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Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 12:58 pm
by lightpower
Hello,

First 1000 British miles behind me.
I am doing 40 miles almost every day and so far it is great.
However I have left my bike for two weeks when I went back home for xmass.
When I came back I have noticed that engine makes small whistling noice, and my mpg dropped from 104 mpg to about 97 mpg. Also I can feal more engine breaking (maybe subjective)

I have also noticed that my coolant is slightly bellow minimum (maybe low temperature?).

Anyway falling MPG is worying me. Maybe I am more confident now and ride faster but I am not sure?

Anybody have Ideas what could I check?

Thanx!

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 1:57 pm
by iceman
Colder temp and different fuel mix?

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 2:07 pm
by tbln930
I have a list somewhere about the reasons fuel mileage drops in the winter but it does. I'll post when I find it because there were a few more than the regular known reasons like air density changes.

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 2:51 pm
by Tom192
Cooler temperatures do play a massive part have a look at my historical data on my fuelly account it always dips in winter

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:07 pm
by DAB
Check tyre pressure

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 7:46 pm
by kramnala58
Ditto regarding the comments by others about air temperature and tyre/tire pressure. You also make a valid point regarding your comfort with confidence in riding. This will particularly be of note when accelerating. You may be starting quicker. A 5% drop in fuel economy can easily happen with air temps.

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 8:57 pm
by waspmike
You put on a few extra kilos over Xmas and it is cold so you are wearing baggy clothes which increase wind resistance.

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2016 9:05 pm
by dkazzed
Likely winter petrol as well as denser air which leads to higher wind drag. This in addition to some of the items already discussed. I wouldn't worry about it. Your fuel consumption will return back to normal.

As an aside, Imperial miles are same as US miles. It's the gallon that's different between the two systems.

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 1:39 am
by lightpower
Thanx :)

I was not aware that temp may have such big impact on fuel consumption.
Might be it but average temperature dropped seriously just recently and my small problems started before that.

My weight did not changed recently too.

Anyway nobody has mentioned possible malfunction so I assume there is nothing obvious I can do.

Thank you all for as always very helpful information :) I will be little bit more calm now.

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:08 am
by iceman
I get around 133-136mpg in summer and around 127-131 in winter (add to Fuelly so know these figures). I thought it was just winter fuel but people mentioned the cold weather and other factors come into play. Still fantastic performance. Only issue I have and have had for some time is a nasty noise taking off before the clutch fully kicks in. Not sure if it's a belt issue, clutch or bearing, but the bike runs fine otherwise (2 yrs in).

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2016 6:05 pm
by you you
waspmike wrote:You put on a few extra kilos over Xmas and it is cold so you are wearing baggy clothes which increase wind resistance.

All biking gear shrinks over the winter....

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 12:13 pm
by lightpower
I still think that there is something wrong. :(
Engine gives more vibrations at low speeds (especially could) then it used to
And what is worst rear wheel is very noisy. Sounds like friction.
While riding I can not hear it but I hear some whistling sound. When I rotate it by hand it is very loud.

My rear breaks became recently much weaker (I thought they are just used) maybe something related

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 4:27 pm
by you you
lightpower wrote:I still think that there is something wrong. :(
Engine gives more vibrations at low speeds (especially could) then it used to
And what is worst rear wheel is very noisy. Sounds like friction.
While riding I can not hear it but I hear some whistling sound. When I rotate it by hand it is very loud.

My rear breaks became recently much weaker (I thought they are just used) maybe something related

You should always take long breaks after riding, saves your brakes?

High Wycombe? Educated?

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 4:22 am
by lightpower
Thanx for free English lesson :)

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2016 5:56 pm
by honkerman
lightpower wrote:I still think that there is something wrong. :(
Engine gives more vibrations at low speeds (especially could) then it used to
And what is worst rear wheel is very noisy. Sounds like friction.
While riding I can not hear it but I hear some whistling sound. When I rotate it by hand it is very loud.

My rear breaks became recently much weaker (I thought they are just used) maybe something related
A few possibilities:

Check simple things first. It could be a couple fasteners have come loose. Just as the air in your tires shrinks in cold temps, the same happenswith Metal. Also different alloys/metals shrink at different rates. Check the axle nut, the adjuster nut on the brakes (this will tighten up response from the rear drum), and so on. If you don't have a torque wrench or a shop manual, your local Honda mechanic should. The whistling/rattling noise you are hearing is likely something loose and you don't want to keep jogging along and have something important fall off...like the wheel. That's usually considered a bad thing.

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 8:23 am
by easyrider
Dragging rear brake . Check brakes and wheel bearing rear wheel.

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 1:57 pm
by you you
lightpower wrote:Thanx for free English lesson :)

Thanks straight back. Let's forget about the missing "the" and just enjoy the correct capitalis(z)ation.

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2016 2:00 pm
by you you
honkerman wrote:
lightpower wrote:I still think that there is something wrong. :(
Engine gives more vibrations at low speeds (especially could) then it used to
And what is worst rear wheel is very noisy. Sounds like friction.
While riding I can not hear it but I hear some whistling sound. When I rotate it by hand it is very loud.

My rear breaks became recently much weaker (I thought they are just used) maybe something related
A few possibilities:

Check simple things first. It could be a couple fasteners have come loose. Just as the air in your tires shrinks in cold temps, the same happenswith Metal. Also different alloys/metals shrink at different rates. Check the axle nut, the adjuster nut on the brakes (this will tighten up response from the rear drum), and so on. If you don't have a torque wrench or a shop manual, your local Honda mechanic should. The whistling/rattling noise you are hearing is likely something loose and you don't want to keep jogging along and have something important fall off...like the wheel. That's usually considered a bad thing.
I'm so sorry for my previous post lightpower.

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:15 pm
by lightpower
My wheel sounds like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCgGrpH_Qqs

So all signs say it might be bearings

I am considering replacing them on my own.
Is it a good idea?
I am not sure where to buy and how to choose proper one

What worries me is why it happened so soon (I have only 1400 miles on counter)

Maybe I am to heavy:)

Re: Something is wrong with fuel usage

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2016 2:58 pm
by lightpower