[Cleanmaxx Brian]

I just did I ride the was real rocky and slow! Lots of hills both up and down. We topped out at 20mph in 35 miles of riding! Most of the time, between 6 and 14 mph. I started with a full tank of gas. Anyhow I was in 4x4 and low gear for the first time for about 80% of the ride. At the end of the ride, my gas guage was blinking! Is this normal?

I really didn't need 4x4 but my dealer said I should use it to keep it lubed. True?

First time using low gear...wow this machine has power! Will wheelie on pavement! Lol! At those above speeds, would you have used low or just kept it in high? I was the only CF Moto and the only one in low...

[NMKawierider]

With no machine listed in your signature we won't know which are you are talking about unless mentioned in the post...and it isn't. We assume it's an ATV as you mentioned it wheelies on pavement. In all cases it isn't necessary to use the 4WD to lube it. It's just either coupling or uncoupling the front diff from the front drive line. As far as using low range, just use it when needed and get out of it when it's not.

[John]

Cforce 800 EPS, rode 82 km  2wd only with 2 people on machine used 9 ltrs of gas

[Cleanmaxx Brian]

With no machine listed in your signature we won't know which are you are talking about unless mentioned in the post...and it isn't. We assume it's an ATV as you mentioned it wheelies on pavement. In all cases it isn't necessary to use the 4WD to lube it. It's just either coupling or uncoupling the front diff from the front drive line. As far as using low range, just use it when needed and get out of it when it's not.

I thought posting it in Cforce 800 section would have been a clue....
Thanks for the reply...and that's what I was thinking. My dealer had me second guessing myself. I was always under the belief "go in using 2wd and come out in 4".
As for the low gear...I am just trying to save the belt...but I don't think it is worth it.

[Cleanmaxx Brian]

Cforce 800 EPS, rode 82 km  2wd only with 2 people on machine used 9 ltrs of gas

I guess that's about what I would get.
Using low gear and 4x4 really drinks the gas!!!

[NMKawierider]

With no machine listed in your signature we won't know which are you are talking about unless mentioned in the post...and it isn't. We assume it's an ATV as you mentioned it wheelies on pavement. In all cases it isn't necessary to use the 4WD to lube it. It's just either coupling or uncoupling the front diff from the front drive line. As far as using low range, just use it when needed and get out of it when it's not.

I thought posting it in Cforce 800 section would have been a clue....
Thanks for the reply...and that's what I was thinking. My dealer had me second guessing myself. I was always under the belief "go in using 2wd and come out in 4".
As for the low gear...I am just trying to save the belt...but I don't think it is worth it.

I believe low.. when needed.. is saving the belt- absolutely. I guess I didn't catch that it was posted in the CF800 section. Odd that there should be such a difference between the 800s being planted in different chassis. My Z8, even though the extra weight and clutch work has had an effect on millage, it still averages 24 per gallon. With a 7.5 gallon tank that's about 180 miles between fill-ups. And that riding between 5,400 and 12,000 feet.   

[Cleanmaxx Brian]

Update...the gas gauge was blinking and showing no bars. I filled it up and it only took 4.2 gallons! I think my machine has a 6 gallon tank. If so, that means I had almost 2 gallons left in the tank!!!

[Cosmosdan]

Looks like it's time to check the sending unit. Must be fibbing on you.

[Wheels]

Pull the sending unit and adjust the float arm,
As for low speed driving, it is recommended to use low as it increases the speed of the clutches, higher rpm/ this increases the suction of the clutches , for better cooling., higher fuel burn and warm legs.
Belt life on the wet clutch is great don't worry about that.
As for the 4x4 to keep it lubed , the dealer needs to go back to school.

[IVIaniac]

Also you're fuel gauge may have been low while you were climbing or descending. Those two gallons could've been hiding in the front or rear of the tank.

I've never really considered my gas usage, I fill up before every trip and mine uses about the same amount of gas as my Wife's King Quad 750.

To give a general idea we took a 40 mile day and used a little over 1/2 the gas. A bit of every terrain, some playing in the mud and jumping dunes.

I ride almost always in 2wd high. Low is reserved for loading on the trailer, towing, attempting mud or descending steep terrain. Typically if I need low I also need 4wd. Not too often that I use low without 4wd. Sometimes descending long stretches I'll use 2wd low. Diff lock is reserved for slinging mud.

A warning about riding in 4wd all the time, if there are water bars and you are the type to press the gas instead of the brake to go over them TURN 4WD OFF. It'll be a $1,000 fix to replace your front end.

In terms of front end lubrication, everything is still spinning and coated in fluid. In fact if you think about it, technically having the front end disengaged would get things more lubed and generate less heat, allowing fluid to run off the parts slower due to a higher viscosity. Regardless disengaged = less heat = less wear which is better longevity.