of any or all of them that will have an affect on your fuel mileage.

My '09 Ultra Classic gets terrible fuel mileage when I ride to Colorado using the 85 octane fuel. it's not just because of the hills and mountains. I can hear the difference in the way the engine runs and sounds.
 
I did a road trip this last weekend down to Redding through Central Oregon and then back up the coast and most of the time I was averaging 45 mpg but one stretch between Klamath Fall OR and Redding CA I got 38 mpg. The only thing that I could figure was 1) speed, we were doing 75+ most of the way and 2) Wind, It was both windy and hot and there were several trucks that past going the other way that it was like getting slammed by a wall of wind. When we went through the hills to the west of Redding to Eureka CA I got 49 mpg. I always seem to do better in the mountains too. The one thing that I notice with that is that in the mountains I rarely get up into the 70's or faster so I think that speed has a lot to do with it. I sometime have to ride up to Tacoma and if I am pushing it hard I get poor mileage but when I take it easy I get good. That my observation.
 
I run minimum 91 and generally 93, but with ethanol a fixed component in gas today my mileage sucks regardless, as well I use ethanol compensating additives to at least keep it from eating itself.
 
I'm in the eastern part of NC. Went to the beach last Tuesday. 190 miles round trip and only needed 4 gallons to fill the tank. Compared to what I got with my Nomad, I'm happier than a little boy with two speckled puppies.
 
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