[Lare]

Greetings,

I'm going to have foot surgery pretty soon and that's going to take me off the "active riders list" for some number of weeks unless I decide that shifting gears is totally optional.

Do I really need to do anything to the gas in the tank for this temporary storage? On a previous bike I let it sit for a couple months and the carbs ended up so gummed up that I had to have a dealer clean them for a lot more money than I thought fair.

Now I don't even have carbs so I'm even more concerned about things going to goo.

And, for the record, the gas in the bike that gummed up had been treated with a fuel stabilizer.

So: How long can I expect the current gas to last and should I do anything special besides put my smart charger on the battery?

Thanks.

 

[Boatzo]

Hi Larry,

To be real safe, I would try to empty the tank. In lieu of that add SEAFOAM to the tank. Follow directions on the can. Ethanol fuel collects condensation and can create havoc on stored tanks of gas.

Best wishes on your surgery and recovery.

 

[Kra961]

+1 on the SeaFoam remember to run the bike a bit to get it into the injectors

 

[Gizmo1137]

I was under the impression Seafoam is a very good product for cleaning out a fuel system but not for storage. In answer to the question, as mentioned a fuel stabilizer should be added and run through the system prior to storage. I use Startron.

 

[gary45]

both my BMW and my V Star sit for 4 - 5 months every winter with stabilizer in the tanks and I've never had a problem, use more stabalizer than recomended on label and always use premium fuel - do not know if being stored with winter gas makes a difference - the V Star sits a lot year round, only drive it if the wife wants to go for a ride. I only started using stabalizer about 10 years ago before that gas only for storage.

before they started with the alcohol up here I always added gas line antifreeze before storage to clear out ant water in the tank - I am well aware that everyone blames the alcohol added to fuel for all the fuel system problems they are having but has not ever been my experience - my tanks are shiny new inside without any residue dirt etc and have always been that way - do not know why

 

[Roamrider]

Around here we've been using a product called Star Tron. if you can find it....it's great for stabilizing gas, and cleaning systems. Absent that, Stabil still works good for stabilizing gas for several months......

JD

 

[Patric]

Well, We go to Florida for the winter & we have a few things that stay here. My wifes car, two of my motorcycles, two garden tractors, ECT... . I fill each of them with gas, so there is no room in the tank for condensation to form, & put a battery tender on. I don't put anything in the tank but gas, & I have never had a problem... But your results may very...:wave

 

[wa1200lt]

So why stop riding? If you leave the bike in 2nd gear you are good for over 80 mph before you reach the redline.

Loren

Well, We go to Florida for the winter & we have a few things that stay here. My wifes car, two of my motorcycles, two garden tractors, ECT... . I fill each of them with gas, so there is no room in the tank for condensation to form, & put a battery tender on. I don't put anything in the tank but gas, & I have never had a problem... But your results may very...:wave

 

[Charliebrown]

If you are worried about ethanol in the gas collecting water, take a look at the pure-gas.org website. You may find a station nearby selling ethanol free gas. That in addition to seafoam or stabil should be good.

 

[kevincaron]

Or just give me a call and I will come ride your bike for one hour every two weeks just to keep everything in working order. In town only and no more than say 75 miles.

I live right next door in Phx.

My number is 602-two nine five- 99 six four.

Kevin

 

[billsmith]

Or just give me a call and I will come ride your bike for one hour every two weeks just to keep everything in working order. In town only and no more than say 75 miles.

I live right next door in Phx.

My number is 602-two nine five- 99 six four.

Kevin

I just knew that was coming! :histerica
If I were your neighbor or brother or friend I would have suggested the same thing. But seeing I am so far away somebody else has to volunteer. In Chicago for the winter months storage premium fill-up, few drops stabil and crank-up once a month while on trickle charge(battery tender). Successful surgery.
ride safe :bmw:

 

[kevincaron]

Oh come on!!

I was going to do it for free!!

Least I could do for a fellow board member....



You never know.. He might have beer...

 

[billsmith]

Oh come on!!

I was going to do it for free!!

Least I could do for a fellow board member....



You never know.. He might have beer...

Hey, MY sentiments exactly.
I was just saying I would jump at such an opportunity to have multiple LT's to ride. One in my garage and one right around the corner. Besides you will still have to gas it up. PREMIUM please :histerica :histerica
ride safe :bmw:

 

[LittleJoe]

My bikes also sit for the winter, but are in a garage that stays pretty much 40F so no storage issues as far as condensation, although I do use a stabilizer.

I also have friends in Florida and have discussed this gunk issue at length. He is a motorcycle mechanic and carburetor specialist (Shoodabin Engineering) It is our opinion that the heat (FL or maybe AZ) is a huge factor in speeding breakdown of ethanol gas.

I recommend using high test , with a good stabilizer and run engine until fully warm at least once a month. ( The ride offer might be a good thing) or keep bike in A/C garage

 

[Samir]

For what its worth .Behind the counter on a shelf in Daytona BMW they have 8-10 glass containers each with about 12 ounces of Chevron gas and one nail (to replicate steel tank) and each container is treated with a different snake oil from stabil to you name it.I think they've been sitting there for about 7 months now and the only one that still looks like new is the one treated with a product (they sell ) called K100. Most of the other containers run from a murky tan in color to a dark brown. Soooo I bought a bottle and added it to my shelf that has Seafoam, Marvel Mystery,Startron and gas line antifreeze on it. After I get enough empty glass cherry containers (good for gout) I plan on doing my own test minus the nail because as far as I know the LT tank isn't steel and thay tell me any metal found in the tank is non-corrosive. Give me 6 months and I'll get back to you all on this. Unless I get confused and take a sip of what I thought was cherry juice.

 

[Lare]

The surgery went pretty well and I'll find out next Monday when I might be able to ride again. (i.e., when the boot is coming off.) I wasn't sure going in, but I'm back at work already so am hopeful.

To prep, the day before the surgery I went out and got some Stabil (found it before Seafoam) and took my beautiful wife for a ride around the desert. Re-filled the tank (with premium and stabilizer) and hooked up the trickle charger.

With any luck at all I won't have any problems and can get back on it before it has to do any work.

Really appreciate your offer, Kevin. Maybe we can just go for a ride after I'm healed up. (You too, Bill!)

Thanks everyone.

(And I really am interested to see how Samir's experiment comes out.)

 

[dmatson]

Stabil is good used it for a long time and it did what it was supposed to do. I then used SeaFoam and it also stablized the gas and a cleaner and I tried it in my KTM 950 with two very finicky carbs. I actually put it in the tank with one of the carbs plugged up, after running it and then letting it sit for a few days it cleaned out the carb. It's the only product I have ever used that would do that.

 

[kevincaron]

Whenever you are cleared for riding again just give me a shout. Doesn't matter where or when. I have a pretty loose Calender.....

Heal well ...