1600 nomad

mrcoily · 07-14-2014, 12:49 PM

Been riding the vulcan for 2 months now alot....any how debaffled added k&n filter...that was giving me 38 mpg....now this is kinda weird...i changed the oil filter to a k&n unit...i did a 160 mile shot i only used 3.6 gallons...tgat 44 mpg...i was running 75_80 all the time...ive never seen them numbers before....all i can say is the motor must like the less restrictive oil filter less drag on oil pump system... I dont know but i like it.Has anybody else seen this?

rick6375 · 07-14-2014, 12:57 PM

Congrats on your ride. So many variables on MPGs. Temp, wind, the gas itself and how hard you twist the throttle, among some. Did your mileage go up on next tank after the airfilter was installed, or after the debaffle? You may be running too lean.

Vulcan Bill · 07-14-2014, 12:59 PM

An oil filter really shouldn't make any MPG difference. Did you happen to have a stiff wind at your back most of the ride?
BTW..welcome to the forum from Mesa AZ!

macmac · 07-14-2014, 01:25 PM

I know you were riding in the mountains and it was down hill all day. LOL

Do you have a aftermarket fuel mod of some sort? I hope so. Do you run hi test or regular? Does the engine ping ever?

These engines are known to be overly lean at the factory settings for the ecu. These engine can and will run cooler and go farther on for crap 10% ethaholegas with an aftermarket fuel mod (TFI I like best). Adding a K&N filter just leans out the mix more since it changes breathing.

Assorted other things like running full syn oils in the engine and final drive can help get MPG'd higher, running a tank full in a ride gets better MPG's, adding crash bar covers appears to stream line Nomads (go figure?) Running tires matters. A rear mc tire will get you better MPG's than running a cat tire since the car tire has MORE traction. (I run a cat tire anyway I like traction.)

If that oil filter did anything I would not understand why. It's probably a re branded WIX filter anyway.

**cnc** · 07-14-2014, 01:48 PM

I don't know what the increase in MPG was but I doubt the oil filter had anything to do with it. Congrats on the new bike and welcome to the forum.

**ringadingh** · 07-14-2014, 03:25 PM

You probably had a tailwind helping you out.

cactusjack · 07-14-2014, 07:07 PM

If you wore a new shirt, would you think the new shirt improved your gas mileage? No? Neither did your oil filter.

ctrider · 07-14-2014, 07:11 PM

Funny you said that about your MPG. I've been getting 35MPH on average since I got the bike last sep. ridden about 4000 miles since then. So a few weeks ago I changed the oil. No big deal I've been using T6 and k&n since I got it. Changed to a K&N air filter shortly after I got it last Sept. New tires in march mich. commander II's 40f 42r and I check the pressures weekly. All of a sudden over the last 600 miles or so I went from 35 to 40 and this last ride on Sat. 42-43. I use the same gas Citgo 93 although this past ride was sunoco. What in the world has changed? I ride the same way in fact his last ride was 2up. It's almost like when it turned 20,000 miles the engine broke in.
I'm not complaining now just curious as to why

07-14-2014, 12:49 PM	#1
mrcoily Jr. Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 1	1600 nomad Been riding the vulcan for 2 months now alot....any how debaffled added k&n filter...that was giving me 38 mpg....now this is kinda weird...i changed the oil filter to a k&n unit...i did a 160 mile shot i only used 3.6 gallons...tgat 44 mpg...i was running 75_80 all the time...ive never seen them numbers before....all i can say is the motor must like the less restrictive oil filter less drag on oil pump system... I dont know but i like it.Has anybody else seen this? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-14-2014, 12:57 PM	#2
rick6375 Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: New Castle, In. Posts: 365	Congrats on your ride. So many variables on MPGs. Temp, wind, the gas itself and how hard you twist the throttle, among some. Did your mileage go up on next tank after the airfilter was installed, or after the debaffle? You may be running too lean. __________________ 2005 800 Classic 2012 Voyager ABS
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07-14-2014, 12:59 PM	#3
Vulcan Bill Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Mesa Az Posts: 1,400	An oil filter really shouldn't make any MPG difference. Did you happen to have a stiff wind at your back most of the ride? BTW..welcome to the forum from Mesa AZ! __________________ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- '05 1600CL. Originator 18" Harley wheel mod, Dobeck TFI, True Duals, Mutazu hardbags, Flanders handlebars n' a bunch more. *Sometimes I miss the good ol' days but most times I'm just glad I survived them*
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07-14-2014, 01:25 PM	#4
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	I know you were riding in the mountains and it was down hill all day. LOL Do you have a aftermarket fuel mod of some sort? I hope so. Do you run hi test or regular? Does the engine ping ever? These engines are known to be overly lean at the factory settings for the ecu. These engine can and will run cooler and go farther on for crap 10% ethaholegas with an aftermarket fuel mod (TFI I like best). Adding a K&N filter just leans out the mix more since it changes breathing. Assorted other things like running full syn oils in the engine and final drive can help get MPG'd higher, running a tank full in a ride gets better MPG's, adding crash bar covers appears to stream line Nomads (go figure?) Running tires matters. A rear mc tire will get you better MPG's than running a cat tire since the car tire has MORE traction. (I run a cat tire anyway I like traction.) If that oil filter did anything I would not understand why. It's probably a re branded WIX filter anyway. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it Last edited by macmac; 07-14-2014 at 01:33 PM.
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07-14-2014, 01:48 PM	#5
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	I don't know what the increase in MPG was but I doubt the oil filter had anything to do with it. Congrats on the new bike and welcome to the forum. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-14-2014, 03:25 PM	#6
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	You probably had a tailwind helping you out. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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07-14-2014, 07:07 PM	#7
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	If you wore a new shirt, would you think the new shirt improved your gas mileage? No? Neither did your oil filter. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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07-14-2014, 07:11 PM	#8
ctrider Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: South Windsor, CT Posts: 735	Funny you said that about your MPG. I've been getting 35MPH on average since I got the bike last sep. ridden about 4000 miles since then. So a few weeks ago I changed the oil. No big deal I've been using T6 and k&n since I got it. Changed to a K&N air filter shortly after I got it last Sept. New tires in march mich. commander II's 40f 42r and I check the pressures weekly. All of a sudden over the last 600 miles or so I went from 35 to 40 and this last ride on Sat. 42-43. I use the same gas Citgo 93 although this past ride was sunoco. What in the world has changed? I ride the same way in fact his last ride was 2up. It's almost like when it turned 20,000 miles the engine broke in. I'm not complaining now just curious as to why __________________ VBA #02482 VROC # 36172
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