EcoModder.com

EcoModder.com (https://ecomodder.com/forum/)
-   Motorcycles / Scooters (https://ecomodder.com/forum/motorcycles-scooters.html)
-   -   It was NOT the synthetic oil (https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/not-synthetic-oil-16510.html)

JRMichler 03-19-2011 06:18 PM

It was NOT the synthetic oil
 
Once upon a time, I had a Honda CB350. That bike averaged 60 MPG in a mixture of city and highway driving. I didn't specifically try for mileage, but did not drive it hard either.

I wanted to find if Mobil 1 synthetic would get better gas mileage. So I started with a pair of baseline MPG tests:

30 MPH 87 MPG
60 MPH 60 MPG

Changed to Mobil 1 and reran the MPG tests:

30 MPH 103 MPG
60 MPH 63 MPG

These results did not make sense until I realized that I was getting better at holding a constant throttle position. This was especially tricky at 30 MPH, because the throttle was barely off idle.

This could be called an A-BC test. It shows the need for careful testing of changes (see the How To Properly Test sticky in Ecomodding Central).

CONCLUSIONS

1) The Honda CB350 responds very well to a steady hand on the throttle.

2) I still have no idea if the Mobil 1 oil caused better gas mileage in that bike.

Ryland 03-19-2011 07:23 PM

I too had a CB350 for a while but never saw 60mpg, I tended to average 45-50mpg, the thing with synthetic oil is that alot of it will ruin the wet clutch of a motorcycle if it has friction modifiers in it, so just a word of warning, I've replaced two wet clutches for this reason.
But you are right, the CB350 has constant velocity carburetors, so a slight twitch of the throttle would make it open up the diaphragm and thus open up the needle for the main jet in the carburetor, dumping in extra fuel.


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:50 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com