^^^ This.

Just for fun, you could get a very small plastic gas can & fill it up. Then, strap it to your rear seat & ride til you run out. Then you'll know for sure what mileage you're getting.

 

I rode today and all 4 "Fuel Squares" were flashing... I'm not sure how close I was to running out, but I know it had to be close.

 

I did my first documented tank and got 170mpg before the fuel reserve came on. With that I believe I am getting about 40-42 miles to the gallon and 210 to the tank. Is this good?

 

That is how mine behaves.


Guys - don't trust those Fuel Reserve Bars. They all seem to come on at different times, etc....

 

What temp are u riding in? Now that it is colder i am not seeing the 40+ milage i was during the summer. I now can only get right around 35 because it to cold for there to be a good mix of fuel goin on.

 

Out in NV the weather has fluctuated from mid-80's/low-90s to the low-to-mid-60s.

Usually it's close to 70 in the morning, and 80 in the afternoon when I leave.

I just changed the oil, checked the air filter (it looked good,) and put some more chemtool in with the gas. I ran the engine a little while working on it yesterday, but if I don't see at least 120mi before the res bars go on this week I'll call my mechanic back and see what he thinks.

 

Just wanted to follow up, since so many people were so helpful.

As of my fill up this morning, I got ~119mi on 3.4 gal of gas (no res bars showing) so ~35mpg. Not perfect, but much improved and not too bad for an 01 with semi-high miles and surface street routes.

It looks like the service, the chemtool, or a mix of both cleared up my gas mileage problems. I also changed the oil, but I doubt that would have so significant of an impact.

Thanks for the help everyone, I appreciate it

 

Just a quick note because I saw that some of you are running 93 octane. If your owners manual specifies 87 or 89 octane you're wasting your money. Unless your motor has been modified with a shaved head, a thinner head gasket, or high compression pistons, then you don't need the anti-detonation properties of the higher octane, and your motor will actually make more power with the lower octane.
An easy way to tell if you need a higher octane is to listen for the knocking sound of pre-ignition. Get your bike up to about 55mph, shift into 6th, then quickly open the throttle. If the motor just accelerates with no knocking then you don't need to go any higher in octane.

EDIT: My '06 f4i manual specifies "86 or higher"; can't say about other years or models

 

my owners manual states 86+ octane, while the sticker under the seat states 91 octane.


Moses

 

The manual that I saw calls for 91+ so I've been running 93 as no one around here carries 91. Idk if thats the manual for my bike but it was a manual for an f4i?

I get 35 hwy and 40 around town