The anything thread.

Sierra1

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There's been plenty of back-n-forth about using premium or regular fuel. I'm gonna throw some fuel on the fire. :rolleyes: I usually refuel at half tank; car or bike. I've been using premium exclusively for about six months. Recently, my fuel mileage has been dropping slowly 1-2 mpg. On a hunch, I let my tank get down to where the last bar starts flashing, the screen goes blank, and starts logging distance traveled. (don't quite understand the purpose of that) Filled it up at the same place, rode the same route, at the same speed(s). I had been showing 45.x-47.x, depending on wind direction. Recently I've been down to 44-45. Today after putting 4.5gal in my "empty" tank. . . . it was showing 51.1mpg when I got home. The motor didn't "feel" any different, but I wasn't pushing it.

My opinion: When I was filling at half tank, putting 2 ish gallons in the tank, I was maybe only getting 1 gal of premium. So, the bike will do fine on regular without pinging. But, obviously the bike prefers premium. This tank will be to see where the fuel mileage ends up. The next tank will be to see if I can feel a performance difference. I wish I could find pumps that have a hose for each grade of fuel. Kerrville TX is the last place that I saw them, and that was a few years ago.
 

moto.monk

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There's been plenty of back-n-forth about using premium or regular fuel. I'm gonna throw some fuel on the fire. :rolleyes: I usually refuel at half tank; car or bike. I've been using premium exclusively for about six months. Recently, my fuel mileage has been dropping slowly 1-2 mpg. On a hunch, I let my tank get down to where the last bar starts flashing, the screen goes blank, and starts logging distance traveled. (don't quite understand the purpose of that) Filled it up at the same place, rode the same route, at the same speed(s). I had been showing 45.x-47.x, depending on wind direction. Recently I've been down to 44-45. Today after putting 4.5gal in my "empty" tank. . . . it was showing 51.1mpg when I got home. The motor didn't "feel" any different, but I wasn't pushing it.

My opinion: When I was filling at half tank, putting 2 ish gallons in the tank, I was maybe only getting 1 gal of premium. So, the bike will do fine on regular without pinging. But, obviously the bike prefers premium. This tank will be to see where the fuel mileage ends up. The next tank will be to see if I can feel a performance difference. I wish I could find pumps that have a hose for each grade of fuel. Kerrville TX is the last place that I saw them, and that was a few years ago.
Premium is recommended especially at high temperatures to prevent pre detonation and with more hp/compression it creates higher cylinder temperatures causing the same temperatures issues. In California I could get away with this but at a possible cost of increase carbon build up of unburned fuel due to pre detonation I think I'll pass for a difference of 30 cents which can add up per year of riding but imo not worth it. Yamaha takes the safe route and makes the recommendation of 91 in order to avoid this. However in California it's worse due to ethanol content which reduces fuel burnt and causes reduce volumetric efficiency or in other words less power, less mpg and increased fuel cost.
 

magic

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WISCONSIN
There's been plenty of back-n-forth about using premium or regular fuel. I'm gonna throw some fuel on the fire. :rolleyes: I usually refuel at half tank; car or bike. I've been using premium exclusively for about six months. Recently, my fuel mileage has been dropping slowly 1-2 mpg. On a hunch, I let my tank get down to where the last bar starts flashing, the screen goes blank, and starts logging distance traveled. (don't quite understand the purpose of that) Filled it up at the same place, rode the same route, at the same speed(s). I had been showing 45.x-47.x, depending on wind direction. Recently I've been down to 44-45. Today after putting 4.5gal in my "empty" tank. . . . it was showing 51.1mpg when I got home. The motor didn't "feel" any different, but I wasn't pushing it.

My opinion: When I was filling at half tank, putting 2 ish gallons in the tank, I was maybe only getting 1 gal of premium. So, the bike will do fine on regular without pinging. But, obviously the bike prefers premium. This tank will be to see where the fuel mileage ends up. The next tank will be to see if I can feel a performance difference. I wish I could find pumps that have a hose for each grade of fuel. Kerrville TX is the last place that I saw them, and that was a few years ago.
I agree with your gas pump statement. I usually fill several 5 gallon jugs for my bike with premium. At the gas station I put the first 5 or so gallons in my truck then fill the jugs. This should give me all premium in the jugs. I then fill my bike up at home before riding. I have never seen 51mpg though.
 

