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    #1

    Fuel Tank Evaporation?

    I've been working on the 1981 GS650L since April and the fuel tank has been on the bike since the end of July with a new OEM fuel cock. I haven't ridden the bike that much, but wanted to keep the tank full to prevent condensation and rusting. It appears that fuel is evaporating from the tank faster than I am burning it. At first I was concerned that fuel might be getting into the crankcase or leaking somewhere else, but that is not the case.

    Is it possible that the fule is evaporating so quickly out of the tank? Fuel is treated with Sta-bil.

    As a side issue, I considered disconnecting the fuel hose (new OEM) from the tank for the winter and running the carbs dry, but I couldn't get the hose to budge off the fuel cock. Any tips?

    Thanks,
    Dave
    Blog of my motorcycle projects - http://twowheeljunkie.wordpress.com/
    1981 Suzuki GS650L - Project Bike - Sold
    2013 Suzuki SFV650 - Sold
    2016 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Touring
    Tags: None
    #2
    Yes it does evap quickly and even faster in a heated space As for the stuck line, take some pliers and grip it just enough so they dont slip and give it a twist and break the seal. Set petcock on prime with some extra line and drain it into a can.

    For the bowls. take a PVC pipe and cut it in half after gluing on an end caps..cutting the caps in half with the main section also and making a U shaped trough. Drain the bowls into the PVC trough and then dump the fuel into a funnel and into a can.
    MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
    1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

    NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


    I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

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      #3
      If you've been running with Stabil (marine formula preferred), no need to run carbs dry. Best to get tank off and store someplace where temp doesn't fluctuate much- this avoids condensation.i've had good luck with this for six winters. In spring, add fresh fuel, put petcock on prime and away you go.
      1981 gs650L

      "We are all born ignorant, but you have to work hard to stay stupid" Ben Franklin

      Comment

        #4
        You guys are going through a LOT more effort than I am, and I have had no problems with tank evaporation or condensation.

        Typically, I double the recommended dose of Sta-Bil, ride down to the corner to fill the tank, ride back via the other side of the plat (about a 3 mile ride), then park the bike. I have never noted any "evaporation" from the tank, although the bowls do seem to run dry.

        This seems to work with 5 of the 7 bikes in the stable (the only ones that are road-ready), not sure what I am doing wrong.

        .
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        Comment

          #5
          I dont do any of that Steve. He asked about evaporation and I gave him the answer I dont drain the bowls either..but i saw the PVC thing a guy made for doing it and passed that on as well. I just go and start the bikes once a week thru the winter and let them run for maybe 10 minutes..keeps the Berrymans B12 laced fuel in the bowls soaking at the jets.
          MY BIKES..1977 GS 750 B, 1978 GS 1000 C (X2)
          1978 GS 1000 E, 1979 GS 1000 S, 1973 Yamaha TX 750, 1977 Kawasaki KZ 650B1, 1975 Honda GL1000 Goldwing, 1983 CB 650SC Nighthawk, 1972 Honda CB 350K4, 74 Honda CB550

          NEVER SNEAK UP ON A SLEEPING DOG..NOT EVEN YOUR OWN.


          I would rather trust my bike to a "QUACK" that KNOWS how to fix it rather than a book worm that THINKS HE KNOWS how to fix it.

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by Steve View Post
            You guys are going through a LOT more effort than I am, and I have had no problems with tank evaporation or condensation.

            Typically, I double the recommended dose of Sta-Bil, ride down to the corner to fill the tank, ride back via the other side of the plat (about a 3 mile ride), then park the bike. I have never noted any "evaporation" from the tank, although the bowls do seem to run dry.

            This seems to work with 5 of the 7 bikes in the stable (the only ones that are road-ready), not sure what I am doing wrong.

            .
            You forgot to figure in the shrinkage of the tank in cold weather. It only looks like you're not losing fuel.
            97 R1100R
            Previous
            80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

            Comment

              #7
              Bikes are stored in an unheated/uninsulated shed. I will keep things as is and not drain the fuel for the winter which is what I have done in the past, just top of the tank with more stabilized fuel. Batteries are the only things that have been removed to keep inside. Reinstall the battery and away you go.

              Attempting to drain the tank and carbs was more of a reaction to the evaporating fuel.

              Thanks,
              Dave
              Last edited by DaveP; 12-01-2014, 12:11 PM.
              Blog of my motorcycle projects - http://twowheeljunkie.wordpress.com/
              1981 Suzuki GS650L - Project Bike - Sold
              2013 Suzuki SFV650 - Sold
              2016 Ducati Multistrada 1200 Touring

              Comment

                #8
                This is going to sound crazy but there are such things as dry leaks. Not enough to form a wet spot - small leaks in say a petcock can be continuously wicked away.
                97 R1100R
                Previous
                80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Brendan W View Post
                  You forgot to figure in the shrinkage of the tank in cold weather. It only looks like you're not losing fuel.
                  I know something shrinks in cold weather...it's not smaller, honey, it just that some of my fuel has evaporated.

                  Yeah, that's the ticket.
                  1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

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