Heading out on snowy trails is exciting! Riding your snowmobile is fun, easy, and great for all ages.
But that’s only if you keep your snowmobile well-maintained. You should always make sure everything is running smoothly, and that all the parts are in good condition. Keeping your fuel tank in optimal condition is one way to do that.
All snowmobile manufacturers provide an average miles per gallon (mpg) of their vehicle. This measurement tells you how far your snowmobile can travel for every gallon of fuel.
It’s also a measurement of how much fuel your gas tank can hold. Knowing your snowmobile’s miles per gallon can preserve the integrity of your motor and all the inner workings of your snowmobile. It can also keep you from getting stranded in the middle of nowhere because you ran out of gas.
What’s the Average Tank Size?
The standard tank size is a little more than 10 US gallons. That gives you an average of 200 miles, which means you get about 10 to 20 miles per gallon of fuel consumption.
Here’s a list of some common snowmobile models and their average tank sizes in US gallons per liter.
- Polaris PRO-RMK 155: 11.5 gal (43.5 L)
- Polaris Switchback PRO S: 12 gal (45.4 L)
- Polaris INDY VR1 129: 11.5 gal (43.5 L)
- Polaris TITAN SP155: 14 gal (53 L)
- Polaris Voyageur 144: 11.5 gal (43.5 L)
Source: Polaris
How the Engine Affects Fuel Consumption
Snowmobile engines are either two-stroke or four-stroke. Each type can have an effect on how much fuel your snowmobile consumes.
If an engine is fuel-efficient, this means it can travel longer on less fuel, thus providing you with an adequate miles per gallon tank capacity. The opposite is also true.
So let’s find out which engine type boosts your miles per gallon ratio.
Two-Stroke Engine
Two-stroke are best suited for people who are light in weight and small in physical build. While this may seem a more practical way to ride the snow trails, two-stroke engines aren’t very fuel efficient because they yield an unimpressive miles per gallon ratio.
In other words, they burn more fuel when traveling the same distance as a four-stroke engine, which we’ll talk more about below.
How it Works
Also known as a two-cycle, this engine goes through one power cycle with two movements of the piston. One movement, or stroke, is the compression stroke, where the mixture of air, oil, and fuel is compressed.
The second stroke is when the compressed fuel explodes and the exhaust is let out. It’s also when the fresh fuel mixture enters into the cylinder.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Can burn cheap low-grade fuel oil
- Low-maintenance
- Don’t require speed reduction gear because they’re low-speed engines
Cons
- Two-stroke engines use up more fuel
- Produce high amounts of pollution
Four-Stroke Engine
Four-stroke engines provide more torque. A four-stroke engine will get you up the mountain much more easily than a two-stroke engine. That’s largely because they can handle tough terrains extremely well.
That’s one of the reasons why they’re extremely fuel-efficient. Having that stable power delivery allows snowmobiles with four-stroke motors to travel farther on less fuel. So their miles per gallon ratio is quite effective.
How It Works
The four-stroke engine makes use of four distinct piston strokes. This is a quick description of how it functions.
Intake
During this stroke, the piston moves downward. With this downward motion, the piston draws in a fresh mixture of fuel and air. This movement also opens up the poppet valve.
Compression
As the piston moves upward, it forces the valve to close. This motion compresses the fuel/air mixture.
Power
As a result of the compression stroke, the spark plug is fired. This leads to the burning of the compressed fuel, which then expands. This forces the piston to move downward.
Exhaust
By the end of the power stroke, the piston rises up again. This upward motion, with the help of a valve lifter mechanism, is what pushes the exhausted fuel out of the cylinder.
Pros
- More fuel-efficient
- Create a higher torque
- Use less oil
- Produce less pollution
Cons
- More expensive
- More complicated because there are more parts to fix and troubleshoot
Tips to Increase Your Snowmobile’s Miles Per Gallon Capacity
There are several things you can do to improve your snowmobile’s performance. They’re all fairly simple, but they can drastically increase mileage capacity.
Here are a few tips to try today.
- Start each snow season with an oil change.
- End each season by emptying out the fuel tank.
- Make sure you thoroughly clean the inside of your tank with a gas tank cleaner.
- You can also use an all-purpose, heavy-duty cleaning fluid to clean the entire tank.
- Fuel should never stay more than 30 days in your tank.
- Always have fresh fuel in the tank.
- Clean your spark plugs at least one time per snow season.
- Check that all fluid caps are properly installed.
- Maintain a steady pace at all times when riding your snowmobile.
- Make sure the tank is full before going out on the trail.
- No one should be sitting on the snowmobile while it’s being refueled.
- Avoid running at full-throttle. It decreases mileage and wears out the engine.
- Always try to drive responsibly to preserve the integrity of the engine.
The Takeaway
There are many factors that go into figuring out how far a snowmobile can travel on one tank of gas. First off, you have to consider the size of the tank.
Many manufacturers include fuel mileage information in their specs. So you can use that as an average measurement. Another way is to fill up your tank, then ride it out until the fuel tank runs empty.
Just make sure you have an extra fuel can or tank. We don’t want you to get stranded in the great outdoors.