STA-BIL in Every Tank or Just During Storage?

[tom203]

"ethanol is not bad it just evaporates over time. once you understand the physics and typical deterioration - "

ethanol is a useless gimmick foisted on the fuel market to benefit the corn lobby/agribusiness guys who care little about the enviroment and even less about the woe it causes.
Stabil works fine for me and my gasoline powered gizmos, some of which sit idle for six months or more.

[salty_monk]

Ed - Could have given you some of mine... the same problem trying to use a bottle!

[tkent02]

Fuel left in the float bowl isn't the problem. Drain it if you wish, I used to drain it before letting a bike sit, but it evaporates leaving almost nothing behind. Just like you have to prime the bowls for a quick start after the bike sits a few days, the fuel in the bowls is quickly gone. Just leaves behind a tiny layer of goo, no problem for any jets, it's not enough. Next time you ride it this tiny bit of goo will wash away, the bike will run fine. The problem is a slowly dribbling petcock which replaces the evaporated fuel with more fuel which also evaporates, leaving more and more of this goo, the bowls are always evaporating and always being refilled, soon there's enough goo in there to clog everything.

Fuel stabilizers do not prevent this evaporation, nor do they stop fuel from leaking through a leaky petcock to refill the float bowls. They do help the fuel last longer in the tank, which is an entirely different process and which still takes a long time, although not as long as it used to take. The length of time depends on your climate, the composition of the fuel and how air tight the gas tank is. If you are leaving the bike sit idle long enough for the fuel to to actually go bad in the tank you have a different problem, you shouldn't own a bike because you never ride.

Since I have one GS 750 with a slowly leaking petcock which sits for months at a time, I started disconnecting the carburetor fuel line from the petcock, putting a longer hose on the petcock and looping it up over the handlebars. This way no fuel can leak out onto the ground, it's uphill to get out. Also no fuel can get into the carburetors to refill them. Since I started doing this I have had no trouble with clogging carbs. I know the petcock seeps a little, as this hose always has a bit of fuel in it after it sits. If it was connected to the carburetors they would be all clogged up every time it sits a month or two.

As is I just hook up the AGM battery, (which stays fully charged for months without any charging or tending because it's an AGM battery) connect the fuel line and it fires right up every time.

[salty_monk]

I beg to differ... here in the hot summer it can cause a problem.

My KLR would barely run after 6 weeks sitting this summer. I had to get it idling then work the throttle very cautiously over a period of about 10 mins until it would run right. Presumably this was the jets flushing through or something. I didn't have Stabil in the fuel as I wasn't intending to leave it that long....

I know the petcock wasn't leaking into the bowl because the tank wasn't on it (I had to replace a T stat & figured I'd check valves and do some other clean-up whilst I was there & then got busy!)

[JEEPRUSTY]

so is the stabil getting gelationous buildup in the passageways? I can see that happening in heat but not in sever cold.

[mrbill5491]

Ummmm.... If you add 2-3 ounces after a ride, aren't you "using it" on the next ride?

What I should have said, I won't add any during any fill ups on a day ride or what ever. And usually after a day ride top off, I tend to use the bike once or twice a week, so the treatment gets moved around in the carbs.

[bwringer]

The best solution by far is to ride more.

Take the poor things out to play more often and they won't care what sort of swill is in the tank.

Sta-Bil is for lawn mowers.

[tom203]

[QUOTE=bwringer;2244354

Sta-Bil is for lawn mowers.[/QUOTE]

wait till your 6 carb outboard sits idle for 8 months with unstabiled fuel- real fun at startup (if it starts).

[JEEPRUSTY]

fuel additives work.
Anyone saying otherwise has experiences far outside of the operating parameters noted on the product label.

[Nessism]

Pulled out the 1000S for a cruise this weekend. Last time I rode it necessitated this thread. So basically, it's been 3 months, with STA-BIL in the tank, and the carbs still gunked up. What a pain! Fortunately, it started to run better after half dozen miles or so and after that I took it out on the highway for a good blast. Running proper now but geeze, this gasoline substitute they try to pass off on us these days straight up sucks.

[tkent02]

Drain the float bowls before it sits and you won't have any problem. Also make sure your petcock isn't letting a tiny amount of fuel through, or disconnect the fuel line so it can't. One bowl of fuel evaporating out shouldn't be enough to gunk up anything unless the fuel is being replaced as it evaporates away.

But your Communist California Crap $10/gallon fuel may be worse than regular gasoline for that. Do you know what exactly is the difference in it chemically?

[fred smailes]

I've never used stabil maybe the fuel is better here but never have a problem. The 850g has been sitting since sept and probably wont be started till mayish and I dont expect a prob.
I have an old quad that might get used once a year when friends come by and we need another one to group ride.
I bought it as a parts/project cause the PO had let it sit for about 5 years, took a bit to get it running but now its go to go after it warms up.
One thing I do is run stuff like the riding lawn mower weed wacker chainsaw etc dry at the end of the season.
Would that be an option on your bikes?
Fred

[tkent02]

Draining it is easier and gets it all out.