The Ultimate Guide to ATV Fuel Economy

The ABC’s of Your ATV’s MPGs
by Jason Giacchino

In this time of unprecedented oil cost, it sometimes seems that fuel economy is the topic on everybody’s tongue. Somehow, and certainly fortunately, ATVs are rarely the subject of fuel economy complaint or regulation.

We were recently asked why (some) ATVs seem to consume more fuel at a given displacement relative to an automobile engine. While this is the case for a select few models, the answers to the mysteries behind ATV fuel economy deserve a closer look.

Since ATVs fall under the category of off-road recreational vehicles, they are not subject to rigorous standards and practices that haunt automakers from the Environmental Protection Agency and other governmental agencies. As a result, ATV manufacturers are free to develop engines designed to perform a specific purpose (be it raw speed, work capability, payload limit and so on) without being forced to play by standards set by the government in terms of average miles per gallon rating.

This of course does not mean the ATV makers enjoy a free-for-all in the process either, as sound regulation, pollution limitation and consumer safety concerns are all factors they must adhere to in order to be allowed to sell their equipment in the United States.

But back to fuel economy specifically, ATVing, not unlike lawn maintenance equipment, farm implements and so on, is not yet an area where strict standards and enforcement of road-going regulatory administration apply. Hence detuning engine performance to achieve such goals is not a factor.

Keep in mind that the government is so serious about fuel economy and the environmental impact (especially of late) that vehicles such as exotic supercars that are unable to meet established fuel economy guidelines are actually subject to costly “gas guzzler” taxes at the time of purchase. So it is indeed fortunate that ATV riders are still free to purchase and modify equipment as they see fit in order to maximize engine output. For better or worse, having strict governmental regulation over such matters takes away an individual’s right to choose.

If you were to average out the fuel economy estimates of all of the 2011 ATVs/ UTVs being offered here in the US, you would discover a respectable 39.47 mile per gallon figure- essentially econo-car territory! Of course massive multi-cylinder UTVs often return real-world numbers to the tune of 10 miles per gallon, while we personally had an air-cooled, oil-injected 50cc two-stroke mini on hand that was netting close to 70 mpg under normal use. This is why averages can be a bit deceiving.

Like all internal combustion engines, ATV fuel economy has a wide range flexibility in terms of how much fuel is consumed. Here are some tips to consider if you are looking to maximize the amount of distance traveled on your gallon of petro.

Weight:

Weight is always the enemy when it comes to fuel consumption. Any ways of lightening up your ATV’s mass is a step toward decreasing the amount of fuel it must consume to do its job.

Aerodynamics:

While we typically think of an object’s ability to “cut” through the air with minimal resistance the domain of racecars and sportbikes, the simple physics behind the idea that it takes more energy to push a wall through the air than an arrow applies to ATVs as well. Racers realize this and hence often run plastics designed to improve aerodynamic profile.

Brake Check:

Another oft-overlooked area of fuel economy concerns the vehicle’s ability to roll freely. Dragging brake calipers and worn bearings are great ways to make an engine work harder than it should just to keep moving. Related to this is a similar effect with a worn clutch or improper shifting technique.

Air Pressure:

Running uneven tire pressure (especially low pressure on the drive wheels) can have a huge effect on fuel economy. Check the manufacturer’s recommended pressure and stick to it.

Wide-Open:

It sounds obvious, but one of the simplest ways to increase the miles your ATV can travel per gallon of gasoline can be greatly increased simply by backing off the throttle and riding it less aggressively. ATVs – sport performance models in particular – are capable of putting out impressive horsepower figures so as to appease racers who have the luxury of pitting for a complete fill-up frequently.

Modified versus Stock:

Unless you are in that rarest of minority whose definition of modification means simply shedding weight from your machine while leaving everything else alone, there is a strong chance modifying an ATV for greater performance will come with decreased fuel economy compared to OEM spec.

The Road Less Traveled:

Sticking to fairly smooth trails can often be less exciting than detouring off into a mud pit or rock garden, but like always, terrain that demands more from an ATV’s engine to traverse is going to result in an engine in need of additional fuel. This same principle applies to increasing your ATV’s engine load by towing, pulling, pushing or carrying additional passengers.

Additives:

Believe it or not, newer fuel injected ATVs (as well as even older carbureted models) benefit from the occasional splash of fuel additive designed to clean injectors/ carbs. The trouble here is that most of the automotive stuff commonly found on shelves is designed to be added to tanks of 20-gallons or more. It is very easy to add too much to an ATV’s fuel supply. Rarely is more than a capful necessary every half-dozen or so fill-ups.

Tuning:

An out of tune (or worn) engine is also a big factor in determining fuel economy. Years ago fuel economy could be improved by simply swapping out a large carburetor jet for a slightly smaller one. These days of more and more ATVs going the route of fuel injection, changes to the fuel map are accomplished via a programmable electronic tool and/ or laptop computer. While it’s easy to associate this type of equipment with maximizing power output/ performance, it is quite possible to tweak fuel delivery for greatest economy as well.

Tune-Up:

Just like a car, there are also fuel economy gains to be had in a fresh tune-up: A new air filter element, spark plug wire, spark plug and fresh fluids can restore slumping fuel economy.

Got any other good fuel saving tips? Share them here:
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