F Y I on burning OLD Gasoline

[old2soon]

Today is 8 weeks and 3 days since I went down and the gasoline in my tank was THAT old.  It was treated with B-12 Chemtool AND Marine Stabil. When the tank got low-3 bars on my I/S-it acted for all the world like a plugged vent line! Opening the tank helped a little bit-but NOT really. After my coffee/chocolate chip cookie stop-down to 2 bars now-I went to a ga station and put in a gallon and a half HEAVILY dosed wih B-12 and in about 8 miles the Phatt Ghurl she woked up!  When I fueled again bout 23 miles from the house another good dose of B-12 and Marine Stabil. Took about 4 Gallons on the 2nd fill up. Most of that old stale sorry gasoline gone or HIGHLY diluted now. That 23 miles from the fuel stop to the house-runnin like she sposed to!  RIDE SAFE.

[bentwrench]

It's a sad thing with all the advances in tech.the fuel we buy is CRAP.

[John Schmidt]

I'm going to have to park mine here shortly for at least a month. There's a WaWa station not far away that sells none-ethanol and I'm tempted to top it off with that, along with some B-12 to treat the gas already in there. Took a great ride yesterday, perfect weather....low temps, clear blue sky, just comfy in a leather jacket and gloves. Met some others for lunch, about 42 miles each way and took over an hour for each leg.....can you say "dawdling?"  Didn't want that ride to end.

My dear wife still says if she could put a muffler up her butt and make a noise like a motorcycle, she'd get a lot more attention. I always tell her she doesn't need the muffler.   

[Skinhead]

Why, if you think your gas is bad, would you try to run it out and dose it with excessive amounts additives?  To me, that is just asking for problems.  If I thought my gas was bad, I would get a hose and siphon what ever I could get out of the tank, and drain the carbs.  I would then get fresh gas in a gas can and add that to the tank.  If it ran poorly I would then add the cleaners, but I would start with fresh gas.

[gordonv]

My dear wife still says if she could put a muffler up her butt and make a noise like a motorcycle, she'd get a lot more attention. I always tell her she doesn't need the muffler.   

WOW John, now that statement could go may ways. I'll just leave it at that. 

[old2soon]

Why, if you think your gas is bad, would you try to run it out and dose it with excessive amounts additives?  To me, that is just asking for problems.  If I thought my gas was bad, I would get a hose and siphon what ever I could get out of the tank, and drain the carbs.  I would then get fresh gas in a gas can and add that to the tank.  If it ran poorly I would then add the cleaners, but I would start with fresh gas.

                 I didn't KNOW it was THAT bad til I got out on the road. I had warmed the bike up while It was stationary a time or two. IF a 9 week lapse of not riding her occurs again-well let's say a 6 week lapse occurs I'll drain the old gas and refill with fresh BEFORE riding her. I must of done at least one or two things CORRECT in her enforced storage-she idles like she's sposed to and when you twist her tail the front WILL come off the ground!  RIDE SAFE.

[gordonv]

I throw a 1/2 can of Seafoam into my full tank of gas, and let it sit for 4-6 months. I keep hearing bad things from your US gas. I just can't believe that it goes that bad that quickly.

And yes, in the spring, after I finish the tank of gas, I put 1/2 can of B12 into a fresh tank of gas, just because. Then try to run Chevron fuel as often as I can.

[Ricky-D]

I throw a 1/2 can of Seafoam into my full tank of gas, and let it sit for 4-6 months. I keep hearing bad things from your US gas. I just can't believe that it goes that bad that quickly.

And yes, in the spring, after I finish the tank of gas, I put 1/2 can of B12 into a fresh tank of gas, just because. Then try to run Chevron fuel as often as I can.

well. you must be running high test, which in Canada, does not contain ethanol. Here in the USA it's not readily available as where you are located.

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[cookiedough]

thinking the same thoughts today riding the valk briefly going down only 1 mark off of full on my I/S same gas in tank for well over 1 month now.    I need to get out some 150 miles within the next 2-3 weeks before putting the bike up and run the old 87 octane gas almost out and fill up with 91 octane NON ethanol gas with stabilizer/seafoam in the tank for a 4 month winters nap in mid November thru almost April 1st.   Today I put in 91 octane gas with seafoam and stabilizer in my 2 ATV's since not run much in the 4-5 winter months. 

I think is beneficial last 1-2 tanks of gas to put 91 octane NON ethanol gas in the tank filled up since that ethanol 87/89 gas around here goes bad/moisture quicker.  I also try to put 91 octane last tank of the year on my lawn mowers as well as snowblowers, stuff not run much during winter months.

[Alberta Patriot]

I throw a 1/2 can of Seafoam into my full tank of gas, and let it sit for 4-6 months. I keep hearing bad things from your US gas. I just can't believe that it goes that bad that quickly.

