Why is my Suzuki Intruder 800 getting such bad gas mileage?

Question

I have a 1994 Suzuki Intruder 800 with 3000 miles on it. The bike has a smaller tank, only about 3.2 gallons. I filled it up the other day before riding to my grandparents house which is at most 30 miles each way. My father took the bike out for a ride last night and just went around the neighborhood and he said it started puttering on him and almost ran out of gas. My calculation is 70 or 80 miles at the max and I ran out of gas. Why would this be? I havn't noticed any leaks. Any other potential problem it could be?

Answer 1

Yeah. First, check the engine oil level. Too much is bad too. If there's too much, let some out.

Then, clean the spark plugs and set the gaps correctly.

Doing those things get my bike (1985 Yamaha Virago 700) from 20 mpg to 45 mpg.

You'll also have to check the air filter element. If it's all cruddy, then you should clean it (if it's the cleanable kind) or replace it.



If it's been a while since you had the shaft drive oil changed, you might want to do that.

Also, keep your tires inflated.

Answer 2

Suzuki Intruder 800

Answer 3

Hi. I've got the same prob..aeeh bike. 1. The tank is really too small. 11 liters. 2. Your father might be a faster driver than you.. if you take a look at your spark plugs, you can see if your carberators are well tuned. Are they black, is your bike using too much gas. A Intruder has a reserve, before you're switching to that mode, you can hear your gas pump klicking. Time for a gas station, and you'll never run out of gas. Intruders do need a lot of gasoline, but its still possible that there's a leak. But you would smell that, even if you can't see where. I'm doing 120 kms with 1 tank, but I'm speeding here in Thailand. May be you should buy a Moped, it needs less gas. Isanmike.

Answer 4

Hmmm, I used to have one of the first Intruders, the 700. It did really well on gas, usually in the mid 50s. Do a better job of recording your distance traveled and fuel used and don't base everything on just one tank. If after several tank fulls you find you are getting lousy mileage, as said, take a look at the plugs AFTER a long run. Putting aorund short distances and never getting the thing warmed up good is going to give you plugs that say "too rich" but aren't. Check your air filter and also check for mud dauber wasp nests in the intake tract if the bike has set around much. Yep, that happened to me.

Answer 5

Oil matters and jetings are weird it depends on the ALTITUDE where you live. Most of the Intruders I encounter are jetted so rich they stink of excess fuel burn off. keeping the oil fresh a change about every 700 miles is in order it makes the engine run smoother and hotter the top of the cyl do run a bit cooler so it burns the fuel. I've been putting 4 quarts in mine with no problem and the run rich problem solved. Miles came back I only get 95 miles to a tank full of fuel.... So those fools saying they are getting 195 miles to tank full of gas are full of sheet. 80 miles put gas in it that's as good as you are gonna get my bike seems to hold about 1.5 gallons of gas and that is it... . Any one wanna ping me I'm doing some service work on a VS 800 now [e-mail] I also have the Harley Bee channel on YOUTUBE you get some cycling influences from me.... 195 miles to tank on an Intruder... No way... about 80 miles and done. They run rich and they run powerful toasted many Harley garbage cans with mine. When you run low on oil they first run choppy then they miss sputter and putter and then you sheetcan the motor too. You run a 10-40 synthol at about 4 quarts I put in mine brought it back to life and the rich gas smell went away... The top of the cyl. were running a bit warmer but actually cool and burning the fuel up but the cyl.s were running hot before the oil change. I will report on this.. This new Suzuki I bought used. It ran fine at first but for a burnt coil and very cool very choppy mornings. Some dudefrom ER cycle said they always run choppy it's carbed engine... Bullshit..... The dude I got the bike from said the oil and fluids was changed but it was breaking up on accl on cool mornings like my other VS 800 had done. I changed coils and plugs before the oil just dropped my WOODEN HONDA YAMAHA dip stick checker down the Suzuki's crank case gotta pull the sump pan in the morning and make a dip stick to fit the Intruders I have.... Thank christ it has a sump entry or I would be so screwed dropping something into the crank case. Gotta get my dip stick out I dropped in it and change oil but it had the same symptoms of what I call low oil syndrome. It sputtered puttered often especially when cold even on warm mornings.... I discovered the seller blew smoke up my azz about the oil change I drained out less than a quart oil from the this bike. See if oil fixes this one. My other one oil seems to be the key to the rich running problem. Jetting seems to be a Minuki Carb enigma. I haven't found a Minuki jetted right yet especially where I live the Pocono mountains. Most dealers don't want to deal with it I will. It's bad here for a minuki above 2K sea level. The oil and cooler running cyl heads seems to help alot here. Just keep the oil fresh it cools the top of the cyl head more. You would think hotter would be better. It is not. You got my e-mail I am gonna play with the scenario. Most mornings here are very cool mix that with thick or dirty oil or really low oil and the engine refuses to burn fuel no matter what you do. Have a proper oil level the oil warms the cyl heads and you have a smooth go of it.

Answer 6

Crossover SUV tend to get better gas mileage. Most SUVs are designed for serious off-road use, and are heavy, geared low, and powered by a large engine. Plus most are about as aerodynamic as a barn. Crossovers have characteristics of SUVs and minivans.and get better fuel economy. Also the EPA estimate fuel economy often does not reflect the actual mileage. I drive a crossover SUV that the EPA rates at 16 city, 22 Highway and 19 combined, but my actual gas mileage is 19 city and 35 highway, with 23 combined.

Answer 7

I own a Suzuki vz800. I average 75 miles per gallon.



I find the fuel tank is far too small for the bike. I can get up to 220 miles to a tank of fuel.



Great bike.

Answer 8

because Suzuki mid size cruiser bikes are junk

I should know cause I own a 05 Suzuki M50, the best gas mileage I get is 32mpg, plus it runs rich and blows black smoke from the exhaust that no other biker wants to ride behind me cause of the toxic smell and smoke from the exhaust, then when I take it to the dealer for an extended warranty claim they change the oil and replace the spark plugs and charge me $180

my advice is get rid of it and buy a Honda or a Yamaha

Answer 9

Mid thirties seem to be the expected mpg.



What was you exact mileage, and how many gallons?



The reasons for the mediocre mileage are:

* awful aerodynamics

* gearing for acceleration rather than cruising

Answer 10

could a float drain be open?

Answer 11

its the thrill of riding