Couple of gas questions.

[LilBeaver]

I run regular.

 

I get 28-30mpg no matter if I run regular or premium, ethanol or 100%

 

This might improve if you keep both wheels on the ground

[MidlifeVenture]

Hey Dan......yep I posted the comment on Sea Foam when MidlifeVenture mentioned his issue with the vent lines under the bike. Figured he had a needle sticking.

 

Nuttin' to do with the gas grade in the thread.

 

And I posted where I had a smell because the original post also said there was a gas smell and I agree this was when I first bought the bike in Sept 2008 so it was sitting since 2007 and seafoam seemed to help back then.

[GeorgeS]

Put in some Sea Foam, also drain each Carb Bowl, after a run. You might have a sticking needle valve in one of the bowls. Sea Foam might Clear it.

 

Also, there are seversl short fuel lines feeding those 4 carbs, One might be leaking onto a HOT Surface, causeing the fuel smell.

 

Sombody else had this same type problem about a month ago, it was discussed, but I don't remember his fix ! If there was one.

 

I would just start checking Every Fuel line connection.

[Evan]

Interesting comments. I sure learn a bunch from this site.

[barend]

I've had the gas smell, but not been able to find anything. I've assumed maybe diaphrams.

I try to run straight gas, which I believe gives me better MPG's, otherwise I run midgrade.

I have times where she just doesn't feel right but can't find evidence of a plug not firing, and the exhaust gets hotter then I care to touch. Maybe a partial or intermittent coil?? And how do you find which one, if not consistent.

I'm down to 32-34 with the sidecar on.

[GaryZ]

You only need to run a higher octane if your motor is "pinging" under a load. I mention this because different areas of the planet have very different fuel quality. I have experienced "pinging" on California regular gas when AZ, NM, and OK regular did not.

 

10% Ethanol fuel seems to have one major problem for me. This fuel turns bad in about half the time of 100% gas. I suffered carb probs on both of my bikes until I learned this tidbit. I now put around 3oz of SeaFoam in every other tank. The SeaFoam keeps the carbs clean and treats the fuel.

[Condor]

Premium fuel is a total waste of money if your engine is not pinging. If you know the chemistry about octane ratings, you know it is impossible for any engine to run smoother or have better fuel mileage from higher octane, but there are always people who insist on arguing with that. The one FACT here is that the manufacturer specifies regular fuel for this engine.

 

Goose

 

 

I used to run premium because I thought... What the heck, for the few pennys difference in the cost of a tank I'd go with the very best. Nothin's too good for my baby... Then I found that after reading a lot about this subject I wasn't doing it any good. The Venture is designed and set up to run Regular. Since switching back to reg. my mpg's are much better, and the engine runs a lot stronger. My

[1joeranger]

Normally I get 40~45mpg. Over the last few months though I get about 32mpg. Done sync the carbs, replaced the plugs, cleaned the air filters, and have checked to make sure all cylinders are firing. I have dumped seafoam in my last 2 of 3 fillups and I am hoping that may clean em up. I have also started using Regular gas without the ethanol. What would my next step be if that does not resolve the issue? Someone mentioned draining the carb bowls? I really don't want to take carbs apart!

[V7Goose]

Normally I get 40~45mpg. Over the last few months though I get about 32mpg. Done sync the carbs, replaced the plugs, cleaned the air filters, and have checked to make sure all cylinders are firing. I have dumped seafoam in my last 2 of 3 fillups and I am hoping that may clean em up. I have also started using Regular gas without the ethanol. What would my next step be if that does not resolve the issue? Someone mentioned draining the carb bowls? I really don't want to take carbs apart!

Unscrew your plug caps from the wires and measure the resistance. They should all be roughly the same. I do not remember the actual resistance spec off hand, but it is documented in older threads here as well as the shop manual.

Goose

[Ndiaz]

My 88 Venture Royale runs just fine on 87-octane regular fuel. Any brand does fine, with no pinging, no adverse effects. Major brand or off brand -- no difference.

 

I would never own a bike that is not happy burning cheap, regular fuel.

 

Nick Diaz

Middletown, MD

[Yamaman]

Normally I get 40~45mpg. Over the last few months though I get about 32mpg. Done sync the carbs, replaced the plugs, cleaned the air filters, and have checked to make sure all cylinders are firing. I have dumped seafoam in my last 2 of 3 fillups and I am hoping that may clean em up. I have also started using Regular gas without the ethanol. What would my next step be if that does not resolve the issue? Someone mentioned draining the carb bowls? I really don't want to take carbs apart!

 

You do not have to take off your carbs to drain the bowls. Each one has a screw that you open to drain them. Do a search and you will find threads with detailed pics. The screws are a little tough to find, and hard to get to, but they are there. I know cause I needed to drain mine when I was having carb problems last summer.

[RAYinCT]

I must say, I also am learning alot from this site....... Thanks everone!!!

[1joeranger]

Draining the bowls hopefully flushes out any trash? Completely clueless about checking resistance on plug wires? Unscrewing plug caps? Is that from the coils? I read some other posts and this sounds like a worthwhile investigation just need a flashlight!

 

Thanks!!

[KiteSquid]

I have also started using Regular gas without the ethanol.

 

Where are you buying gasoline that does not have ethanol added????

[1joeranger]

Local gas station promotes it. I'll post a picture in the near future!

[Venturous Randy]

I have heard it stated here that an engine runs cooler on premium. It is my understanding that due to premium burning slower, it actually baths the cylinder walls more as it is burning while the piston is driven down during the power stroke, therefore adding more heat to the engine. At least that was the way it was explained to me by someone that knows a lot more than me.

RandyA

[V7Goose]

Draining the bowls hopefully flushes out any trash? Completely clueless about checking resistance on plug wires? Unscrewing plug caps? Is that from the coils? I read some other posts and this sounds like a worthwhile investigation just need a flashlight!

 

Thanks!!

There should be no reason to drain the carbs unless you are fighting a stuck float (if you were, there would be gas running down the inside of one of the front lower cowlings). Your bike has a fuel filter, so that should keep contaminates of any size that can cause problems out of the carbs. But if you want to check it anyway, get a length of plastic tubing that will fit on the nipple sticking down from the bowl and put it in a clean glass jar before you open the drain screw. The gas drained into the jar should have absolutely no visible particles or dirt in it.

 

The plug caps just have a sheet metal screw inside them that screws down into the stranded copper wire core (while the caps can be removed from the wires, the wires cannot be removed from the coils). To remove the cap, just take the plug cap off of the spark plug, hold the wire close to the plug cap, and unscrew the cap like you were opening a water faucet. Now use an ohm meter and check the resistance between that sheet metal screw and the contact inside the cap that clips onto the spark plug. I think the resistance should be somewhere around 10K ohms. The exact resistance is not too important, but if one of them is significantly higher than the others, it will need to be fixed or replaced. High resistance will cause a slight misfire that is hard to detect without an exhaust gas analyzer, but it can significantly impact fuel mileage.

Goose

[1joeranger]

Wow, Thanks V7Goose!! I will be checking out the plug wires tomorrow. And after your explanation have no reason to mess with those bowls!! Again Thanks and as others say I learn so much from this site! Proud to be a member!!!