Alarming or no ?

[donebysunday]

I put 108.7 miles on my 81 MNS, 10%, 87 ethanol w/marine ethanol stable, freshly oiled pods with K&N oil. 1/2 city and 1/2 county roads, 35-60 mph., used 2.75 gal. for what I calculate 39.42 mpg. Stock head pipes and straight through dunstall rep. muffs.
Somewhat alarmed by the great mpg. I pulled the plugs, 1,3,4 were light pink, 2 was white, is this bad ?
Could the red colored K&N oil cause the pink plugs ?

I filled up with 93 non ethanol and plan on doing the same route and check plugs again.
Before I do thought I'd toss this out here and see if I can get any opinions, please ! Thank You all !

Just picked up a MNS air box, waiting for the K&N filter

[Yard Dogg]

I hate ethanol, and I always use high octane.

[650mark]

not so alarming...

hey don, mark in mesa here. my all stock and original '80 xs11 special gets 40mpg all the time except when run on the highway at 90mph+. then it drops to 38mph. mileage is the same with regular or premium fuel. the bike has 15,000 miles on it now. I just replaced the k&n filter with an oem stock unit because a VERY knowledgeable tech tells me that the k&n will, in fact, allow oil into the intake tract and the carbs right after oiling. I tested this and found it to be true. my iridium plugs weren't ever pink but they are very, very light brown and all 4 of my carbs, manifolds and boots were oily. my mpg's and performance are the same with either air filter. hope some of this info helps.

[IanDMacDonald]

Why are you wasting your money on higher octane fuel?

[donebysunday]

Why are you wasting your money on higher octane fuel?

I too hate ethanol and the only non-ethanol available was the high test, cost 40 cents more per gal. than the regular w/ethanol.

[DGXSER]

Hey Done, We get about 10% ethanol as a rule here in the midwest. I use 87 Octane in my bike. I put about 200 miles on Sunday, country back roads, a little 70-80 superslab type area here and there. I was at 42 MPG on both fill-ups.

[donebysunday]

Hey Done, We get about 10% ethanol as a rule here in the midwest. I use 87 Octane in my bike. I put about 200 miles on Sunday, country back roads, a little 70-80 superslab type area here and there. I was at 42 MPG on both fill-ups.

Hi Don !
I've had so many problems with the water in ethanol fuel, I've fixed up albout 60 XS650s in the last 15 years and always went out of my way to get the non-ethanol fuel and keep it on hand to fill up when I can at home. If I had to fill up on the road with ethanol I always waited until I was well into reserve. Went to a rally near La Crosse, Wi. and topped it off just before the long ride, about 1/2 tank. 5 mi. into the ride the bike just sounded odd then started sputtering pulled the float bowls while the rest had lunch, water droplets in the bowls. Went back to the station, 10% ethanol on the pump.

[natemoen]

The red color is caused by fuel additives, not the k&n oil.

[donebysunday]

The red color is caused by fuel additives, not the k&n oil.

Hi Nate !

Thank You ! Why pink on 3 otta 4 plugs ? My racing buddy says white is good ( at least for racing, how many races ? ) I've always liked light tan/sand but when white the 650 and the 1100 seem to shoot right past red line still powered if not checked by shifting. Stock pilots, screws 3 1/2 turns out and 120 mains on this 81 MNS.

[DGXSER]

I might turn that mix screw out 1/4 turn.

[donebysunday]

I might turn that mix screw out 1/4 turn.

Will do, run and check plugs again.
Well decided to check all the pilot adjustment screws, 1,3,4, 3.5 turns out, #2, 3 turns out, DAAAHDODA
Decided the pink 1,3,4 were still a little lite adjusted all to 4 turns out, went for a run of 12 mi., color is still pinkish but darker more towards lite sand.

Thank You Don !!!!!

[DGXSER]

No Problem, glad to be of help!

[650mark]

where are the mixture screws on my '80 special?

[DGXSER]

First, take a look at the maintenance section for the carb cleaning 101 tip, or the carb identification guide. They will help you with carb parts.

Now, on the 1980 model carbs, the mixture screws are in the vertical on the front of carb, engine side. If the carbs have not had the mixture adjusted or mix screws changed, there will be an aluminum washer in the top.

[jetmechmarty]

I don't understand how you folks are getting nearly 40 mpg. I have fiddled and futzed until my machine is running as good as it possibly can. The ceramic on my plugs is nearly white. The valves are in spec. The timing chain is new. I have fresh oil. I have an airbox with a K&N filter and a four into one header. 32 mpg is the best I can get.

I've been talking to Unca Done and told him he was probably lean if he's getting that kind of mileage. Does the exhaust make that much difference? Done has stock head pipes.