Re: Winter Storage Tips

[CaptonZap]

http://www.lubedev.com/smartgas/additive.htm




From http://www.hayabusa.org/forum/genera...ter-print.html

Re: Xylene Fuel Additive / OCTANE BOOSTER


Read on a site about the stuff...


Number two thing: Add Acetone and Xylene to your fuel; gasoline or diesel. Acetone changes the surface tension of the fuel. That makes it spray a finer mist. That will make it combust better. Better combustion means leaner fuel and more efficient burning. But if your fuel contains 10% Ethanol, acetone will not help much. Big oil figured that out. Xylene will help increase octane and help override the affects of alcohol in the fuel. Together they work best; but the higher the Ethanol content, the less effect acetone will have.

Number three thing: Add Mothballs made from Naphthalene. The old fashioned moth balls are 99.5 percent Naphthalene. The only kind to use. It takes an hour for them to dissolve, so you may want to crush them first. They will boost your mileage. Naphthalene is a hydrocarbon. Do not use more than 5 mothballs in 20 gallons. You don't want to carbonize your engine. Oh, and don't use mothballs if you are using Xylene. They do the same thing.

[IanDMacDonald]

I'm not a chemist, engineer, etc., but all I know is that I'd be very hesitant to stick anything in my gas tank besides gas. Any reason why people don't empty the tank completely and bring it in for the Winter?

[MaximPhil]

I'm not a chemist, engineer, etc., but all I know is that I'd be very hesitant to stick anything in my gas tank besides gas. Any reason why people don't empty the tank completely and bring it in for the Winter?

Hi Ian Mostly because we are lazy Full to keep air out and prevent corrosion or Empty and treat the insides to prevent corrosion.
Full= Turn the key and go in the spring.
Phil

[donebysunday]

Full

Keeping the tank close to full and by turning the fuel valves on once a month during the storage keeps the moisture/condensation out of the tank and the carbs.
Condensation means water/rust/corrosion.

[DGXSER]

I have never used the stuff CZ is suggesting, not knocking it, just not something I have heard before or tried.

As to why I add fuel stabilizer like Seafoam, because it deters the moisture formation in the fuel. I like to ride when I can through the colder months, we do get the odd warm day here and there throughout winter. So I do not pull the tank, or drain it. I do try to keep it close to full.

I also have a SWMBO, so bringing a gas tank inside for safe keeping would be asking to give away half of everything I own, including said gas tank.

[IanDMacDonald]

So, I've decided that this may be the first year where I park the bike, fill it with gas, and have it turn-key ready for the Spring. I wanted to pull the engine and paint it, as well as the other colored pieces. I know my personality well, and I really don't want to miss out on that one nice day of riding. I think I can still swap out the coils for Honda VF coils, and work on bits and pieces here and there.

[MarkD]

2 more winterizing things I do: 1)fog the cylinders, and crank it over a few seconds with the plugs out. 2) Hook up the battery to my battery minder.

[mikubuilder]

I got my tank lined, so last year I drained it dry, same for carbs....I think I might brake down this year and buy petcock towers, plus I have a slow leak from one of petcock screws(missing fiber washer)....so I'm gonna drain the tank this year, too.

Battery tender is a must, especially if you have older style battery...

[skids]

2 more winterizing things I do: 1)fog the cylinders, and crank it over a few seconds with the plugs out. 2) Hook up the battery to my battery minder.

You are better off if you bring the battery inside. I have heard that simply disconnecting the negative lead after a full charge is a good alternative. I keep them garaged and start them occasionally running with a throttle lock at 3000rpms to charge and long enough to make the pipes good and hot. My neighbors hate me I am sure!

[donebysunday]

I got my tank lined, so last year I drained it dry, same for carbs....I think I might brake down this year and buy petcock towers, plus I have a slow leak from one of petcock screws(missing fiber washer)....so I'm gonna drain the tank this year, too.

Battery tender is a must, especially if you have older style battery...

How do you get all the fuel out of the tank and carbs/lines ? If you have ethanol fuel the little bit left after you drain it could cause problems but if it works for you ?
As far as the washers for the petcock screws, I have access to discontinued leather furniture samples. With different sized punches I cut out little washers, super glued them together ( swede side to suede side) and made my own petcock washers.

[MarkD]

Up here in the North, ( I know, it's South for some of you guys) there are a few times my garage will get below freeze temps, so I bring in the trolling motor battery and the XS battery. To get them to last more than 2-3 years, you have to baby the things.

[puskrat]

Mac,

The farther you are from the big city the less likely to have ethanol in your fuel.
Just heard the the EPA may release it's hold on the states to use ethanol gas.
It's hurts more than it helps the environment (air we breath), it adds to the cost of fuel production and in engines it is damaging.

fixed it for ya

reduces fuel economy as well. one of the components of "hurting"

[Bikes]

I run my bikes all winter, good warm ups and rides if the roads permit.....i also wind up stealing gas from the bikes to use in the generator or snowblower, then I refill next time I go out......they get fresh gas a few times during the winter..
I do use stabil too or seafoam, and the reverse in the summer...its an endless cycle......no pun intended....

[Bikes]

How do you get all the fuel out of the tank and carbs/lines ? If you have ethanol fuel the little bit left after you drain it could cause problems but if it works for you ?

In non running bikes, I usually drain the float bowls and tank and then spray the insides of the float bowls and tank with wd 40....if you use then red tube, its easy..

[motoman]

So, after reading the article, I got to thinking: where is the harm in parking the bike, but running it a couple times a week, instead of adding Sta-bil, etc.? We all know we get that one day in the middle of Winter where temps hit a high, and the snow melts, and we want to go for a ride.

Use of Startron is your best bet. It keeps fuel compatabile with the alcohol. Otherwisw fuel/alcohol seperation occurs, which IS where inlies the carb problems with sticking moving parts(BTDT). Seafoam is to be used in fuel as a cleaning agent, not a fuel stabilizer. Lots and lots of experience using both, but Startron IS what is to be used for extended storage or with the occassional start-up of motor. Just be sure and run motor initially so the mixture occupies carbies. Startron USED to only available at motorcycle shops, but now is readily available at any parts store and even some of the WallyWorld stores.