ATV ????????????????

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Capt. NW

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Hello everyone I just got a Polaris Sportsman 500 H.O. EFI ATV. the sells man told me it had a 5.8gal. fuel tank. When I picked it up it had no gas in the tank. I filled the tank up and it took 4gal. I am dealing with the sells men now. But my question is how far can I get on 4 gal. of gas.
thank you
 
that depends on alot of things how many miles doesn the engine have on it and all that etc... but ive gone 100 miles on 2 gallons before with a 85 suzuki
 
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that due to the transmission in a Polaris, plus the EFI, you can get many hours worth of trial riding on 4 gallons of gas.
 
it's brand new and I'll be in around 5,000-6,000 foot level. It will be ATV trails and old loging roads. nothing to bad as far as terrain goes.
 
I'am hoping to get 100miles + on the 4 gals.
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That shouldn't be a problem.

There is no reserve tank. The petcock has a tube that sucks gas mid tank. When the level gets to that tube, it's 1.8 gallons left. Switching to reserve sucks gas off the bottom of the tank.

Lots of bikes now days don't even use a petcock with a reserve position anymore. They use an idiot light that flashes when the tank has the 1.8, or whatever it is in that model, gallons left; or, they'll use a gas gauge like a car. I don't know if the idiot light has made it to ATVs, yet. I haven't worked on a model that had it, not that I can remember. But most of the ATVs I work on are older machines, near death in the first place, LOL. Farmers are cheap. They'll rebuild the thing before they'll buy new. It's money to them.

A tip, once you get used to the machine's appetite, you can set your trip meter, if you have one, back to zero when you fill up and use the trip meter as a gas gauge. I have done that for 40 years with motorcycles.
 
I don't have your model, but the ones I've seen or owned usually have about .5 gal. for reserve, your speed an rpms will dictate your gas mpg. mostly. Moderate trail riding on a 500 should get you a good 5-6 hrs. on 4 gal. Happy trails an hunting!
 
Mcgunner, It was flashing when I loaded the Atv in the truck. when I looked into the tank it was dry so I thought there was harley any gas in it but if the tube had 1.8 and it took 4 gal.s then the sells man was right and that would make for a 5.8 gal tank aslong as I can get 100 miles out of 4 gal. I am using the atv for hunting and don't want to have to take gas with me. I run about 80 miles round trip in my hunting spots and like to have 20 miles extra just in case. Thanks for everyones info.
 
Quick tangent - hey I just bought my first ATV ever, and know nothing them, but got a 2004 Suzuki Eiger 400, 4x4, auto tranny w/reverse for $2,200 - decent ATV & decent deal?
 
It varies. A LOT. my parents picked up a couple sportsman 500's last year. one was an 07 the other was an 08 (both brand new) both have the same size tank. One gets 60 miles to the tank the other gets around 100.

The best thing to do is get out and drive it and find out what it can do, but I would do it in an area that isn't a long walk to get more gas ;)

Also, does it have a reserve tank? my '02 700 has one, but my parents new 500's don't.
 
Depending on the hours,where it was ridden,(a lot of people think quabs are boats), and how often oil/filter changed. If all good that's about half price. I also happen to be the owner of six motorcycles(my other, equally important obsession) Sounds like a deal Doc.
 
there was harley any gas in it but if the tube had 1.8 and it took 4 gal.s then the sells man was right
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Have anything to do with Hardly Ableson? LOL!

Some ATV tanks are long and some have sections that duck under things on the frame. I'm not sure about your model, but you might not be able to see the whole tank through the open gas cap. The light will flash when you still have over a gallon left. Should tell you in your owner's manual how much is left when the light comes on. Fill it up when the light starts flashing and that'll give you an idea without having to run it bone dry.
 
If you ride it like a little girl you'll get close to 100ml on a tank... however if you ride it like you stole it, you'll get around 70-80ml to a tank!

Hey Tad, that Zuke Eiger is a fine ride for the cash... it's kinda like a no frills work horse that has been proven over the years many times. I think you'll enjoy it.

Keep the Oil/filter changed and clean, the differentials full of good lube, don't smoke the tranny belt and your good to go!

And remember... Amsoil Marine 10w-40 or Shell Rotella Synthetic 5w-40 motor oil.
 
If your running away from support get some kind of extra fuel suppy to carry ,There are flat types that mount to your racks and just regular small gas cans that can be adapted to each ride. Also carry a tow rope and or winch. along with med kit. I had a 500 back in florida when they first came out and could run about 60 miles to but that was swamps and hard slow rideing. It will depend on how much throttle you use and how smooth you are with it to find your best fuel milage.
 
I'll be in 5,000-7,000 foot on AtV tirals and loging road. I don't run very fast max 30mph. I have a 2006 500 and love it. there was just 2 things that I needed to change one when I got up to 7,000 feet I lost most of my power because the ATV is carb. the 2nd was it only had a 3.5gal tank so at 60miles I was done. last your I was bow hunting elk and took gas with me. and seemed like I could not get the gas smell off of me. so thats why I went with the feul-injected and when the salesman said 5.8 gas tank I thought I solved my problems, so right now I have solved one problem and just need to get the bigger tank in the ATV to solve the other one, which the salesman is working on or he will be getting the ATV back.
 
Tad, The Eigers were best in class in several tests done by several magazines and clubs. They aren't the most flashy, but they are rugged, strong, and are surprisingly sporty. Never seen a bad review of one.
 
the only way to tell is by actually trying it. take along a spare gas supply, run around for 30-40 miles, and fill up. then you can see what kind of mileage you get. you will still need to figure this as strictly a guideline. because as others have said, there are a lot of variables. terrain, temperature, speed, towing, etc. all eat up more gas. what i do is figure out APROXIMENTLY how far i will be traveling (there AND back), if it is more that 1/2 of the distance i can go on a full tank, i take extra gas. ATV's PUSH HARD!
 
Another solution, I entertained...was to purchase a 3. something gallon gas can. It is 'flat'...about 2 inches thick, and it is flat..to sit upon the rack with a 2 inch rise. It has tie down straps coordinated to be used with most all existing racks. If ya need, I will go dig it out, get the name and figure it out for you. Seems I paid 60 bucks for it, but it is shaped flat..to sit completely upon the front (or rear rack) and it is a neat way of carrying extra fuel with the least amount of interfearance for packin all else.
 
I have a 12 gallon outboard tank that would fit on an ATV rack. You could either T it into the fuel line before the fuel pump or just use it to transfer gas to the tank via the hose and siphon. I bought that tank for my outboard of course, but have also used it for my 4KW generator. Last time I used it on the generator was 03 after hurricane Claudette, it ran constantly for a week. I used about 8-10 gallons every 24 hours.
 
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