Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

[czimpel]

I have a 1997 Larson Flyer 176 with a Volvo 4.3gs 43PLKD setup. I am new to boating, and I've had the boat out about 4 times this year, and the fuel consumption seems extreme. I was on the water for about 1.5 hours cruising at about 3000 rpm easy on the throttle, and I pulled a two person tube with kids(about 200 lbs max in the tube at a time) for about 25 minutes and used 20 gallons of gas. Is this normal?

Cory

 

[danond]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

I don't watch mine too closely, but with a couple hours of cruising and pulling a skier I'll use a tank in an afternoon without blinking. I think my tank is 20 gallons or so.

Boats don't care about your checkbook!

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

I have a 1997 Larson Flyer 176 with a Volvo 4.3gs 43PLKD setup. I am new to boating, and I've had the boat out about 4 times this year, and the fuel consumption seems extreme. I was on the water for about 1.5 hours cruising at about 3000 rpm easy on the throttle, and I pulled a two person tube with kids(about 200 lbs max in the tube at a time) for about 25 minutes and used 20 gallons of gas. Is this normal?

Cory

For the amount of time and rpm you are running, I would say you are burning too much gas. I have an older 4.3 with a 22 gallon tank and it will last me about a 1/2 day of tubing and high speed runs.
Unfortunately, I don?t have any suggestions but at least this will give you a bump.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

While not very precice on either time or gallons, it definately sounds excessive.

Start with the basics, choke opperation, clean flame arrestor and full tune up.

 

[czimpel]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

It's a brand new full rebuild with rebuilt carb, all new ignition, and new fuel pump.

The jets in the carb seemed a little large. Does anyone have experiance in the Holley 4 bbl carbs on these motors. I believe that the jets were 60's front and rear, which to me and my prior car knowledge seems very large and excessive.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

It's a brand new full rebuild with rebuilt carb, all new ignition, and new fuel pump.

That doesn't mean that everything is correct. I can't help you with jet sizes for a holley, but others will be along soon. I would still verify choke settings/opperation.

Have you pulled the plugs to see what they look like?

 

[czimpel]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

I pulled the plugs and they look like the day that they were installed, about 20 hours on them. So, I'm obviously not running rich.

I did have the boat out again this week and took very careful notes and times that the boat was running. I found a major improvement in what I had previously guessed on. I ran for a little over three hours, pulled a tube for a while, waterskied for a while and did some cruising and only used 16 gallons. I guess time flies when you're having fun.

This is my first boat and I had to do a complete overhaul of the motor, carb, interior, and some major buffing and new decals. I did all of the work myself, and learned a ton about how boats differ from cars.

I love the boat, but have a lot to learn.

Thanks for all of your help.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

running 3 hours instead of 2, and that includes some tubing AND skiing on 16 gallons with "cean" plugs, startin' to sound like normal usage to me.

 

[boostnm3]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

i dont know, that seems high to me. i have a four winns horizon 180 with 4.3 penta gl motor and i filled up on friday, ran for 2 hours or so. then saturday ran about 3 hours or so, pulling a tube for a little bit, some high speed runs then just cruising around 3100 rpm and after all that i still over 3/4's of a tank. I guess it just depends on how hard you push the motor. The higher the revs, the more fuel it will suck. i try to cruise around 15-20 mph to keep gas lasting

 

[45Auto]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

Czimpel, you are actually getting good gas mileage with your boat. A 4.3 in a 17'-18' boat will burn about 4 gallons/hour if driven VERY conservatively. Anything higher than minimum planing speed, or especially pulling a tube, will increase that number significantly.

Boostnm3, you need to check your fuel gauge. You burned at least 20 gallons of gas if you were running on plane for 5 hours. I very seriously doubt if you have an 80 gallon gas tank in your 18' boat.

You can go to Boattest.com and look at the test results for a variety of boats, it'll give you a good feel for who's BS-ing and who's not.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

it'll give you a good feel for who's BS-ing and who's not.

