10 Tips to Reduce Your Jet Ski’s Fuel Consumption
But beyond the endless fun on the water, a jet ski’s fuel consumption is a primary consideration for ownership these days. As you’ll see, beyond the financial considerations, there are several other reasons every jet ski owner should pay attention to their gas usage.
If you’re wondering what these factors are as well as looking for some tips about how you can reduce your jet ski’s fuel consumption, don’t hesitate to read more!
Why is it Important to Reduce Your Jet Ski’s Fuel Consumption?
Money
The first and most common reason many owners want to reduce their jet ski’s fuel consumption is to reduce their expenses.
Although gas is just one of the 9 main ownership costs it represents a large part of the budget, especially if you ride a lot of hours every season. That’s why it’s important to know your jet ski’s fuel consumption and make your budget upfront!
Less Hassle with Refueling
If you launch your jet ski near a fuel dock, this is always super cool, as you can refuel your ski easily. But if you aren’t so lucky, you probably have to bother with extra fuel cans if you want to refuel your jet ski.
This way isn’t just inconvenient, but dangerous and can pollute the environment if you’re doing it wrong. The less fuel your jet ski burns, the less hassle with the refueling! It’s also wise to choose a ski with a bigger tank.
Reach Higher Distances
As jet skis are built larger these days, they aren’t just “water toys” anymore; they’ve become real alternatives to boats! Thus, there could be several situations where you want to reach the highest available gas mileage on the water.These cases could be if you want to go for a longer tour, or even on a jet ski fishing trip. If your jet ski runs on less fuel, it means you can cover higher distances on the water!
Protecting the Environment
Last, but not least, don’t forget the negative environmental effects of burning gas. If you use less fuel, it’s not just good for your wallet but better for the environment as well!
How to Reduce Your Jet Ski’s Fuel Consumption?
As you can see, there are several advantages if you burn less fuel during your rides. Are you interested in how you can reduce your jet ski’s fuel consumption?Choose the Right Jet Ski
Fuel-efficient jet ski rides start with selecting the right model, as fuel consumption varies widely depending on the model. While you can find fuel-efficient jet ski models on the market, others can burn 20-25 gallons in a single hour.
The rule of thumb is the more horsepower the jet ski has, the more gas it burns. If you’re looking for the most economical models, you should take a look at the Rec-Lite, or maybe the Recreation category.
Performance and luxury PWCs are usually powered with extremely powerful (250-310 HP) supercharged engines, which can burn much more gas compared to non-supercharged models.
Also, avoid modifications for higher performance, as the increased power doesn’t just mean higher fuel consumption, but also a shorter lifespan, a greater chance for malfunctions, or even a lost warranty.
Choose the Right Speed
Just like in any other motorized vehicle, jet skis are also the least fuel-efficient at top speeds. Thus, if you want better gas mileage, you should ride your jet ski at “best cruise speed”.
This speed may vary from model to model, but it usually falls somewhere between 20-30 mph in most cases. Are you wondering how you can keep this speed in the long run?
Many new jet skis are equipped with electronic cruise control systems, which means the computer will control your speed continuously. You can maintain “no-wake” or “best cruise” speeds easily with these features.
Aggressive accelerations also burn a lot of fuel, so it’s best if you keep a steady speed. If your ski has “ECO” mode, you can also use it for moderate acceleration and top speed!
Avoid Idling
It’s very common for many owners to leave their engines idling, but it’s good to know that idling still uses a lot of gas. Thus, it’s recommended you shut off your engine if your ski is not in use, instead of leaving it idling.
Planning and Navigation
If you go longer distances, it’s essential to plan your trip in advance. It could be really dangerous if you run out of gas on the open water; that’s why you have to always follow the 1/3-1/3 fuel management rule when you plan your trip.
Once you’re on the water, you can make good use of some navigational equipment like a GPS. As you know, a straight line is the shorter distance between two points, so always keep your eyes on the map as little errors in the navigation may add many miles to your trip.
Less Gear
It’s also commonplace that a higher curb weight means higher fuel consumption, but many owners still overload their jet skis with unnecessary pieces of equipment.The best you can do is to get rid of some gear you probably never use, which just adds extra weight to your ski. But don’t forget; there are some mandatory jet ski safety accessories that are required by law. Always keep these items onboard!
Beyond the gear, keep in mind that passengers also mean significant extra weight!
Right Weight Distribution
When you load the gear into your ski, always pay attention to the right weight distribution. Always balance the ski properly, especially if it’s equipped with a fishing rack that can accommodate several heavy items like coolers, bags, or extra fuel cans.
If your jet ski is equipped with trim, pay attention to set it up properly during your rides!
Remove Bilge Water
Always remove the water from the bilge, which means unnecessary weight again for your ski. You can remove it easily with the bilge pump. If your jet ski doesn’t have one, it’s highly recommended you install one as soon as possible.
If your jet ski is on the trailer, you can remove the water by removing the plugs. Just don’t forget to put them back!
Weather Conditions
Harsh weather conditions like wind or choppy water can increase your jet ski’s gas consumption and can be dangerous as well. The best practice is to avoid these weather conditions for better fuel efficiency, and more safety.
Proper Maintenance
It’s a lesser-known fact that maintenance can affect fuel efficiency, which means that poorly serviced engines are prone to burning more gas.
This is yet another reason why you should follow your manufacturer’s specific recommendations about regular maintenance as well as winterization to keep your jet ski in good shape.
Additionally, don’t overlook the pre-ride checklist as well as after-ride care!
Use the Right Fuel
Many people are surprised that different jet ski’s engines require different types of gas. Always check your owner’s manual for proper guidance, as using the wrong fuel can lead to unwanted higher fuel costs and even malfunctions!
Conclusion
There are several reasons why many owners want to reduce their jet ski’s fuel consumption, like financial or environmental considerations, or for better gas mileage.If you also want to cover higher distances on one tank of gas, you should pay attention to all of these factors:- Choose a lower performance, non-supercharged jet ski
- Ride your jet ski at “best cruise speed” (20-30 mph)
- Avoid idling the engine
- Plan your trip and navigate precisely
- Keep your ski’s curb weight low
- Pay attention to the right weight distribution
- Remove bilge water
- Avoid riding in harsh weather
- Don’t overlook regular maintenance
- Use the right gas
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