Carb Heater (on or off)

D

DHSRX

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Dec 3, 2003
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Location
Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
I have a 01 SRX with the carb heater knob. In general should I turn the heat on or off. I usually only turn it on if I am riding in deep snow, if it is snowing out or if I am riding behind another sled in there snow dust.

Note, with my SRX I am rarely riding in snow dust, lol.

When the heat is turned on does this effect the sleds performance?
COLD AIR = SPEED

DHSRX
 
Yea i never really turn mine on, mileage and crispness definately go down when they are on
 
I don't use mine unless temps are well below zero. I was radar running one day in about 15 degree weather and had them on and the sled kept fouling plugs at the starting line. Turned the heaters off and away that problem went...my sled always seems to run slugglishly with them on.
 
It seems this question comes up a lot eh? We always have the same opinion, some say use them, some say there is no difference. I typically use them below 32 deg, just because they are there.
 
NEVER have mine on except for the last time I went riding. I am jetted pretty lean as it is and My sled could not handle that Friday we had like 3 weeks ago. We were riding in weather of -27 F. It was extremely cold and they needed to be on. Otherwise they are off.
 
Was out a week ago cold and powder. New to srx didn't know there was a carb heater. It was off, carbs froze sold. Choke rod would not move. Had to give them a hot water shower.
 
If you are trail riding, and snow dust is hanging in the air,(usually after a recent snow with cold weather) it is a good idea to use them. If the temp is near 30deg.F , turn them off. If you are jetted correctly, there should be no difference in performance if they're on or off.
 
I to have had my carbs freeze up in super could weather. Carbs looked like a solid ice cube. Turned the carb heater on end enjoyed the rest of the ride.

I agree with above statement that if it is jetted properly should tell no difference. That is if you only turn them on when it gets real cold.

I make sure and turn my on/off knob several times quite often. The knobs become very hard to turn if they don't get used in a long time. Almost all of my riding buddies have to use pliers or something to turn them on and off.

I think the best way to test out the carb heater, would be to check the condition your plugs with the heater off, and then turn it on, ride normally for a couple of miles then pull them and check the plugs again. I think the plugs would tell you the story.

Aren't the coolant passage's for warming the fuel, not the air? I beleive the colder air passes through so fast it should not be effected? That would lead me to beleive that it should not effect performance if jetted properly. What do you guys think.
 
Last edited:
doc04viper-s said:
Aren't the coolant passage's for warming the fuel, not the air? I beleive the colder air passes through so fast it should not be effected? That would lead me to beleive that it should not effect performance if jetted properly. What do you guys think.
Click to expand...

Exactly right, it is not for the air, it is for the fuel. When it gets that cold like I stated, the fuel does not want to burn.
 
doc04viper-s said:
I to have had my carbs freeze up in super could weather. Carbs looked like a solid ice cube. Turned the carb heater on end enjoyed the rest of the ride.

I agree with above statement that if it is jetted properly should tell no difference. That is if you only turn them on when it gets real cold.

I make sure and turn my on/off knob several times quite often. The knobs become very hard to turn if they don't get used in a long time. Almost all of my riding buddies have to use pliers or something to turn them on and off.

I think the best way to test out the carb heater, would be to check the condition your plugs with the heater off, and then turn it on, ride normally for a couple of miles then pull them and check the plugs again. I think the plugs would tell you the story.

Aren't the coolant passage's for warming the fuel, not the air? I beleive the colder air passes through so fast it should not be effected? That would lead me to beleive that it should not effect performance if jetted properly. What do you guys think.
Click to expand...
How should the plugs look after the the heater is on or off ?
 
if it is a two stroke the plug should be a light brown and dry at the tip and get darker on or at the the threads. If the tip is dark brown (black) and wet looking it is running to rich if the tip has a white shade it is to lean. The reason people like the cold weather is the engine starts to lean out a bit. less fuel more air= lean and fast. But also is more risk of mechanical failure (melt down) things such as hole in the piston, seized piston are characteristics of lean or hot. Watch your plugs if you turn your carb heaters on and you really didn't need to your plugs will be a darker brown to black. That would be a bit less performance but a bit more safe for the motor. Hope that helps.
 
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