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Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

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  • #1

    Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

    Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

    My motorcycle has been giving low fuel economy. It had been lying away unused for around 2 years. I plan to overhaul the carburetor before I start fiddling with the engine.

    I need to test the exact fuel economy pre & post carb overhaul. I would be using the IV drip gravity feed bottle method to check the economy.

    I am wondering if I need to tune the flow rate of fuel from the bottle to that of the motorcycle's petcock. Or can I leave it as it is, free flow? Does the carburetor only take in what it is capable of putting out, in the normal set up? Would I be flooding the carburetor with a free flow gravity feed bottle?
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  • #2
    Re: Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

    Thread approved.

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    • #3
      Re: Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

      Originally posted by elonSkum View Post
      Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

      My motorcycle has been giving low fuel economy. It had been lying away unused for around 2 years. I plan to overhaul the carburetor before I start fiddling with the engine.

      I need to test the exact fuel economy pre & post carb overhaul. I would be using the IV drip gravity feed bottle method to check the economy.

      I am wondering if I need to tune the flow rate of fuel from the bottle to that of the motorcycle's petcock. Or can I leave it as it is, free flow? Does the carburetor only take in what it is capable of putting out, in the normal set up? Would I be flooding the carburetor with a free flow gravity feed bottle?
      I am not an expert on this, but from what I understand the carburetor should take only as it can put out. However, this method of fuel economy can have other difficulties too like mounting the Drip Bottle securely and all.

      Why not use the tank full to tank full method? Fill the tank, ride a certain KMs, fill it again. The amount of fuel that goes in, divide the KMs by it.
      Empty the tank, service the carb, repeat.

      Rachit
      Rachit K Dogra

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      • #4
        Re: Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

        Originally posted by rachitkdogra View Post
        I am not an expert on this, but from what...
        Rachit
        Thanks rachitkdogra for replying to my query. I appreciate.

        Can use the tank method, but I find it more cumbersome. I have a drip bottle for measuring fuel efficiency, that comes with a rod that clamps onto your handlebar. I find it more convenient. And, I would be doing it early morning, so no weird stares as well. I am just bothered about whether a non-calibrated flow rate would change the carb dynamics from it's normal mode.

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        • #5
          Re: Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

          Originally posted by elonSkum View Post
          Thanks rachitkdogra for replying to my query. I appreciate.

          Can use the tank method, but I find it more cumbersome. I have a drip bottle for measuring fuel efficiency, that comes with a rod that clamps onto your handlebar. I find it more convenient. And, I would be doing it early morning, so no weird stares as well. I am just bothered about whether a non-calibrated flow rate would change the carb dynamics from it's normal mode.
          ==

          There is a mileage testing bottle that is approx 200/- INR available in many auto dealers. Back to your question, I like the idea and one thumrule is to set the IV drip to be as close to the flow of petrol from the tank via the usual plastic pipe. take a mug and time the flow of petrol into it for 30 seconds, now do th same with the IV drip to see it has similar rate of flow. This way you would be better prepared.

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          • #6
            Re: Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

            Originally posted by srikany View Post
            ==

            There is a mileage testing bottle that is approx 200/- INR available in many auto dealers.
            I have that bottle, only.

            Originally posted by srikany View Post
            Back to your question, I like the idea and one thumrule is to set the IV drip to be as close to the flow of petrol from the tank via the usual plastic pipe. take a mug and time the flow of petrol into it for 30 seconds, now do th same with the IV drip to see it has similar rate of flow. This way you would be better prepared.
            Problem is that the bottle that I have doesn't have a mechanism to control the drip rate - it's a free flow. Shall be stuffing its fuel pipe with some plastic or polythene to constrain the free flow to the desired rate.

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            • #7
              Re: Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

              Originally posted by elonSkum View Post

              Problem is that the bottle that I have doesn't have a mechanism to control the drip rate - it's a free flow. Shall be stuffing its fuel pipe with some plastic or polythene to constrain the free flow to the desired rate.
              Just hang/mount it to your left handlebar and the nozzle should be around the same height as your fuel petcock of the tank. No need to control flow, drip rate yada yada.
              The carb will take as much petrol is required according to it tuning. The bottle should not have pressure build up in it thats it, which it might when going over bumps as petrol quickly turns into vapour.

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              • #8
                Re: Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

                Originally posted by elonSkum View Post
                Gravity feed motorcycle - Fuel economy testing - IV drip bottle method

                My motorcycle has been giving low fuel economy. It had been lying away unused for around 2 years. I plan to overhaul the carburetor before I start fiddling with the engine.

                I need to test the exact fuel economy pre & post carb overhaul. I would be using the IV drip gravity feed bottle method to check the economy.

                I am wondering if I need to tune the flow rate of fuel from the bottle to that of the motorcycle's petcock. Or can I leave it as it is, free flow? Does the carburetor only take in what it is capable of putting out, in the normal set up? Would I be flooding the carburetor with a free flow gravity feed bottle?
                Here is a video demonstrating the test procedure. The pitfalls and difficulty experienced is also seen in one place. This guy is a fairly well informed mechanic who has a reasonably well subscribed channel. He is a good mechanic so his understanding of the mechanicals of the bike is also quite ok. Hope this helps.


                https://youtu.be/w1M22S1pefE

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