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Fuel additive?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AF_Bill
  • Start date Start date
A

AF_Bill

Guest
I just got my 850 back from the repair shop. Had them clean the carbs and figure out why she's been running but popping a lot. Was told that the ethanol gas messes with the old bikes and gums up the carbs. My dad has been running stabil is his 78 550E and was thinkin about doin the same. Does anyone use some kind of fuel additive to help correct this issue or is stabil ok?
 
The only thing that I add to the fuel on a regular basis is ... AIR. :p

Once in a great while might add half a can of Seafoam, but nothing "regularly". :o

.
 
I use Starbrite Star Tron, helps stabilize the fuel and reduce the ill effects of ethanol gas, which starts a phase separation after 2 weeks.
Seems to work for me. Shame we should have to worry about the ethanol gas in the first place, such a high price for a gallon of gas and such a poor product to put in our tanks. If you ride frequently and can consume a tank of gas within two weeks, I'd probably not use anything though.
 
"The only thing that I add to the fuel on a regular basis is ... AIR. :p

Once in a great while might add half a can of Seafoam, but nothing "regularly". :o "

I completely agree with Steve. I've used Seafoam in my carbureted dirtbikes. It works very well.

---Also works well in cars!
 
I add a couple of oz of seafoam to every-other tank fill-up... Haven't had any issues. I burn through a couple of tanks a week at least...

My tank is coated on the inside with POR-15 as well - no ill effects on the coating either.

For Winter Storage, I add about 2-3 oz of Seafoam per gallon to a full tank. I then run the engine until I can smell the Seafoam & see white smoke from the exhaust (maybe 2 min), that way I know the carbs are full of "treated" fuel. Come spring, the bike starts right up using the same fuel that's in the tank - no need to drain it & get fresh fuel, it runs just fine.

mike
 
Do these fuel additives work as i was thinking of running some in my Gs1085s?.
or are they just another con.
also i have read they are going to double the ethanol in petrol from 5 percent to 10 percent.
 
Hub-Some places around me have up to (IIRC) 15%. But, I'm also in Maryland.

I think thats also whats causing the problems. Anyway, I'll snag a bottle of seafoam and add that to my tank.
 
I can only speak to Seafoam. I put a couple ounces in the tank about every third or fourth tankful and I haven't had any carb gumming issues. :)
 
I think that shop is feeding you a line of BS. All of my motorcycles have run fine on gas with 10% ethanol and the ethanol isn't what gums up the carburetors. Ethanol does damage rubber parts of they are made of a susceptible kind of rubber.
 
FiremanBob said:
I think that shop is feeding you a line of BS. All of my motorcycles have run fine on gas with 10% ethanol and the ethanol isn't what gums up the carburetors. Ethanol does damage rubber parts of they are made of a susceptible kind of rubber.
Click to expand...

I think a large part of the ethanol problem is that it evaporates quickly from the fuel mixture, leaving behind a higher concentration non-volatile residues (NVR's) that tend to gum up the works. The seafoam is not only is a stabilizer, but also cleans as well.
 
AF_Bill said:
I just got my 850 back from the repair shop. Had them clean the carbs and figure out why she's been running but popping a lot. Was told that the ethanol gas messes with the old bikes and gums up the carbs. My dad has been running stabil is his 78 550E and was thinkin about doin the same. Does anyone use some kind of fuel additive to help correct this issue or is stabil ok?
Click to expand...

this is simmilar to my Gs1085s was running loverly, till i took it of the road and stored it till the spring this yr,now it runs to 5000rpm and splutters and dies when it ticks over its popping and banging ,carbs been stripped cleaned been in a sonic cleaning tank still the same.
have located a supplier of seafoam over here in uk ,so far i have ridden Gs 200miles all summer and spent a fortune on things that dont make any differance.
 
i run acetone in my bike and car, about 1-2% ratio. works fine, better fuel consumption, cleaner carbs and combustion chambers, cheap as hell.
got to be pure acetone not crappy nail varnish remover acetone
 
Seafoam, put it my Accord and within a mile I could tell it had cleaned the injectors, you could feel it actually begin to pull better.
 
I use regular riding instead of magic potions. Just ride the thing once in a while and you'll never have a problem caused by the gas.

Instead of driving to the auto parts store and wasting your money on a bottle of mouse milk, ride the bike to a cool country store and have a burger.

What I'm getting at here is that if your bike is running right and it gets to go somewhere every couple of weeks, there's absolutely no need for any additives.

For long-term storage, use Sta-Bil according to the label directions and fill the tank.

Or get some heated grips and warm gear and keep riding... :D
 
I quite often pop some Redex in the tank in the UK. It works sometimes as a lazy man's carb cleaner and it does keep the carbon down. It doesn't improve fuel consumtion or power though - well not so you would notice.
 
hampshirehog said:
I quite often pop some Redex in the tank in the UK. It works sometimes as a lazy man's carb cleaner and it does keep the carbon down. It doesn't improve fuel consumtion or power though - well not so you would notice.
Click to expand...

thats what i normally buy could i got the wrong one this time?
it didnt have any effect.
 
gshub said:
thats what i normally buy could i got the wrong one this time?
it didnt have any effect.
Click to expand...

If I get hold of a bike that hasn't run for a while and isn't running properly I'll often shove a load of Redex in the tank just to see what happens and I'm often surprised by how much it can 'freshen' things up. It's not a panacea for all ills though, nor is it a substitute for proper carb cleaning.

On the other hand I have been under impressed by some carbs that have been cleaned sonically by professionals. Last year I got a Puch M125 (remember them?) going for a lad. The carb was beautifully clean on the outside but the inners were still full of 30 years of crap.

I keep meaning to get a sonic cleaner of my own - just to save some of the drudgery of cleaning really sh!tty carbs so I'm not against them.

Did you get the wrong Redex? Pass. I doubt you would do any harm though if you did.
 
ultrasonic cleaners are great. i got one. not just for carbs but almost anything comes out clinically spotless
 
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