Fuel mileage ?

[YETI]

I just bought a 07 VK what should I expect for fuel mileage trail, powder,towing. Just had to ask.

 

[wayne]

My first run on my 08. did 64 miles gas shows about half of tank left.
I previously owned an 06 vk pro and averaged about 14/15 miles per gallon .

 

[Joner]

For the 06 VK Pro owners out there, you can replace the stock 18 tooth upper gear in the chain case with a 20 tooth. This lowers rpm 500, increases fuel economy and top end to match the 07 and 08 sleds. If you do mostly pulling and grooming the 17 tooth gives more low end grunt as we are stuck with no low range. I have attached some pictures of custom hitches, auger post, and stud pattern I designed for my 06. The studs don't run under the tunnel rad which eliminates the risk of puncture.

 

[YETI]

Thanks for the replies and pics Would love to see some more upgrades and extras others have added.

 

[asrx600guy]

NEVER shockload a ball. they snap and become deadly projectiles.

 

[Jack_Shaft]

That's good advice on the case upper gear; lots of 06 VK Pro owners are going that route.

Grooming: Change 18T upper to 17T upper
Leisure: Change 18T upper to 20T upper

Our grooming unit will likely be modified to the 17T upper gear, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[eric3793]

I have put 800 miles on my red 08 since 1/19. My milage as been consistant at 15mpg but I have been riding faster than normal...like 50 to 65 on groomed trails at about 6000 to 7000 rpm. It does better at slower speeds. It is alot better than my Polaris Widetrack on gas. I think on trips with slower speeds I will see 17mpg.

 

[eric3793]

I'm up to 1500 miles on the '08 VK now and the fuel milage is as follows:
Hardpack groomed trails @ 45mph avg. is 16mpg
Loose snow groomed trails @ 45mph avg. is 14mpg
Pulling an agressive trail drag @ 12mph I got about 12mpg (very good)

Overall I am very pleased with the performance and milage. I can count on going 150 miles between fill-ups when touring and 100 miles when I'm at camp grooming and horsing around on the lake and mountain trails. Cold weather starting is great. The VK is a far better groomer than my old Polaris WTLX which got 6mpg when grooming. The VK will pull the groomer effortlessly when the old Polaris was working really hard at the same tasks. In fresh snow I could not groom until it was packed but now I can handle any snow conditions (including lake slush) with the VK. Quite a change.

 

[christoph]

I know this is an ancient thread, but relevant to my 07 VK. I'm not seeing anywhere near double digit fuel mileage numbers. 5-8mpg seems is the average. Background, I'm running mine at 6k-7500ft in altitude, nothing super steep but up and down out and back on my trapline. Simmons Gen I skis, sled has a little over 2500 miles on it. I'm running 91 non ethanol fuel in it. Anything I should be looking at, or is it just what it is at this elevation? I've got my trails packed pretty well now, was wrestling the pig breaking trails a couple of trips out, and I'm sure that had an effect.

 

[maim]

the carb sleds prefer 87 and run better on it. i usually start the season on 91 and finish it on it.

 

[christoph]

the carb sleds prefer 87 and run better on it. i usually start the season on 91 and finish it on it.

Thanks. Just been using the 91 because it's non ethanol. I have to go a long ways to find any 87/88 non ethanol gas. Could always run some Startron in it I guess. Our regular here is 85 octane, 87 is our mid grade and almost as expensive as the 91. It's crazy.

 

[maim]

according to yamaha, all their sleds are good to run ethanol. the probelms happen when they sit with it in it when it goes bad. i always fill the tanks up with 91 and seafoam them in the off season. i run them every month up to temp and top off with fresh 91 at some point and try not to run them hard until they have had a whole fresh tank of gas in them.

 

[christoph]

according to yamaha, all their sleds are good to run ethanol. the probelms happen when they sit with it in it when it goes bad. i always fill the tanks up with 91 and seafoam them in the off season. i run them every month up to temp and top off with fresh 91 at some point and try not to run them hard until they have had a whole fresh tank of gas in them.

That's pretty much what I do in the summer. Stabil and some Seafoam and run it every month to keep fluids circulating and to give me something to do lol. I'll try some 87 and report back. Cleaned all the air vent tubes as that is also recommended in the manual for bad fuel mileage.