700 too lean with white-ish plugs?

[bretton_s]

I am nervous about this one. My new 09 700 RMK seems to be running a bit lean. This past weekend there was excessive amounts of snow and it was a 3/4 throttle+ endevour just to keep moving on flat ground. Really heavy snow. Anyway at the top of a very slight incline, but after a good minute of near-wide open throttle I check the plugs and they were really too white for my liking. Nothing cardboard broad about them that's for sure. I wasn't feeling that great seeing as the sled only has 450miles on it and is stock except for an SLP can.

It seemed to richen up after we took it easier and came back on the road, playing it the ditches every now and then, but I am nervous. What was wierd is that my buddies 03 Vertical Escape 800 looked just as white. That made me wonder if it was the conditions. However, he blew a crank/piston rod bearing later that day so the crank seal likely went which would have lead to a lean condition I am told. He needs a full rebuild but I am trying to avoid that on my new baby. Any ideas on what could be up? The Polaris tech here told me "unofficially" that just don't look - fuel injected sleds are so close to being too lean for his comfort. Can someone verify this or suggest possible causes?

Thanks guys! Really appreciated. (And I did try a search)

 

[sled_guy]

Were you running pump premium gas or something else like av gas?

Your buddy didn't have his problem because of the crank seal, that rod bearing/pin breaking is a normal deal on the older 800s.

sled_guy

 

[thefullmonte]

Sled_guy asked the right question. What type of fuel were you running? My next question would be concerning the ethanol plug. I assume the 700's have this as well.
Here is a thread on the ethanol wires.

 

[bretton_s]

Thanks for the response guys. There were no ethanol warnings on the fuel I was using. It was pump gas premium, 91 octane. That is an interesting point to consider though, I hadn't thought of that. I will have to confirm when I am there next.

I take it that you think this is abnormal as well then? I should have a photo to show you - maybe I will take a pic of what they look like now, after the ride home and running it cold off the trailer. Still a touch of lean can be seen it seems even now. Unless I'm imagining things... I'll also review that link you gave me fullmonte - thanks. Would there be a big disadvantage to running on the ethanol setting if using non-ethanol premium? Probably just some power loss I would imagine.

 

[Kraven]

LEAN & MEAN

Thanks for the response guys. There were no ethanol warnings on the fuel I was using. It was pump gas premium, 91 octane. That is an interesting point to consider though, I hadn't thought of that. I will have to confirm when I am there next.

I take it that you think this is abnormal as well then? I should have a photo to show you - maybe I will take a pic of what they look like now, after the ride home and running it cold off the trailer. Still a touch of lean can be seen it seems even now. Unless I'm imagining things... I'll also review that link you gave me fullmonte - thanks. Would there be a big disadvantage to running on the ethanol setting if using non-ethanol premium? Probably just some power loss I would imagine.

Plugging the "ethanol" wires provides a 5% LEANER mixture.

You can extend the wires to a simple 99 cent toggle switch on the console and use it at your discretion.

Carbs or CFI either way you want some color on those plugs.

My 07D7 was PIG RICH on top end (5-10% LEANER with PC-3) and was LEAN in the mid-range (7-10% RICHER with PC-3)

Any chance that your throttle body boots are starting to de-laminate causing the LEAN plug readings?????

Hope this helps

 

[NROBISON]

IF YOU WERE RUNNING ETHANOL FUEL WITH THE NON ETHANOL PLUG CONECTED IT WOULD MAKE IT LEAN. IF THE FUEL YOUR GETTING IS ETHANOL UNPLUG IT IF ITS PLUGGED IN, BUT IF YOU RUN NON ETHANOL FUEL KEEP IT PLUGGED IN. NEVER RUN ANYTHING OVER 10% ETHANOL OR YOU CAN KISS YOUR MOTOR GOODBYE. IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE OF ETHANOL OR NON ETHANOL FUEL, RUN THE NON ETHANOL. MUCH BETTER FOR YOUR MOTOR. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF RESERCH ON THIS, EVEN TALKED TO THE REFINERIES ABOUT IT AND THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED.

 

[bretton_s]

Thanks for the run-down. As far as I know there is no ethanol in the fuel I used. I am trusting they know...

Anyway, since the sled has so few miles on it I am doubtful (assuming... bad choice) that the boots are delaminated but I'll make sure about that. Hmmm. I wonder what else it could be? I'll still try to get a photo too.

Thanks for the help.

 

[tdblakes]

Take some round insulation and pack it around your headlight assembly. I found that alot of snow was ingested into the motor this way because the seal job from the factory was pathetic and the foam was not in the correct place.
Also take your airbox out and inspect it. The seam on my dad's was not tight at all and there was about a .25" gap where alot of snow could be taken in. We took a long threaded rod and ran it thru the bottom of the airbox to tighten it then siliconed the entire seam. After doing that you could actually feel the suction at the air intake when the hood was shut. before we couldnt. Oh, his had just burnt down from what looked like water intake... now we know why.

I had to do this with my 09 Assault and my dad's 09 Shift RMK... you should look into it.

 

[bretton_s]

Thanks tdblakes. Where do you mean to put insulation? Around the very outside of the headlight at teh front? Where the rest of the hood and windshield meet the actual headlight?

I did silicon the front and top of my airbox before I rode it. It was't too big a gap but you could see light if you were to shine a light down there. What was the threaded piece for, exactly?

Good idea though. Water/snow ingestion would cause a white plug would it?

I took some photos, but you can't really tell the color. I'll post them anyway...

 

[bretton_s]

Just to update you... I've been posting on the thread you referred and was told that plugged in = no ethanol. My plug was disconnected! That should make it run richer yet as I understand it. What the heck??

 

[tdblakes]

Thanks tdblakes. Where do you mean to put insulation? Around the very outside of the headlight at teh front? Where the rest of the hood and windshield meet the actual headlight?

Yea thats exactly where to put it. I used stuff like this "foam backer rod" that I bought at menards: http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00lvEQKukqCibO/Backer-Rod.jpg and just ran a constant bead all the around the rim of the headlight assembly. you can stuff it in the crack with a screwdriver or butter knife.

I did silicon the front and top of my airbox before I rode it. It was't too big a gap but you could see light if you were to shine a light down there. What was the threaded piece for, exactly?

Good idea though. Water/snow ingestion would cause a white plug would it?

Yea the biggest gap we found was on the back side of the airbox right over the jackshaft. The threaded rod was used to pull the airbox back tight and then we siliconed over the seam. you could use a really long carriage bolt too. Yea water/snow ingestion leans out your motor and will burn it down. So if you were running in deep powder all day and sucking in a little snow here and there, your plugs would be white cuz you're running too lean. So yea just another guess on whats causing your white plugs...