Ok so I know this sport isnt about fuel economy but I have an 08 sportsman 800 and anybody thats had one knows 2 things.

1. The machine has a small fuel tank (It has a 4 gallon tank compared to the competition 5 gallon tank)

2. This machine is (to put it nice) "Fuel Hungry."

This seems like a bad combination to me. It really sucks when the people your riding with can go that extra distance because they have enough fuel but you have to miss the fun because some engineer couldn't figure out that the secret to horsepower was fuel and air!

So my question is what mods, upgrades, or products (other than a fuel flat pack) could I purchase to retain my power but improve my fuel economy? Thanks in Advance!!!

 

Too be honest, none. With EFI about the only thing your will gain is a little pumping losses.

It is what it is. Polaris makes them big and heavy with a lot of power. When you have all those things together, your going to burn a LOT of fuel.

Get a fuel pack and don't miss out on anything. Besides, with an 800 you will be so far ahead on the trail by the time the competition catches up you will be fueled up again and ready to go!!!

 

My outty 800 twin efi sips the gas- I still have 1/2 tank when my buds grizz is about empty- Same size tanks I think also (only my motor is 100cc larger!)

Topped off- I'd say at 60 miles, he's at 1 or 2 bars- I'm still at 4 or 5 bars.

Gearing & throttle has everything to do with it also.

 

I agree with doctorturbo. Had three 800's myself. Best bet is to give Jason a call at rotopax. Easy to mount them on top of the front box so they are accessible but out of the way. I ran them and had a 1.5 gal can in my rear cargo box. Having a machine capable of getting in and out of pretty much anything has it's drawbacks(but I'll take them).

 

i too have had an 06' and 08' and depending on you ride your not going to get very good milage for al the reasons they posted. i used to carry gas as well. w/ only a 4.13 gallon tank and 13+-mpg you need to plan ahead for sure. it you just go easy and not horse play in the mud or on and off the throttle you can do a few mpg more.

 

Thats kinda what I figured but didnt know if anybody had anything else or not (like a fuel controler but I suppose that will either give you LESS power or burn MORE fuel). I thought about putting the radiator on the front rack to keep it clean of mud so there wouldnt be room for the fuel cause I'd have a cargo bag on the back but maybe I will have to stand the fuel packs up behind the radiator if I ever do that. What the polaris engineers really need is a "Upgrade" or "Retrofit" kit for these models that would move the radiator up to the winch hole and move the winch down to where the radiator is similar to their current model. that would make it nice and clean and free up some front rack space! But why do that when they could sell you a $9000-$10000 machine? Anyways Thanks guys!!

 

So I must ask the question going with the fuel pack should a guy go with 1 big one or 2 smaller ones? The thing with two smaller ones is its gonna cost more but if you only need one then you can run without the other but I am afraid that will make one side of the ATV heavier then the other and alter the handling. Where if I only had one at least the load would be balanced! What are your suggestions?

 

I have had both and had no issues with weight offset. The rotopax set-up with dual 2 gallon or even the new 3 gallon ones will only mean a difference of 16 or 24lbs if one side is empty.

 

I was thinking just one 4 gallon pack instead of two 2 gallon packs but people must be setting up two 3 gallons that would make more sense. wonder if I should wait and see if they come with a 6 gallon pack to equal two 3 gallon packs.

 

Polaris think there are gas stations everywhere on the trails. The 96 to 03 sportsman's had 5.25 gallon tanks then they went to 4.7s and after that 4.1 tanks. Now the new XPs are back to 5.25 tanks.

Compared to snowmobiling I think ATVs are great on gas. 20 mpg vs 14 mpg on my sled.
Of coures sled have much more horse power and do not coast or glide when you let off the gas like ATVs do.