And yes, in the spring, after I finish the tank of gas, I put 1/2 can of B12 into a fresh tank of gas, just because. Then try to run Chevron fuel as often as I can.

well. you must be running high test, which in Canada, does not contain ethanol. Here in the USA it's not readily available as where you are located.

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If you are near a marina, take a jerry can and get some pure gasoline.
You might have a pure gas location near you...check here:

http://pure-gas.org/

SC:
http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=SC

Check the "last updated" details on the location near you for recent updates...or call them.

[gordonv]

I live in Richmond BC, the mouth of the Vast Fraser River, there are marinas all around. I might look into that.

I used to buy all my fuel from Husky. They have ethanol in ALL their grades of fuel, up to 10%. Thought I was doing right, by using a renewable fuel. Then read more and more here about people having problems. I never had a problem. I don't think I put my bike away overly long at 4-5 months. Never had a problem.

Now I use Chevron, regular always. 87 Octane.

[Alberta Patriot]

I live in Richmond BC, the mouth of the Vast Fraser River, there are marinas all around. I might look into that.

I used to buy all my fuel from Husky. They have ethanol in ALL their grades of fuel, up to 10%. Thought I was doing right, by using a renewable fuel. Then read more and more here about people having problems. I never had a problem. I don't think I put my bike away overly long at 4-5 months. Never had a problem.

Now I use Chevron, regular always. 87 Octane.

I just did a ride into the Kananaskis a few days ago(might be the last one) and...again... topped up with premium and some stabilizer.
I start and warm up the bike at least twice a month in the winter. Every once in a while locally here we can get these amazing "chinook" warm days that can last for up to a week so as long as the highways are dry I can go out for a spin even in December, January or February.

[Bagger John - #3785]

When I winterize my Valks I fill the tank to the edge of the filler neck, drain the carbs completely - leaving the bowl screws open - and add 1oz/5gal of Sta-Bil Blue (marine) fuel stabilizer.

Come springtime I close down the drain screws, pull the vacuum line off the #6 intake runner, turn the petcock to "On" and prime the bowls with a handheld vacuum pump connected to the petcock's vacuum line. Then add battery and start bike.

Been doing this for many years. Not one fuel system problem or stale tank of gas as a result, and sometimes the bikes sit from October until April.

[Karen]

I've had excellent luck with either Berryman's B12 or Seafoam, and StarTron for over winter storage. Can't say enough good about the StarTron...

[Willow]

We must have better gasoline here in Kansas.  I never bother to store a bike with additives.  One of my family members a=has a Valkyrie that often sits idle for two months or more.  When I start it up the fuel burns well.  It is due to have the low speeds cleaned out but it doesn't stopit from running.

[fudgie]

Gas for my mower and generator sets longer then that in 5 gal jugs. 

[Tailgate Tommy]

I store my Valks with a full tank of Shell 87 octane, some Marine Stabil, Stbil 360, and Seafoam.  Run some Techron in the spring. Never  problem.

Dennis, maybe our Colorado gas isn't "old2soon"??  

[da prez]

  Touche Tommy.

                                    da prez

[John Schmidt]

I need to winterize mine, any suggestions? 

[Hooter]

I've quit using any Stabil. I had 27 small engines and pumps when I was fire chief. I spent every spring rebuilding carbs when i stored with Stabil. Went to Sea Foam years ago and never had a problem since.

Everybody has their own brew but from experience it's Sea Foam. Half bottle in a full tank, let run till fan runs or, go for a short ride. One thing I have done also is open the tank, put some oil on a rag and wipe it around the filler, close the cap.

[Crackerborn]

To winterize, I add a full can of Techron to a full tank of ethanol free gas. I then start the Lady up and shut the fuel off and run the carbs dry. Once a month I start the bikes up and run them long enough to get the oil good and hot (and dream of an early Spring) to remove any moisture in the crankcase and shut the fuel off to run the carbs dry again. After 4 months of this process, I just want the salt off the streets so I can go for a real ride, temperature be cursed. Since I again own three bikes, this takes a day to uncover them all, then allow them to cool enough to not melt the cover to the pipes (don't ask). I do store the bikes at my shop which never gets below 55 degrees even if I am not working there. The summer tools with engines get Stabil and carbs run dry for all winter storage. Any batteries are removed to a heated (shop) storage. The oil will get changed on the small engines every spring after the first start. A Suzuki generator is now 30 years old and starts first time every time and sometimes sits for an entire year between starts just keeping the carb dry.

[Ricky-D]

Probably the best step to take to protect your Valkyrie would be removing any ethanol enriched gasoline from the fuel system and replacing it with non-ethanol enriched gasoline. Fresh non-ethanol enriched gasoline will not go bad during a normal storage period although adding a stabilizer won't hurt. You ought to "get it" by now, this point has been hammered forever, on this forum - non-ethanol enriched gasoline - is the ONLY bike friendly gasoline to use.


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