Sierra1

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Joshua TX
. . . . but at a possible cost of increase carbon build up of unburned fuel due to pre detonation . . . .
. . . . I have never seen 51mpg though.
I'm thinking that the answer to both of these. . . . is that my daily driving habits keep my engine c-l-e-a-n. No carbon build up in my motor. :rolleyes: That time in Kerrville TX, that I know that I had a tank full of jungle juice. . . . I was getting 53mpg. . . . all the while gliding through the curves. Her torque keeps you from having to wind her up to make her move; like my kid's R6.
 

moto.monk

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I'm thinking that the answer to both of these. . . . is that my daily driving habits keep my engine c-l-e-a-n. No carbon build up in my motor. :rolleyes: That time in Kerrville TX, that I know that I had a tank full of jungle juice. . . . I was getting 53mpg. . . . all the while gliding through the curves. Her torque keeps you from having to wind her up to make her move; like my kid's R6.
Agreed mpg can be a good sign but when higher temperatures hit well... you know your machine better then me. I have recently had 47 mpg even after Anthony's reflash which dropped my mpgs by 2 down to 42. Well turns out my riding style is what had the greatest effect. I now cruise at 60 -65, with the cruise control as much as possible. I'm smooth on the brakes and dont depend on engine braking which reduces mpg. I'm constantly thinking about being smooth no matter what I'm doing. I do crack the throttle but less and of course keeping up with oil changes matters and quality fuel even if it's made in the same place. I've cut down on drag and weight plus a larger windscreen helps since some are tuned at 65 to 85 mph. Also eating less chicken nuggets helps.
 

Sierra1

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. . . . I have recently had 47 mpg even after Anthony's reflash which dropped my mpgs by 2 down to 42. . . .
Is that another example of the LA Unified School District's math class? (47-2=42)

Fun fact: The LAUSD has a 12 man motor unit. They're riding the Beemer, and have AR-15s mounted on the bike(s).
 

moto.monk

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Is that another example of the LA Unified School District's math class? (47-2=42)

Fun fact: The LAUSD has a 12 man motor unit. They're riding the Beemer, and have AR-15s mounted on the bike(s).
opps I mean 3 mpg and yes but more like montebello school district. Full fact most motor units in LA use AR's mounted on there bikes but run a honda ST or bmw 1200RT-P. To my knowledge an AR is required as duty weapon due to the North Hollywood shootout in 1997
 

BLW

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Reno ,Nevada
I have only had my tenere for 6 weeks or so and I have run 91 octane it the whole time, I read somewhere that the compression ratio on this motor is 11:1, to me that would require a higher octane fuel. The higher octane will slow down the flame front and eliminate detonation (pinging),I havent gotten my yamaha service manual yet , but i would think that being fuel injected it should also have a "knock" sensor to prevent any detonation.
 

Checkswrecks

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I have only had my tenere for 6 weeks or so and I have run 91 octane it the whole time, I read somewhere that the compression ratio on this motor is 11:1, to me that would require a higher octane fuel. The higher octane will slow down the flame front and eliminate detonation (pinging),I havent gotten my yamaha service manual yet , but i would think that being fuel injected it should also have a "knock" sensor to prevent any detonation.
These are not BMWs with a knock sensor but MANY of us run almost exclusively on regular. Numerous threads you can find with a simple search. About the only time I buy premium is on hot days or when towing the trailer in the summer.
 

Checkswrecks

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I need more hauling space and always wanted a camper so started looking to replace my F150 with a short mid/tall van like the Amazon drivers use. Grandma was watching the munchkin so I had the time to drive to New Jersey after talking to the owner of a 2016 Promaster 2500 short body high roof. He said it had a clear title and he was selling because COVID had slowed the business so he didn't need it. Photos looked ok and the price was low but not absurdly so for a vehicle which had been in commercial service.

I've worked on and flipped cars, trucks, motorcycles, and airplanes for a LONG time, so have a bit of an idea of what to look for. Got a late start so ran a CARFAX while on the drive and saw the first red flags. Till an accident 2 1/2 years ago (3/28/18), this was an Iowa vehicle, and it only had about 8,000 miles since then. The current registration is the first since the accident at less than 3 months ago, so it sat for over 2 years. Figured to press on, as I was already on the road, the title was not marked as Salvage, so at worst I probably could at least clean and flip it.

The van almost passed the 10 foot test (looks OK beyond 10 ft), but the hood wasn't quite aligned right. Then saw where the aft edge of the left front fender paint had broken from contact with the driver's door. Brake light on, ABS light on, TPMS light on. Interesting because the CARFAX shows the front and rear brakes got new discs and pads just before the accident in Iowa. It also reportedly got new tires then yet the tires were quite worn, 8,000 miles later. Already pretty sure I'd let this one go.