Ayuh,... I've got a 4.3LX in my old Starcraft 21'er,...
I idle out of the No Wake zone, putt out to the deeper water at about 12mph or so,...
Then troll for hours...
When I get back to my dock, I pump out 5 gal.s a trip....

 

[45Auto]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

Performance chart for an 18' Larson with a Volvo V6:

Then troll for hours...
When I get back to my dock, I pump out 5 gal.s a trip

As everyone can see, there's a big difference between trolling for hours at 1 GPH and cruising for hours while burning at least 4 GPH .....

 

[boostnm3]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

Czimpel, you are actually getting good gas mileage with your boat. A 4.3 in a 17'-18' boat will burn about 4 gallons/hour if driven VERY conservatively. Anything higher than minimum planing speed, or especially pulling a tube, will increase that number significantly.

Boostnm3, you need to check your fuel gauge. You burned at least 20 gallons of gas if you were running on plane for 5 hours. I very seriously doubt if you have an 80 gallon gas tank in your 18' boat.

You can go to Boattest.com and look at the test results for a variety of boats, it'll give you a good feel for who's BS-ing and who's not.

no my fuel gauge works fine. i was told volvo penta motors are very efficient before i bought it. yeah if you fly up and down the lake top speed runs, you wont get good gas mileage. also i have a 32 gallon tank. honestly if the boat would only go 4 hours on a tank of gas, i would sell it because that is insane and a complete waste of money

 

[Shouldn't Have]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

If you want to know what you are really burning get a floscan GPH meter. They have some nice units. They are pricey on the floscan site, but you can find them on other sites as well.
This is going to be my next purchase for my boat. That way I can find the sweet spot and stick with it.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

honestly if the boat would only go 4 hours on a tank of gas, i would sell it because that is insane and a complete waste of money

Sorry, I never have understood the boater mentality that doesn't like to admit how much fuel you're using. Whether you like it or not, if you're cruising at 3100 RPM (about 33 MPH) in a typically loaded, V6 powered 18'-19' boat, you are burning about 8 GPH. I'll let you do the math to figure out how long your 32 gallon tank will last and whether you want to sell the boat or not ........

 

[180shabah]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

Either he really believes that the gauge is correct or he must be using that magic octane booster.....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

I want to know if he started out with a full tank and then replaced the 20 gallons after he was done or if he was going by the guage.

 

[boostnm3]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

Sorry, I never have understood the boater mentality that doesn't like to admit how much fuel you're using. Whether you like it or not, if you're cruising at 3100 RPM (about 33 MPH) in a typically loaded, V6 powered 18'-19' boat, you are burning about 8 GPH. I'll let you do the math to figure out how long your 32 gallon tank will last and whether you want to sell the boat or not ........

Like i said, if your going fast, your burning fast. i dont know what lake you go on, but the lake im on, i cant go 3100 rpm constant for 4 hours. I guess your driving up and down the ocean. the way i drive, it lasts me longer than 4 hours. the way you drive, maybe not. i filled up last friday and have been out 3 times already without filling it back up. i guess if i were driving 3100 constant for 4 hours, yes this boat would get sold, and id buy something smaller. i guess that magic octane booster did the trick

 

[CC Dollar]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

FWIW I took our new first time out Larson 180 sport out to the lake last Sunday. 5.4 Hr on 14 gal . Not much constant speed as we were 1500 rpm to 3000 rpm for break in. Some speed up to 4000 rpm after a couple of hours. A few WOT after 5 hrs. Mike

 

[Maclin]

Re: Volvo 4.3 Fuel Consumption

The jets in the carb seemed a little large. Does anyone have experiance in the Holley 4 bbl carbs on these motors. I believe that the jets were 60's front and rear, which to me and my prior car knowledge seems very large and excessive.

It depends on the CFM rating for the carb. In a 750cfm 4bbl Holley the size you mentioned would be to the lean side, not large at all. Stock for a 750 is more like 68-72 front and 76-80 rear.

Your spark plugs are saying the carb is ok, maybe even a little lean.

Please give the method you used to determine the gallons used.