Gas smell, poor fuel mileage

I just picked up my 2nd VFR 2002 ABS model. Seems to fire up fine when cold, after it's warm it idles at 1,000 rpm. Seems to low to me but? You can smell gas coming out of the exhaust but not an overpowering smell. After a ride I have to give it a little gas on start up. I'm not to sure about the history of the bike, seems like it may have sat and not really ridden to much, it does only have 12k on it. I'm thinking maybe new plugs, air filter & FI treatment should help. I filled up the tank and only ridden about 20 miles but the gauger already went down 2 clicks on the fuel gage. The day before that I had about 3/4 tank and made it 100 miles no issues. I'm not getting any white smoke on start up or when I am riding, it seems to gurgle a little when coming out of first so I take off quick. Thinking maybe it has a powercommander and usually they put them in the trunk but I dont see on. I'm really leaning towards new plugs should be it, is there anything else I might want to look into.

 

1. Your avatar is hot.
2. Your idle is definitely too low. Crank her up to at least 1200, and you may find its even "smoother" at 1300 to 1400.
3. What's your temp once the bike is warmed up? I'm wondering if maybe a stuck open thermostat is leading to the FI system compensating and dumping to much fuel in?
4. Your avatar is hot.
5. Can't hurt to do plugs. Did you check your air box for signs of rodents? They love building nests in there. (Since you said the bike was sitting for a while).
6. Can't imagine the PC being anywhere but right under the seat.

Good luck in getting it sorted out.

Did I mention your avatar is hot?

 

I know you filled the fuel tank, but did you drain the old fuel? Also, change spark plugs and then see if it helps.

 

Spark plugs might just be a fruitless hope for a quick, easy fix on this one cuz plugs are usually fine for lot more than 12k.

All the advice i could give about any FI problem is: You've got a bad sensor, computer, or vaccum hose, and thermostats are always proppa suspects and repeat offenders. :drinker:

 

Agreed. But with ethanol in the gas these days, the spark plugs could be corroded or damaged with old gas... atleast that is what the mechanic told me on mine..

 

if you jam the gas tank full, the first bar will disappear in about 15 miles. If you didn't jam it full you could have the first two bars disappear in 20 to 25 miles.

 

Thanks Pliskin, and the rest of the fellas. I ordered my sevice manual, probably get in there tonight and start snopping around. I'm going to do the basics and go from there.

 

What will happen when the Corporate fuel-corn farm lobby gets the governmentaists to require upping the ethanol % in our fuel to 15, already pushing to get it enacted to law.

 

What will happen? We will see numerous engine breakdowns/failures left and right. Anything engine built prior to about 2007 will have serious issues.

 

Check your tires pressure as well, low pressure tires can have a big impact on your MPG.

 

All I can say is Fuck them corn-fed-commie-farmers-taking-government hand/0ots-producing sub*par-fuel...I can buy non-ethanol fuel for my weed eaters and lawn equipment.

Its a shitty situation...once your on the tit, your on the tit for eva

All the spark plugs I have taken out recently looked clean as shit! Could be a little richer, (these were from cat-cars and a few generators.)

 

I wish the government provides the motorcyclists with the option to purchase non-ethanol fuel with a little price increase...

 

Not sure if I figured this out. So on a full tank I got about 80 miles total. On the freeway I get better gas but in town I go through it quick. This morning I'm tearing the bike down, I noticed there is 2 breather lines on the bottom of the tank runnig from the front to the back. These lines seemed pretty big, one of these lines was disconnected. The disconnected hose runs into the left side of the bike somewhere in the motor. I guess I'm just asking could this vaccum hose really effect my gas mileage and have the bike smell like gas if its not connected?? The manual mention pressure regulator and pinched fuel line. squirrelman mentioned vacuum hose, did you go through this by any chance. At this point I want to say the day is saved and go ride but I'm not feeling it that this could be it, something tells me there is more to it. Just a vaccum line?? really!

 

to be specific, its my fuel overflow line. My last 3 clicks on gas went super fast yesterday. I dont see the connection.

 

Ethanol costs about $8 per gallon to make. The price of fuel would be cheaper if there were no ethanol in it.

 

Not sure I follow 510. You have one or two lines not connected to anything? The overflow is not supposed to be connected to anything.

 

Checke your temperatures. If the bike when warmed up is running cooler than 168F, your thermostat is stuck open. The 6th Gen is notorious for running extremely rich when your thermostat gets stuck open and it is a fairly common issue as well. I had the exact same thing happen to me a few years back.

 

Thanks Meatloaf, it has been running pretty cool I don't think I've gotten it past 180 degress, it was also mentioned by squirrelman. Looks like I'm tearing her down again! I jsut picked it up last week I jsut want to go for a nice loing ride! BOO!!

 

Because I am an attention seeking whore, I would like to point out my post #2, item #3.

 

@ pliskin. You are correct sir, my bad. I have to wait now 4 days for the parts to come in.. I'm still gonna ride though :tongue: