Burning more fuel than usual

[Jaime]

Hi, My name is Jaime Torres from Madrid, Spain.
I am the owner of a 236 team 2007.
It seems that the 380 horse power engine is burning now much more fuel that it did a few hours ago.
The engine has now 105 total hours, and since it had like 90 hours, it looks as if it burns almost double fuel than it id before.
Sometimes it smels a little bit like fuel, but not realy.
The boat has been completly loadded ince I have it.
Any clue about it.
Yhank you.
Jaime.

[DanielC]

RE: Burning more fuel than usual

Jamie, if a boat is running normally, two things affect fuel use. How fast you go, and how much weight you carry. It takes four times the power to drive a boat twice as fast, once it is on a plane. If you are now driving a little faster, because you are now familiar to the boat, or you or the riders you pull are improving their skills, you will use more fuel. The same thing will happen if you are filling the ballast tanks more now.
A 236 has lots of storage space. It is easy to start leaving stuff in it, and the weight will start to add up.
An engine factor that will affect fuel use, is the temperature of the engine. If the engine is running cold, it will run richer until it gets warm. If the engine is running way hot, it will also run richer, but it has to be really hot for that to happen. You would have probably noticed an overheat problem.
Are you getting the same quality fuel you were in the beginning? If the octane rating of the fuel is lower, your engine will retard the timing automatically, and it will use more fuel.
If you are taking the boat to a different lake with a higher altitude above sea level than you were at first, that will affect fuel use.
Now that the excitement of a new boat is starting to wear off, you just might be paying more attention to the fuel use.
This may sound a little unfriendly, but if I take friends out in my boat, I expect them to pay for the gas. You may have to educate them on how much gas a boat really uses per hour of fun they have. Remember you paid for the boat, something that can tow it, all the taxes on the boat, all the shop work done on the boat, you should have done three oil and filter changes by now. You probably bought all the equipment other people use when they are in your boat.

[Jaime]

RE: Burning more fuel than usual

Thank you very much for the quick answer.
Things has not chenged since they day i got the boat.
I have been riding nautiques for six years, and when i got this one i was surprised by the low cost of fuel, compared to 2 210, but suddenly, with no reason at all, it burns much more than before.
May be a Dirty filter? Something electrionic?
Thank you.
JAime

[DanielC]

RE: Burning more fuel than usual

Jamie, It is going to be hard to diagnose this from 5433 miles away, according to my GPS.
Does your boat seem a little more sluggish than normal? Is it performing the same, except for the fuel burn? Is there a vibration that is new that might indicate propeller damage? An engine misfire would cause a vibration, or a change in the sound of the boat? Has water started to collect in the bilge? Maybe a compression check of the engine would be in order. Just curious, what does a liter of Gasoline (petrol) cost in Spain?

[SGY]

RE: Burning more fuel than usual

What is your gallon per hour rate?

[Laptom]

RE: Burning more fuel than usual

Petrol is relativly cheap in Spain. I thought around $4,- a gallon. But Jaime can give the exact figure.
Jaime, read out your computer. I've seen the exact same problem with cars, and it was everytime a faulty temp sensor. On some engines their are 2 temp sensors. One for the gauge on the dashboard, and 1 for the engine computer.

[Jaime]

RE: Burning more fuel than usual

Hi again.
In Spain the gas costs around 4$ a galon. Its not cheap at all.
That last answer sounds posible to me, as I allready checked the last options.
I will find out about those two temp sensors.
IŽll write you back as soon as i find it out.
Thank you very much.
JAime

[Laptom]

Re: RE: Burning more fuel than usual

Jaime, please let us know. I don't know if the ZR6 has multiple temp sensors, but it's good to check it out.

Btw, Petrol in Netherlands is $6-$7 a gallon at the road and $7-$8 at the harbour. Luckely is propane around $2 a gallon :twisted: !!

[Adrian]

Hi Jaime.
Welcome to Planet Nautique.
I'm from Madrid too.

I have not driven a boat with a ZR6 but it sounds strange to me what you said about much better gas consumption in your new 236 compared with a 210.

It would be a good idea to check your galloon per hour rate and post it here.

It would be nice if you post some pics of the boat in the "show us your nautique" section.

Saludos