Carb vs EFI
Oct 13, 2011 | 09:41 PM
#62
Pro Rider
Joined: Apr 2007
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A divorce put me into hard times. The Polaris I ride now has to last me for a long time and I can't buy any high dollar parts because if I do I can't ride.
I would never own a EFI Polaris unless I had a lot of money to spend on repairs.
I do this sort of thing for a living and I know how expensive and hard to figure out EFI problems can be.
On a 500 carb I may have to buy a float needle and seat about every three years and a jet needle and needle jet about every 4 or 5 years.
This is nothing compared to what one simple EFI problem can cost.
My Polaris will start instantly in any Kentucky weather and since I never get over 50 miles from home on this quad I don't have to worry about different jetting in different areas.
So unless I hit the lottery I will never own a EFI quad.
I would never own a EFI Polaris unless I had a lot of money to spend on repairs.
I do this sort of thing for a living and I know how expensive and hard to figure out EFI problems can be.
On a 500 carb I may have to buy a float needle and seat about every three years and a jet needle and needle jet about every 4 or 5 years.
This is nothing compared to what one simple EFI problem can cost.
My Polaris will start instantly in any Kentucky weather and since I never get over 50 miles from home on this quad I don't have to worry about different jetting in different areas.
So unless I hit the lottery I will never own a EFI quad.
Oct 13, 2011 | 09:53 PM
#63
Polaris ATV Expert
Retired and loving it!
Retired and loving it!
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: North Texas
I might be butting in and comparing apples to oranges,but NOBODY mourned the passing of the old points and condenser system versus the electronic ignition system. Same thing I believe will eventually happen in the future comparing carbs to efi systems. Yes, the average mechanical guy can still work on em,but they are slowly going the way of the points system and for all practical reasons they have served their purpose and will eventually fade away for one reason or another. I'd hate to know that I would still have to go into the garage and change points,condenser,rotor,cap and set the dwell on my vehicles now every 12,000 miles like I had to do on my old 74 Nova and all the cars I had before before it! Its dead technology and may it rest in peace and in history! I admit if I owned an atv if would have a CARB,simply for the fact I can work on em and don't have to have a computer in my back pocket to diagnose most problems!
What I really want though is a new TESLA S but even this technology hasn't advanced enough for me to justify or even afford the almost 50 grand price tag!
OPT
What I really want though is a new TESLA S but even this technology hasn't advanced enough for me to justify or even afford the almost 50 grand price tag!
OPT
Oct 13, 2011 | 11:10 PM
#64
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for me- I think the big advantage of efi over carb is- little or no warm up time in the dead of winter, efficent fuel maps increasing fuel economy, optimized continous tuning while running, efi is less apt to have moisture contaminate the lines, and no fuss tuning when riding in the mountains.
I don't think there really is any big advantage with hp going with efi over a carb- carbs can make gobs of hp.
my feeling is- if carbs are so great- why is every recent (80's +) vehicle and the majority of all other off / on road vehicle & boat engines built with efi- not carbs?
I'll side with the thousands & thousands of engineers who have been hired to design top running exotic sport cars (that all run on efi) and every other manufacturer who also uses efi. There must be a clear benifit to using efi over a carb.
I know some carbed atv's have fuel pumps also...
I will say this tho- I'd rather be 100 miles from camp and have a carb issue then an efi issue- at least most carb issues can be fixed on location with basic hand tools, unlike efi's- but I'm still choosing efi over carb when I buy an atv.
I don't think there really is any big advantage with hp going with efi over a carb- carbs can make gobs of hp.
my feeling is- if carbs are so great- why is every recent (80's +) vehicle and the majority of all other off / on road vehicle & boat engines built with efi- not carbs?
I'll side with the thousands & thousands of engineers who have been hired to design top running exotic sport cars (that all run on efi) and every other manufacturer who also uses efi. There must be a clear benifit to using efi over a carb.
I know some carbed atv's have fuel pumps also...
I will say this tho- I'd rather be 100 miles from camp and have a carb issue then an efi issue- at least most carb issues can be fixed on location with basic hand tools, unlike efi's- but I'm still choosing efi over carb when I buy an atv.
It's like you saying that the reason you don't see two strokes anymore is because 4 strokes are better.
This is just not the case.
Oct 14, 2011 | 06:22 AM
#65
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Providing the enemies of the United States with the maximum opportunity to give their lives for their country since 1775.
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From: rindge, nh
not to mention... a properly tuned carb can run just about as clean as an efi.
problem is- carbs need to be manually adjusted more often to run efficiently unlike an efi that is continously changing to meet conditions.
Neither engine was purposely designed to outdate the other.
However, efi WAS designed to outdate the carb-
a better comparison would be like saying "a rotary telephone performs better than a digital one"
or
"older refrigerators are more efficient than newer ones"
that is not the case.
Oct 14, 2011 | 06:32 AM
#66
ʇsıʇɹɐ ɹǝʌolloɹ
Providing the enemies of the United States with the maximum opportunity to give their lives for their country since 1775.
Providing the enemies of the United States with the maximum opportunity to give their lives for their country since 1775.
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: rindge, nh
A divorce put me into hard times. The Polaris I ride now has to last me for a long time and I can't buy any high dollar parts because if I do I can't ride.
