ATV Florida Forum

Anyone know where I can find fuel economy data, specifically for the larger(500cc and up) 4x4 ATV’s. Polaris, Honda, Suzuki etc…
Thanks!

to answer your question, no i dont. i have a question though, why need fuel economy ratings on a quad? just curious.

1. The government has a site providing this information for cars:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

I searched this site for ATV or UTV stats and found none. Some vehicle manufacturers are exempt from providing MPG information on some vehicles:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/which_tested.shtml

Motorcycles, for example. I am guessing that the manufacturers of ATVs and UTVs are also exempt.

2.  The Union of Concerned Scientists

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/archive/page.cfm?pageID=223

talks about federal fuel economy standards but does mention standards for motorcycles or other recreational vehicles.

As far as your initial question, "What mileage does an ATV or UTV, gas or diesel, get?," this depends on the kind of use. Obviously not the city/highway figures commonly provided for cars, but some other scale.

Another question to ask is who would care about this information? It may fall into the category, at least for manufacturers and users, of "if you have to ask you can't afford it."

We, as a planet, can't afford it, but if the federal government doesn't require those figures, manufacturers probably don't feel the need to provide it.

3. Honda motorcycles addresses fuel economy on its website:

http://world.honda.com/environment/conservation-activities/product-development/motorcycles/fuel-economy/

although it doesn't provide a handy chart.

You might have luck searching on the web for each ATV and UTV and its fuel economy statistics or contacting the manufacturers for their figures and building your own database.

I hope this helps.

To answer the why is because, at times we/I have ridden 40-50 miles a day and not having to worry about carrying extra gas is a plus. I noticed that some of the manufactures are turning out smaller tanks and with the newer machines being EFI, not sure if that’s better gas economy or not. (of course a lot is how the machine is driven and riding conditions) There has been 3-4 times I have returned to the trailer with the gas gauge blinking, as accurate as they are. I currently have a sportsman 600 and enjoy the challenges of mud holes and charting new legal paths. Also I make 1-2 trips a year out of state and this year at Coal Creek I ran dry at 59 miles, mostly of hard packed ground. If I knew I could do this many miles every time gas economy would not be a concern, but in Florida sugar sand, mud, etc.. I normally get about 12 miles a gallon. This is just something I was curious about more than a serious concern. Just for the record I have out gassed a Kawasaki, but been pushed by a Honda.

Rico- just going out on limb, you must have been a straight A student. Thank you for your time and effort.

Funny, I have pushed a Ploaris before. I road 61 miles without hitting my reserve tank. I have a Honda Foreman and its fun to push a Polaris. I saw one roll down hill one time. About 3 miles in neutral then I had to push it back to the trailer.  :-*

Well, first of all i'm not sure what a ploaris is and how you would go about pushing such a thing but a big thing with quads is how many cylanders you have. My dad has a POLARIS 500 single and he can go like 70 miles or so but our buddy has a 700twin and he can only go like 50. Also how you drive and where your driving depends allot on your mileage. If your flogging it around and holding it down in every mud hole then your probably not going to get the best ecnomy you can get. Now to anwser your EFI question, EFI is a much better solution as far as engines are concerned. First of all, carberators drip the fuel into the cylander while EFI sprays a fine mist. Also the EFI is contolled by a computer that constantly changes for optimal fuel to air ratios. A carb is controlled by a float. So thats where where you ride is a big factor.

I wouldn't say a carb is "controlled" by a float, nor would I say a carb "drips" fuel. Doesn't work quite like that.

A carb doesnt "drip" fuel.. If you ever take your carb out and spin the throttle slide on it.. It will shoot a straight line of fuel.

The intake creates suction and keeps the fuel coming through the jets, if there was no airflow, it wouldnt idle.


for the record, I have no idea what a float does.


But I know that it doesnt just "drip" fuel.

EFI has injectors giving percise amount of fuel needed for the air coming in. Thats why jetting your quad/motorcycle is important with the main jet. Too much fuel, you run rich, not enough, you run lean.



Keep it real homies. 8)

Just info:
The float controls how much fuel is in the carb bowl. The bowl is a "reserve" fuel supply. When a vacuum affect is created from the intake/exhaust cycles, air is pull through the carb. Jets in the carb allow metered amounts of fuel to be pulled in with the air. The same way a weed killer sprayer works on the end of your gaden hose.

Jets do not shoot fuel. Carbs that "shoot" fuel have pumps/diaphrams pushing a small amounts of fuel.