Laid on the ground to look beneath the front and first thing noticed was that the coolant pipe was partially crushed, apparently by contact with the radiator fan shroud. The radiator and shroud looked new. The rubber coolant hose to the right of the pipe was pressed and chafing on a piece of metal at the alternator. The transmission wire harness connector was not attached to the harness conduit and the wires didn't have the factory parallel "groomed" look. The idler pulley had heavy rust. Found the left and right plastic fender liners were both enough out of alignment that the pop rivet holes couldn't line up. My interest really ended on seeing the heavy structure that the lower left suspension connected to was bowed, so this vehicle will probably never align correctly.

But the van drives great according to the person showing it. Has no problems. Not a salvage title.

The coup de grace which got me to laugh out loud, thank him, and walk off were the two plastic panels mounted to the firewall just beneath the windshield, visible when the hood is raised. The ones on either side of the infamous opening which leaks rainwater onto the engine. Because the body structure had been displaced and not properly brought back straight, those plastic panels wouldn't snap together as designed. So they were held in place by - wait for it - drywall screws through the firewall !!!

It was sure not the first time I've seen a 4 year old vehicle cobbled together this bad but still find it just amazing how bad some of the used junk is out there and about how poorly people will behave to make a buck.

BTW - Love the low height of the Promaster and the cargo area but after seeing how it was built and searching for problems other owners have had, I think the rest of my search is going to just be for a Transit, short body, mid roof.
 

Jlq1969

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I need more hauling space and always wanted a camper so started looking to replace my F150 with a short mid/tall van like the Amazon drivers use. Grandma was watching the munchkin so I had the time to drive to New Jersey after talking to the owner of a 2016 Promaster 2500 short body high roof. He said it had a clear title and he was selling because COVID had slowed the business so he didn't need it. Photos looked ok and the price was low but not absurdly so for a vehicle which had been in commercial service.

I've worked on and flipped cars, trucks, motorcycles, and airplanes for a LONG time, so have a bit of an idea of what to look for. Got a late start so ran a CARFAX while on the drive and saw the first red flags. Till an accident 2 1/2 years ago (3/28/18), this was an Iowa vehicle, and it only had about 8,000 miles since then. The current registration is the first since the accident at less than 3 months ago, so it sat for over 2 years. Figured to press on, as I was already on the road, the title was not marked as Salvage, so at worst I probably could at least clean and flip it.

The van almost passed the 10 foot test (looks OK beyond 10 ft), but the hood wasn't quite aligned right. Then saw where the aft edge of the left front fender paint had broken from contact with the driver's door. Brake light on, ABS light on, TPMS light on. Interesting because the CARFAX shows the front and rear brakes got new discs and pads just before the accident in Iowa. It also reportedly got new tires then yet the tires were quite worn, 8,000 miles later. Already pretty sure I'd let this one go.

Laid on the ground to look beneath the front and first thing noticed was that the coolant pipe was partially crushed, apparently by contact with the radiator fan shroud. The radiator and shroud looked new. The rubber coolant hose to the right of the pipe was pressed and chafing on a piece of metal at the alternator. The transmission wire harness connector was not attached to the harness conduit and the wires didn't have the factory parallel "groomed" look. The idler pulley had heavy rust. Found the left and right plastic fender liners were both enough out of alignment that the pop rivet holes couldn't line up. My interest really ended on seeing the heavy structure that the lower left suspension connected to was bowed, so this vehicle will probably never align correctly.

But the van drives great according to the person showing it. Has no problems. Not a salvage title.

The coup de grace which got me to laugh out loud, thank him, and walk off were the two plastic panels mounted to the firewall just beneath the windshield, visible when the hood is raised. The ones on either side of the infamous opening which leaks rainwater onto the engine. Because the body structure had been displaced and not properly brought back straight, those plastic panels wouldn't snap together as designed. So they were held in place by - wait for it - drywall screws through the firewall !!!

It was sure not the first time I've seen a 4 year old vehicle cobbled together this bad but still find it just amazing how bad some of the used junk is out there and about how poorly people will behave to make a buck.

BTW - Love the low height of the Promaster and the cargo area but after seeing how it was built and searching for problems other owners have had, I think the rest of my search is going to just be for a Transit, short body, mid roof.
if you are looking for something really good ...., Mercedes Benz Sprinter ..... will not disappoint and comes in multiple configurations
 

Checkswrecks

Ungenear to broked stuff
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if you are looking for something really good ...., Mercedes Benz Sprinter ..... will not disappoint and comes in multiple configurations
Am keeping my eye out for those too, but hesitant with the repair costs, as they are more complicated.
 

BLW

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Reno ,Nevada
One of our parts delivery drivers at work uses a Mercedes van and he says the maintenance is crazy expensive. I could never afford one of those vans but it would be great for my snowmobile and winter camping, especially if it was one of the 4X4 ones.
 
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