Slow then sudden increase in fuel consumption

**Oakie** · 16th August 2013, 18:00

600cc 2001 Bandit

Used to get about 18km/l and run onto reserve at 162 miles before running onto reserve
Slowly started to creep down ... first noticed hitting reserve at 155 miles after a safe riding session at Ruapuna about 9 months ago which I put down to different riding. Stayed about there for a bit and then I noticed it starting to splutter at 145 miles.

Last week it lurched down to 13.6km/l and then today ... 123 miles and reserve required which worked out to 12.9km/l

Thats a 30% increase. It doesn't coincide with anything done to the bike recently or a change in use. I did get a new chain and sprockets in February and new brake pads front and rear at the same time but the major dip in consumption has only just happened in the last month.

Performance hasn't changed. Still good
Not blowing visible exhaust fumes.
No smell of leaking petrol.

Anyone have any ideas?

**Ender EnZed** · 16th August 2013, 18:13

Has your pie consumption changed lately?

**nzspokes** · 16th August 2013, 18:15

Sniff ya oil? Smell of gas? Oil level gone up?

Also drain your airbox to see what comes out.

**Oakie** · 16th August 2013, 18:52

No extra pies
Oil looks and smells normal
Airbox ... that is a bit of a mission I believe but I know what you're getting at.

Oh, choke doesn't seem to be stuck on either.

**unstuck** · 16th August 2013, 18:56

Airfilter blocked?

**nzspokes** · 16th August 2013, 18:59

Originally Posted by Oakie

No extra pies
Oil looks and smells normal
Airbox ... that is a bit of a mission I believe but I know what you're getting at.

Oh, choke doesn't seem to be stuck on either.

There will be a little plug in the end of a rubber hose under the bike. Pull it out and see what comes out.

May pay to put a jar there.

**Oakie** · 16th August 2013, 19:07

Originally Posted by nzspokes

There will be a little plug in the end of a rubber hose under the bike. Pull it out and see what comes out.

May pay to put a jar there.

Ta. Sounds like a job for tomorrow in the daylight. Tonight's job is to go and buy a bottle of Baileys for $22 and test it. Extensively. Perhaps I can use the empty bottle to catch any goo that comes out of that alleged rubber hose tomorrow?

**nzspokes** · 16th August 2013, 19:40

Originally Posted by Oakie

Ta. Sounds like a job for tomorrow in the daylight. Tonight's job is to go and buy a bottle of Baileys for $22 and test it. Extensively. Perhaps I can use the empty bottle to catch any goo that comes out of that alleged rubber hose tomorrow?

Yup, thats the most important job for the night.

**EJK** · 16th August 2013, 19:43

Have you checked the fuel price recently? $20 of gas of a few days ago ain't $20 of gas today.

**GSeX** · 16th August 2013, 20:51

Riding with the choke left on a little bit and then a lot

**scumdog** · 16th August 2013, 21:15

Forgetting to change into top gear??

**Oakie** · 16th August 2013, 21:52

Originally Posted by scumdog

Forgetting to change into top gear??

Forgetting? I hardly ever get the chance nowdays. Only left town once since about the start of winter

**mossy1200** · 16th August 2013, 22:11

Originally Posted by Oakie

Forgetting? I hardly ever get the chance nowdays. Only left town once since about the start of winter

There is the answer, your comparing town riding to open road millage.

18k per litre. Are you sure that's not 18mile per litre as my 1400 runs at 19-20k per litre with 400km range per tank.

**Oakie** · 16th August 2013, 23:32

Originally Posted by mossy1200

There is the answer, your comparing town riding to open road millage.

18k per litre. Are you sure that's not 18mile per litre as my 1400 runs at 19-20k per litre with 400km range per tank.

Nah. I've been mostly commuting since 2010 and nothing much has changed ... apart from the fuel consumption. Did go for a bit of a hoon to a country pub three weeks ago and hoped that might have given it a bit of a clean out but it has got worse instead.

Yep ... it averaged out at about 18.5 km/l over a very long time (like 3 years) with a high of 20.5 ... then dropped noticeably over a very short time. My speedo does read in miles which is a pain but easy enough to convert.