Hello everybody. I was hoping somebody here might be able to help me with a problem i seem to be having. Or maybe it isn't even a problem at all.

I have had my quad for just over 6 months. When I first got it the fuel consumption was disappointing. Especially since I got the 500 over an 800 for better mileage on my fuel. After talking to friends and the dealership I was told that this was due to the break in period. I now have 480 km's on my bike and the fuel consumption is still bad, I think. Last weekend I went riding and for the most part it was trails and mud in low gear. Very little road driving. I filled my tank to the brim before the ride and once I was 50 KM's in my tank was empty and I was being warned to fill it up. The dealership said I probably still could have gone another 20 km's even with the gauge at empty. So at the most I would have gotten 70 KM's out of a full tank of gas. I have friends who ride 800's that get better mileage out of their bike. Is this normal for the 500's? Is there anybody with an 08 Sportsman 500 who can give me some feedback? Thank you very much and safe riding to all.

 

They use more gas when in low gear, the engine is spinning faster and your not traveling as fast so mpg is lower.

 

I have a 700 efi, and it drinks more than i do when we are rideing. and i drink alot. the mpg sucks.

 

Hi, I have an 08 500ho efi x2 and I find it real good on fuel.Sat we did 124km and my light was not flashing yet when I fueled it took 13.5lit so I still had 6 lit left this was running logging rds and a little bit of low range. Last winter on snow trail I was getting 27mpg I checked it twice, it doesn't seem to make a lot of diff being 2 on bike or just me not to much more I can tell you.

 

I happen to think my Sportsman is actually pretty good on fuel. Although, I really haven't checked the mileage. However, before we went on our last outing, I filled it to the bottom of the filler cap. We went 18 miles, and gauge is still reading full. Next time I will fill it up at the station before and after a trip and do the math.

 

Thanks to everybody for the feedback. I don't think it's a problem as much as it is the size of my gas tank and riding in low gear like kirbbirds suggested. My sportsman has a 4.1 gallon tank compared to the X2's 6 gallon. Should have gotten the X2 instead and it was only an extra $500 dollars or something. Either way I love my Polaris and wouldn't trade it in for anything. (Well other than an X2 maybe. ha) The machine has taken me through incredible trails and mud holes I couldn't believe. It is just so much fun to ride. Polaris all the way.

 

Under normal riding Conditions i can get close to 80 miles to a tank, but if im flogging it alot in low gear and mudding then it goes down to about 45-60 and probally worse but i dont worry about cause I will go get more gas, if i know im on a long ride i take it easy, Nothing worse than running on empty when everyone else is riding Yamahas and hondas, Plus the auto trans on Polaris doesnt help matters any either.

 

I get close to 25 mpg on my 500 unless I'm going 50 mph, playing in a mud bog, or doing something else that's works it harder than normal. I have it in high gear 99% of the time.

 

low range, mud riding, on and off throttle alot means way more fuel useage for sure. check the plugs to see if it looks like they're running too rich. also check air filter to make sure it isnt dirty or blocked in some way making it rich. last thing is to have a dealer put it on the computer to see if it can be remapped for making it run a little leaner. just a couple of idears.

 

I have a new 08 sportsman 800EFI stealth black and so far with only 79 miles on it I have filled it up 3 times. It is terrible on fuel. I am a throttle jocky though, when I get it on it its meant to ride. I just can't keep it fueled up. but with gas prices dropping to almost $2.00 a gallon around here I really don't care.