I would never own a EFI Polaris unless I had a lot of money to spend on repairs.
I do this sort of thing for a living and I know how expensive and hard to figure out EFI problems can be.
On a 500 carb I may have to buy a float needle and seat about every three years and a jet needle and needle jet about every 4 or 5 years.
This is nothing compared to what one simple EFI problem can cost.
My Polaris will start instantly in any Kentucky weather and since I never get over 50 miles from home on this quad I don't have to worry about different jetting in different areas.
So unless I hit the lottery I will never own a EFI quad.
I would never own a EFI Polaris unless I had a lot of money to spend on repairs.
I do this sort of thing for a living and I know how expensive and hard to figure out EFI problems can be.
On a 500 carb I may have to buy a float needle and seat about every three years and a jet needle and needle jet about every 4 or 5 years.
This is nothing compared to what one simple EFI problem can cost.
My Polaris will start instantly in any Kentucky weather and since I never get over 50 miles from home on this quad I don't have to worry about different jetting in different areas.
So unless I hit the lottery I will never own a EFI quad.
eventually you will- not too many adult sized atv's built with carbs after 2005.
another point- what's the difference if you have to make three $25 carb repairs over the course of 3 years, compared to one efi $75 repair in the same time.
It's not always an expensive repair- and "expensive" on an atv efi system, worst case scenario is around $250-$300 if you have a dealer do it.
Out of the last 16 atv's I've owned- all but 2 were efi. I've never had a single problem with any efi atv, however, the twin carbs on the 05 / 06 BF were epic and failed often (even a recall)- and the carb on my 06 rincon 650 was a pita until the motor warmed up. I'll take the dependability of efi over carb anyday! Sure- field servicing a carb is easier, but you don't run into too many efi atv's stranded because of a faulty injector. I'm sure it happens, but it's just not common.
I think your preception of efi is a little off base- especially for someone who has never owned an atv with an efi
.
Oct 14, 2011 | 06:43 AM
#67
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Providing the enemies of the United States with the maximum opportunity to give their lives for their country since 1775.
Providing the enemies of the United States with the maximum opportunity to give their lives for their country since 1775.
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Posts: 16,284
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From: rindge, nh
don't know why you'r being like that, specta
The first thing an efi vehicle does when started in the freezing temps is boost the rpm right up to 1500-2000 to circulate the cold oil into the motor. Idling a cold engine causes more damage then driving it.
just do a little research on the subject. It's funny how these first couple of articles after doing a google search confirms exactly what I was told by engineers in the R&D dept 15 years ago while working at detroit... 30 seconds or less is all you need. You'll also find many, many articles from manufacturers also explaing why efi equiped vehicles don't require a warm up.
but- no matter what they read- some old timers will just fight the data anyway.
How long should I let my car warm up? - Car Forums and Automotive Chat
Eight facts about warming up your car in winter | Yahoo! Green
http://www.ehow.com/decision_7228778...-warm-up_.html
http://www.driversense.com/driversense/column/364
The first thing an efi vehicle does when started in the freezing temps is boost the rpm right up to 1500-2000 to circulate the cold oil into the motor. Idling a cold engine causes more damage then driving it.
just do a little research on the subject. It's funny how these first couple of articles after doing a google search confirms exactly what I was told by engineers in the R&D dept 15 years ago while working at detroit... 30 seconds or less is all you need. You'll also find many, many articles from manufacturers also explaing why efi equiped vehicles don't require a warm up.
but- no matter what they read- some old timers will just fight the data anyway.
How long should I let my car warm up? - Car Forums and Automotive Chat
Eight facts about warming up your car in winter | Yahoo! Green
http://www.ehow.com/decision_7228778...-warm-up_.html
http://www.driversense.com/driversense/column/364
Oct 14, 2011 | 07:59 AM
#68
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"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men". Willy Wonka: 1971
Cigars! Earth ne'eer did breed such a jovial weed.
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From: Landrum, South Carolina, elevation 986'
Oct 14, 2011 | 08:19 AM
#69
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Providing the enemies of the United States with the maximum opportunity to give their lives for their country since 1775.
Providing the enemies of the United States with the maximum opportunity to give their lives for their country since 1775.
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From: rindge, nh
ha- I didn't even notice that
oh well.
Oct 14, 2011 | 08:54 AM
#70
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Cars are a different matter, there a much more complicated multi port electronic fuel injection system.
One Sleds and ATVs there a much simpler throttlebody. Your going to be harder press to tell any performance difference vs a carb.
I like this example in a 450 motocross shootout. The one and only carbed bike beat out all the efi bikes. 2010 KTM 450 SX-F Comparison - Motorcycle USA
One Sleds and ATVs there a much simpler throttlebody. Your going to be harder press to tell any performance difference vs a carb.
I like this example in a 450 motocross shootout. The one and only carbed bike beat out all the efi bikes. 2010 KTM 450 SX-F Comparison - Motorcycle USA
Pin the throttle and the KTM’s engine doles out a ridiculously flat spread of power, and we mean that in the best way. Despite not employing electronic fuel-injection and instead relying on a Keihin FCR 41 carburetor, jetting and throttle response were spot-on in the high desert elevation at Racetown.