2008 IQ Shift 600 fuel consumption

[zstro]

I just purchased a IQ Shift 600 carbed with only 8oo miles and I love the performance/handling and stiff ride but I am struggling with the fuel economy. I also have a 2001 Polaris XCSP 600 with 6,000 miles and it is getting 4 miles/gallon beter. Two questions how can I improve my economy?? Is the 600 different in the 08 compared to my 01 600 both have power valves?? My 2001 gets 14-16mpg's and the 2008 only gets 9-11 mpg's.


Thank You!!

 

[ezra]

is it running fat how do your plugs look?what do the top of the pistons look like {hows the wash?]

 

[zstro]

Yes I am running fat the plugs were pretty dark. What do you suggest

 

[ezra]

I would start buy going 1 or 2 jet sizes down on my main and 1 size on my pilot jet
your pilot controls about Idol to 1/4 and you main is from 1/4 to full throttle more or less then we get in to needle clips etc etc but if it were me I would drop my mains 1 or 2 and poo pilots usually are fat so 1 size down to start.then check your plugs.
this is assuming it is carb and I thought the shift was but not sure.
if running fat with efi fastest way to lean it out a bit would be a slp air horn kit or add a extra hole in dash over air box under gauge cluster and cover with a frog skin frog skin makes a cover for the left and right side of hood just to the side of your stock intakes

 

[fredster]

I have 2000 and 2005 600 Liberty's....they both came with 440 mains (sea level) and I have run 410's in them since new (here in MI where the lowest altitude is 700 or 800 feet). I would probably not run them below -10 degrees but we rarely ride when it's that cold anyways. In both cases the MPG's increaesed from 10ish to 12+ or more. The throttle response is much better too.

I know the main jet sizes have evolved a bit on the 600 HO carb motors, in any event I would drop 2 sizes on the main jets and check the plug color and go from there. Main jets are cheap and easy to change, I would fine out what your stock size is and order -2 and -3 sizes to start with. Just keep an eye on the plugs especially when the temps drop below zero!

 

[snohawk]

I just purchased a IQ Shift 600 carbed with only 8oo miles and I love the performance/handling and stiff ride but I am struggling with the fuel economy. I also have a 2001 Polaris XCSP 600 with 6,000 miles and it is getting 4 miles/gallon beter. Two questions how can I improve my economy?? Is the 600 different in the 08 compared to my 01 600 both have power valves?? My 2001 gets 14-16mpg's and the 2008 only gets 9-11 mpg's.


Thank You!!

I have an 07 IQ 600 and if the 08 is jetted the same as the 07, I would drop the mains two sizes, was very rich on top ( I ran 3 sizes down but also have an ETG gauge to watch the temps) you do not want to run smaller pilots because the sled is very lean at this range but go up one size from stock on the pilot. The sled is very rich at idle so you can increase the air jet to a .9 ( not 100% sure on the size of the air jet will have to check in my manual). I was getting between 12 & 14 mpg with my 07 depending on the snow and how I was driving. My 600 Rush gets about 1 mpg better than the carb 600 and both 600's get 1 to 2 mpg better that the 3 500's I have.

If you lean out the mid range with the clip the cylinder temps are at melt down so don't clip it. I tried to lower the clip once to run a little fatter in the mid-range, the sled was very responsive but lost 2-3 mpg

 

[mjkaliszak]

Just some " food for thought ".... The 4 mpg would bother me. I have a 600HO RR and only 1 time when we were running some 17 & 20+ mile grades at WFO did we get that poor of milage. My son was running with me & my budds ( all 800's ) so he had it to the bar. I want to throw out there that maybe something else may be wrong... like the float assemblies sticking open OR the fuel line pick-up rotted off in the tank ??? I have had both of these things happen to me !

I 'm just saying.......

 

[Polarice]

I find having an 07 600 carb and a 10 600 cfi that they will both get about the same. I don't track exact miles per gallon, I just know how we ride and when we fill with gas at the station that they are almost identical.

We can either use a lot of fuel for distance or minimal. If we're riding WOT we get a lot less. I ride the cfi and I know if I get on the carb that I want to ride it harder than the cfi just because the power is just not there. Not that it's slow but the cfi really has that much more power.

I also have a big air kit on the 07 carb.