Bad Gas Mileage

You can get a new Honda t-stat and o-ring shipped for $37 from Ronayers.com.

Even if you don't need it now, you probably will later .
 
Igofar said:
Even when its in the 40's outside, I get the first bar around 1 minute, the second bar at two minutes, and the third bar by two minutes and 45 seconds!
This is another case of "I get all three bars after 15 minutes" type of thing. folks think just because they eventually get three bars that their T-stat is ok.
signs of it starting to die are, poor gas mileage, and taking longer than this to reach three bars.
Like Blrfl said, check your T-stat before digging in to anything else, I'll be you'll be surprised. I can't count how many folks swore they T-stat was ok until I opened it up and showed it to them.
.02
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter if you are checking while the bike is not moving... the key is temps below 50 and MOVING... if the bike is sitting in a garage, doesn't matter if it's 20 degrees out, the bike warms up just fine.. once moving, the colder air moving through the radiator-and stuck open tstat- causes the temps to drop in the coolant because the tstat won't close..
 
Mellow said:
It doesn't matter if you are checking while the bike is not moving... the key is temps below 50 and MOVING... if the bike is sitting in a garage, doesn't matter if it's 20 degrees out, the bike warms up just fine.. once moving, the colder air moving through the radiator-and stuck open tstat- causes the temps to drop in the coolant because the tstat won't close..
Click to expand...

Roger that, I was just pointing out how quickly you should get to three bars upon startup. I get folks telling me that their t stat is ok, only to tell me it takes a 15 minute ride to get three bars.FLAG!
 
Igofar said:
Roger that, I was just pointing out how quickly you should get to three bars upon startup. I get folks telling me that their t stat is ok, only to tell me it takes a 15 minute ride to get three bars.FLAG!
Click to expand...

Yup, makes sense... I don't remember much of a difference when my '03 had a bad one but I only had it obviously stuck open a few days before dropping it off at the dealer.
 
An ok guy here’s the latest. I just removed and replaced the original T-stat and it looked practically brand new. It was not stuck open it was closed. I replaced it anyway and I'm in the process of putting the bike back together. Also, since I replaced the radiator fluid every two years mine was in great shape with very minimal paint specks in the radiator openings and none that I could tell in the engine or hoses.
photo.JPGphoto.JPG3.JPGphoto.JPG2.JPG
I'll try to post some pics of the original T-stat.

The search continues!
 
Since it's out anyway

Should begin to open at 80-84 176-183?
Should be fully open at 95 203? 8mm 0.3" min.
 
I just checked the T-stat in a hot water bath and it opened at approximately 175F and was full open by 200F. I then put it in a cold water bath and it closed not sure of the temp though. Anyway, its out and on the shelf and I'll be checking the airbox next.
 
Just got my bike back. I had 3 of the 4 cylinder's valves needing adjustment. Took the bike for a ride and it ran nice. I will let everyone know what happens when I am need to refill if this fixes the problem. So frustrating dealing with the dealer. They are nice but instead of immediately looking at my valves like I told them they waited because they heard an exhaust leak! So instead of ordering gaskets and while they are on order the bike sat there. I had to go in and talk to the service manager and explain who to parallel process. I then turned to my wife and said do you now see why I do everything myself!
 
Ok guys here's the latest on my bike. After changing the OEM T-stat with another OEM T-stat on initial test ride the fuel computer mileage is back to the orginial mpg or around 44mpg at 70mph. I even saw a high of 57mgh indicated on the fuel computer during my initial test ride. I will recheck with actual miles and fuel used in the next few days.
Anyway, even though the old T-stat did not appear to have an issue when it was removed it certainly seems that it could have been my issue with the poor fuel mileage.
More to follow in the next few days as I work to confirm my initial results.
 
I rode 290miles yesterday in flat terrain with temps in the upper 80's to low 90's and the bike turned in 42mpg average riding both highway and two lane roads. I'm going to chock up my recent low mileage to a poorly functioning original T-stat even though I was getting no visual indications from the instrument temp cluster.

I know some guys are getting close to 50mpg but I've never returned anything close to that except while riding in the altitudes of Colorado a few years back.

Anyone looking to change their T-stat it’s a very simple job no need to take it to the dealer. Mine took approximately 2hrs from start to finish and most of that time was spent removing and reinstalling the plastic.

By the way, anyone have a source for those plastic rivets of various sizes as well as the sliver screws to secure the lower side heat shields? Honda sells these individually at about $3 per.
 
Glad to hear it.. 42mpg is a good number for the ST in our altitudes...

Lowes or Home Depot is a source for some of the pushpins but I've never looked/found them.
 
42 ain't bad.
Last I checked Lowes had some useable ones HD didn't. I'm not sure if the had something for the iirc 3 sizes.
Few threads on them here. Some just use a zip tie on the chin of the lower fairing.

Note the button head shoulder bolts are not all the same size if you're looking for replacements.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom