Newbie qu re: fuel stabilizer | GTAMotorcycle.com

Newbie qu re: fuel stabilizer

parttimer

parttimer

Active member
Forum Sponsor
Hey folks!
I'm storing my bike for the first time, where would a girl get fuel stabilizer? I'm out in Port Hope so I can't get to any of the dealers. Would Cdn Tire have it? Also what would I be looking for?

I'm planning on slowly getting her ready to store over the week.
 
Hey parttimer, Can tire will have fuel stabilizer. I use Stabil (the marine version, its a blue green liquid as opposed to red). Sea Foam is also sold at Can tire and can be used as a stabilizer I believe. Most importantly is to make sure the gas is well mixed and that you take the bike out for a ride after to get the mixed fuel into the float bowls of the carbs.
Alternatively you could also drain the carbs before putting the bike away. I left the bike from December to mid April last winter without draining the carbs and the bike was fine in the spring.
 
GP bikes in Whitby also has a "winter storage package" that they're selling which includes the stabilizer, a battery tender and some cleaner for detailing your bike. I think it was around $45 or so. With regards to carbs, if your bike is fuel injected you will not have any carbs to drain! There are some decent youtube videos that address winter storage as well if you're looking for more information.
 
NealT said:
I use Stabil (the marine version, its a blue green liquid as opposed to red). Sea Foam is also sold at Can tire and can be used as a stabilizer I believe. Most importantly is to make sure the gas is well mixed and that you take the bike out for a ride after to get the mixed fuel into the float bowls of the carbs.
Click to expand...
Is there a difference to using the marine vs regular? And if I did the fuel tonight, could I ride her to work in the am as a mix, or should I do it immediate?
 
You just want to make sure it gets thru the fuel system before you shut down for the winter. Make sure you have a full tank of gas too. Prevents moisture from building in the tank over the winter.
 
It's this time of year I remember riding until ~xmas for some twenty years...
(It was either bike, or bus.)
Yeah cold, and passengers definitely not impressed, heheh...
Weather will turn soon, yes I guess it's time. CTC is yer pal,
L8R
 
parttimer said:
Hey folks!
I'm storing my bike for the first time, where would a girl get fuel stabilizer? I'm out in Port Hope so I can't get to any of the dealers. Would Cdn Tire have it? Also what would I be looking for?

I'm planning on slowly getting her ready to store over the week.
Click to expand...

Can tire has it.. It usually on sale this time of year
 
I have read somewhere that the marine version is better. I can only guess this might be due to fuel being stored in a marine environment necessitates a better/different formulation....Can tire stocks both, so far it has worked for me. I can confirm that not having properly mixed fuel running through your carbs prior to storage has caused blockages. My bike is a Ninja 250 btw so the jets are small and prone to gumming up easily.

parttimer said:
Is there a difference to using the marine vs regular? And if I did the fuel tonight, could I ride her to work in the am as a mix, or should I do it immediate?
Click to expand...
 
Thanks NealT & CrusinGrl!. My baby (also a ninja 250) had a few engine problems early in the season, so I think I'll go with the marine version
 
Formula for CT fuel stabilizer: 10 ml for every 4.5L

If your tank is 12L, then you need ~26 ml of fuel stabilizer. The bottle has gradation marks for 5 and 10 ml. If you put too much in don't worry about it.
 
How long are you planning to store it for? I find that storage for less than 6 months won't require stabilizer. I stored my bike last year without any and it started up fine. Waste of money if you're only planning to store it over winter.
 
My girl is gonna be stored until I can get her out again.. Most likely come when the temperature average is above 10-15..and the path is no longer mud.

Since I've had engine problems with her this year, I wanna store her "by the book" because I don't wanna spend another grand and a month bike-less while they figure out what's wrong with my Baby B.
 
Honda recommends stabilizing the fuel if the bike is going to sit for even 3 months. Gasoline is not he quality that it used to be, and if you use an ethanol blend, its even worse.

I take my bike out for a little last ride on the day that I put it away, adding stabilizer and cramming as much fuel into the tank as I can a the closest gas station to home on the way back. This ensures that the stabilizer has mixed well with the gas, that the tank is right full to prevent condensation inside, and that the engine is warm for the oil change that I do before putting it away.
 
Re: Storage
I just wanted to mention that people have had problems for years with very cold winter temps (mostly outside Toronto) and water in their gasoline freezing.
I had it (in my old Chevy Celebrity) in the windswept January wastes of the U of G north residence parking lot...
Car sat for a few days, that was it; no car until ~March. Gas lines froze solid.
Those little bottles of Gas Antifreeze sold in every gas station?
Ethanol + Methanol. Hydrophilic - mixes with water and allows water to be consumed by motor (or 'burned').
Modern pump gas containing ethanol is not as hydrophobic as gasoline used to be, therefore freezing gas lines much more rare & unusual these days.
People's fear of alcohol in their gas should therefore be balanced against its benefits - no moisture/condensation or water from any source contaminating winter storage. No rusting inside fuel tanks...
It's the one time I ever use Sunoco 94 - just before bike bedtime.
That and a little bottle of Honda fuel stabilizer = good to go.
I have read nutty quotes on these forums - how alcohol will 'eat your gastank' or 'attract moisture' or 'hold water inside your bike'...
A tiny bit of alcohol in fuel is not detrimental and in fact, attracting moisture ie. any water lurking inside your fuel system, is a good thing.
Many know all this stuff already... but possibly news to some new riders!
So I offer up these tidbits of knowledge & experience,
L8R
 
Jlin said:
How long are you planning to store it for? I find that storage for less than 6 months won't require stabilizer. I stored my bike last year without any and it started up fine. Waste of money if you're only planning to store it over winter.
Click to expand...



Stabil cost about $10 for enough to store your bike through 4 or 5 winters. You go ahead and chance it. I'm sure most people would rather play it safe and spend the $10. lol
 
Gryphon said:
Re: Storage
People's fear of alcohol in their gas should therefore be balanced against its benefits - no moisture/condensation or water from any source contaminating winter storage. No rusting inside fuel tanks...
It's the one time I ever use Sunoco 94 - just before bike bedtime.
Click to expand...

Funny, on other advice I put Shell 91 in my bike for winter storage (no ethanol) with some Seafoam and the blue Sta-bil.
 
Ethanol may cause component corrosion or deterioration. In some cases it has even saturated and partially dissolved fiberglass gas tanks. Debris forms rapidly as ethanol fuel ages, and since ethanol is a good solvent, it will carry these particles into the fuel delivery system or your carb jets. Ethanol also attracts moisture. Ethanol fuel also breaks down quickly. It's fine to use as long as you are riding. But when storing, it is best to go ethanol free.

I run V-Power from Shell, it's ethanol free. Add in stabilizer OR Seafoam (not both) and run the bike to get stabilized gas through the system. That's all for the fuel.

My brother works in Petroleum and I am a BioChem major, that's why I know what I know....to each their own, so if you feel otherwise, feel free to ignore. OP, CanTire has Seafoam and stabil, Walmart and Napa also carry Seafoam, that stuff works well.
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom