Your ATV may run differently at higher altitude.
If you are planning to take your carbureted all-terrain vehicle (ATV) from an area near sea level to a high-altitude area, such as the mountains, you can expect to experience some issues unless the carburetor is adjusted. The high altitude causes the mass and density of the air to change, affecting the fuel mixture. Fuel mixture changes can cause your ATV to run poorly or consume unusually high amounts of fuel.
Air and Altitude
Altitude is determined by how far you are above sea level. Low altitude areas are considered be areas that are at slightly above to even somewhat below sea level. High altitude is typically considered to be areas over 8,000 feet above sea level. The higher you go in altitude, the lower the air density and air pressure because fewer oxygen molecules are in the air around you.
Carburetors
All combustion engines run by burning a mixture of air and fuel to generate power. In fact, engines do not burn liquid gasoline at all. The fuel has to mixed with air and vaporized into a gas before the engine is able to use it to generate power. In a carbureted engine, the carburetor adjusts the fuel mixture and delivers fuel to the combustion chambers. Carburetors periodically have to be adjusted for a certain range in order for the vehicle to run properly. Typically, this occurs when the climate of an area is drastically different from the climate where the vehicle is normally used and runs well.
Fuel Mixtures and Altitude
While minor changes in altitude should not have any affect on the vehicle, major changes are almost guaranteed to affect the fuel mixture. When you dramatically change altitude without adjusting the carburetor, your vehicle's fuel mixture contains significantly less air than it did at lower altitudes. You can expect to have to adjust the jetting on your ATV's carburetor to compensate for the changes in the fuel-air mixture. The jets on your carburetor determine how the fuel-air mixture is mixed and delivered to your engine. Potential problems include high fuel consumption, rough idling, rough running, loss of power, knocking, pinging and even overheating.
Gasoline
Your ATV's carburetor is not the only thing that may be affected by the altitude. Whether you are bringing a vehicle from a low-altitude area to a high-altitude area or vice-versa, you will need to take into consideration what type of gasoline you are using. Gasoline in different areas may be formulated differently. You may have to adjust your ATV's carburetor to accommodate different gasoline mixtures and consistency if you do not bring fuel with you.
Tags: your carburetor, above level, considered areas, fuel mixture, fuel mixture, fuel-air mixture