Too much fuel treatment?

[Rob S.]

A little break in the weather, I'm thinking about pulling on the long underwear and waking Suzy from her snooze. Maybe go to the Auto Zone and load up on stabilizer, ethanol treatment, etc.

Can one overdo it with these treatments? I ride very little these days (10 miles a week ago, 17 miles 10 days before that), but I start her at least a couple of times a week.

What are the symptoms of using too much?

[Big Rich]

Poor fuel economy for starters.

And you shouldn't start an engine a few times a week - it's actually bad for the engine.

[Rob S.]

image.jpg

What I bought. Is this stuff heavier than gas?

I take comfort knowing that Suzy is always ready to go at a moments notice. I call it the "Jackie Gleason Syndrome." Even at the height of his fame and fortune, he kept a suitcase with a change of clothes and $50,000 cash in a bus station locker. Just in case he had to leave town in a hurry someday.

[jdvorchak]

Personally I don't use any fuel stabilizer or treatments. If I were going to store a bike for a year or longer then I'd drain it. Just over 3 or 4 months? Put a gallon of gas in it. Ride it every month or so, making sure that if you start it you ride it for 20 minutes after it's up to temp. Then on the way home put another gallon or so in there. The trick is to run them to the reserve before putting gas in. That way you always have fresh gas. I also don't leave them on the battery tender despite their claims. I put the battery tender on them for 24 hours every month or so. I've lost too many riding mower batteries leaving them hooked up. Always get 4 to 7 years out of a motorcycle battery.

I have 3 or 4 bikes most of the time and treat them all the same. I've never had one give me trouble in the spring.

[Rob S.]

We agree on the charger/tender: I use it a few times a year, and remove it after she's fully charged.

There's no place around here to get gas without corn in it, and I never 'store' my motorcycle (see J. Gleason, below). That's why I'm checking out these fuel treatments.

And I wouldn't mind lower mileage, if it were actually doing my carbs (or engine) some good.

[Big T]

you're not doing the bike any favors riding it 10 miles. Like above, 30 miles or so or it just accumulates crud by not getting hot enough.

Just a tablespoon or so of any gas treatment per tank is enough. More is not better

[jdvorchak]

I do have to admit that on Dec 1st every year I set my trip odometer to 0. Then keep tract of how many miles I rode over the winter. Usually have between 900 and 1200 miles. You can see I don't let them sit very long. I'll ride if it's not snowing, raining or below 30 F. I tried 27 F once and it was no fun....

[jdvorchak]

FYI I found this same statement on several Marine web sites talking about additives:

Ethanol myths

MYTH: fuel additives can cure or prevent all issues from ethanol-blended fuel.
TRUTH: there is no practical additive that can prevent phase separation from occurring. The only practical solution is to keep water from accumulating in the tank in the first place. In addition to using high-quality fuel additives, you should purchase quality fuel from trusted sources, check fuel filters and fuel tanks periodically for sediment and water, and keep up with manufacturer-recommended preventative maintenance schedules.


http://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Busting-Ethanol-Fuel-Myths

[Rob S.]

...it just accumulates crud by not getting hot enough.

Then Suzi and I are in deep doo-doo. Since I (had) installed an 1150 cooler and filter cover, oil temp rarely indicates more than 180f. I had a couple of 100-mile days in December, and she never even approached 200.

The last stretch home on tonight's 10-mile ride I had her up to 100 mph, and it may have briefly indicated 180. I keep the cooler covered until about June.

[Nessism]

I don't know man, if you got the opportunity for a quick 10 mile blast I'd do it. I'd skip those stationary start ups though. Condensation builds up in the exhaust and rust it out from the inside out.

[tkent02]

The thing with short runs is that when you start the engine condensation builds up inside it as well, some of this moisture gets splashed around in the oil, the oil needs to get hot enough and stay hot long enough for the water to be cooked out of the oil. I don't know how long it takes, but an air cooled engine the oil never gets very hot in cold weather, running it short distances can do it no good. Running it for a few minutes without riding it is much worse.

[Brendan W]

This sounds like cabin fever to me

[GS1150Pilot]

I'm starting to consider a DRZ 400 for the short trip to work.

[Rob S.]

I'd skip those stationary start ups though.

I always cruise away very shortly after starting it. No need to rile the neighbors.

But I may have to let it warm up in front of a house down the block. Guy thinks it's fun to shoot off large belts of firecrackers, any time of the year, sometimes several nights a week. Once had an empty lot here, so someone built a few illegal three-family houses. Changed the nature of the block. VORTEX!