Fuel in tank when not riding

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Fuel in tank when not riding

1/2

Phelics
6 years ago

Leaving aside for a moment fuel additives, assuming I am not riding for a month or six weeks, am I better to have a full tank of fuel in the bike during that time or the bike almost empty (just enough to get to the petrol station)?
My logic is with the full tank, the insides of the tank are not exposed to air, but the fuel gets stale over time. With the tank empty, the opposite is true.
Is one better than the other?
Over what period of time does it start to matter?
Does climate matter?
Is it different depending on octane content?
Again, this is based on no fuel preserver or extender being used.
Your thought on this are appreciated. Thank you.

Soapbox2627
6 years ago

I think fuel going off is told by fuel companies
how often do you empty the fuel out of the tin for your lawn mower, or the generator

and

it always off for the bike, why is it you (nobody specific) can leave the good car sat in the shed for weeks on end while you rip around in the work car

Far Canal
6 years ago

Fuel does go off, but it will generally take way more than 6 weeks.
Should still be ok to at least run after 6 months.
I'd rather keep a fuel tank as full as possible if bike not getting used much to avoid condensation and possible rusting of inside of tank.

Phelics
6 years ago

Here’s some scaremongering from BP:
https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp-country/en_au/media/fuel-news/petrol-life-vehicle-tanks.pdf

On the other hand...

CNN gives it a few months:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/04/09/aa.bad.gas/

User reports show a variety of outcomes, but more than six months without stabiliser and up to three years with seem feasible.

https://mechanics.stackexchange.com/questions/36704/how-long-will-gas-stay-fresh-in-a-five-gallon-plastic-container

As always, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. It “feels” right to say fill the tank and store if you will use the bike within 3 months and with stabiliser if for up to a year. After that, full tank then draining and replacing sound cautious but sensible.

Baloffski
6 years ago

Always keep fuel topped up, for less condensation, and in , olden days for fast getaway.
Condensation loves room to expand, so keep topped, , if neeed , drain the old juice out.
ma 2 cents. where are ya Boys?

Ratbob
6 years ago

My experience with classic bikes running carbies confirmed unleaded goes off after 3 months max and leaves a nasty gel like residual.
If I don’t start my Honda 4 every couple of days I have to clean the plugs and carbies. Same with my 69 Bonneville, bitch to tune with unleaded and carbies glaze/gum up if left for a couple of weeks. (Avgas works fine)
Fuel injected bikes compensate for fuel/air/ratios etc and start ok with old unleaded cause it’s not sitting in and drying out of float bowls, needles and seats nor using a gravity nor vacuum feed. It’s pressurised so the specific gravity required to vapourise the fuel is less important.
wadayareckon

Phelics
6 years ago

Many thanks everyone, for your views.

Vic
6 years ago

Quoting Ratbob on 06 Jul 2018 12:36 PM
My experience with classic bikes running carbies confirmed unleaded goes off after 3 months max and leaves a nasty gel like residual.
If I don’t start my Honda 4 every couple of days I have to clean the plugs and carbies. Same with my 69 Bonneville, bitch to tune with unleaded and carbies glaze/gum up if left for a couple of weeks. (Avgas works fine)
Fuel injected bikes compensate for fuel/air/ratios etc and start ok with old unleaded cause it’s not sitting in and drying out of float bowls, needles and seats nor using a gravity nor vacuum feed. It’s pressurised so the specific gravity required to vapourise the fuel is less important.
wadayareckon

Every couple of days Rb, WTF you got in your fuel over there.
Have carbed bikes that can sit for a little while between rides, try to keep the tanks fairly full and put a little fuel stabiliser in the tank for good measure.
Whether the stabiliser actually does any good I'm not sure but have had no problems.
Rule for me is if there not going for a ride they don't get started.
As for 4 to 6 weeks OP I'd keep it fairly full (no room for condensation) and not worry, I'd be more concerned about the battery (tender).

Krash Kinkade
6 years ago

I have not given it much thought, I seem to worry more about the battery.
just a side note, a mate left his kick start only Shovel head at my place for 5 years, then he wanted to sell it, he was cleaning it up & was trying to kick start it, it had been covered kept inside but not started for those years. him and a wrench where saying what they thought it needed. wrench said I think need more fuel in tank, mate said, I think fuel might be off. I had been watching him try to kick start as I had a shovel same I kick started for years, he was doing it wrong. I asked if I could try, so turned off fuel , turned off ignition , opened the Big S&S D carb to WOT, give it four kicks to pump some air in, then pulled up fuel enrichment, give it a prime kick with it still off, then turned it on got it up on compression & give it the boot, she burst into life. everyone was all smiles.
so I don't think a month with fuel in there will hurt.
I still miss all the fun of kick starting a Harley.

Oz Dan
6 years ago

Add me to the keep your tank full crowd. A full tank of volatile fuel, and all petroleum is volatile, keeps moisture at bay. Always has, always will.

Baloffski
6 years ago

Quoting Oz Dan on 07 Jul 2018 12:16 PM
Add me to the keep your tank full crowd. A full tank of volatile fuel, and all petroleum is volatile, keeps moisture at bay. Always has, always will.

As said, that is hitting it on the nail, if ya on an Shovel or a New thingymajig, it makes sense.
Shit, thing is look after two wheeler like you would if you were a two wheeler. Change All oils/Fluids/Tyres when can afford/Grease here undt there/ Battery when required, and she is your baby for ever.Keep ya eye on the never nevers, like bearings as they go, just to piss ya off, somewhere bush..

Ratbob
6 years ago

Quoting Ratbob on 06 Jul 2018 12:36 PM
My experience with classic bikes running carbies confirmed unleaded goes off after 3 months max and leaves a nasty gel like residual.
If I don’t start my Honda 4 every couple of days I have to clean the plugs and carbies. Same with my 69 Bonneville, bitch to tune with unleaded and carbies glaze/gum up if left for a couple of weeks. (Avgas works fine)
Fuel injected bikes compensate for fuel/air/ratios etc and start ok with old unleaded cause it’s not sitting in and drying out of float bowls, needles and seats nor using a gravity nor vacuum feed. It’s pressurised so the specific gravity required to vapourise the fuel is less important.
wadayareckon

Quoting Vic on 07 Jul 2018 01:04 AM
Every couple of days Rb, WTF you got in your fuel over there.
Have carbed bikes that can sit for a little while between rides, try to keep the tanks fairly full and put a little fuel stabiliser in the tank for good measure.
Whether the stabiliser actually does any good I'm not sure but have had no problems.
Rule for me is if there not going for a ride they don't get started.
As for 4 to 6 weeks OP I'd keep it fairly full (no room for condensation) and not worry, I'd be more concerned about the battery (tender).

Hi, yeah mate, don’t know what’s in this unleaded fuel but know it doesn’t seem to affect carby Harley’s like it does say the Honda 4, maybe cause the Harley has two big 600cc pistons sucking plenty of air/fuel mixture and the Honda has a row of 187cc puffers.
When I’ve used leaded, (avgas) the ol 750 ran sweet, could leave it for months and started first pop, hence putting it down to the instability of unleaded. Fill a jar and let it evaporate, you end up with a sticky film. Cheers

Baloffski
6 years ago

Fuck me, no, but fuck. That BP blurb was very amazing, even with a coupla grains of salt.
Remember when rebuilt bikes before, was told add two stroke in tank, guess it wasn"t just for good luck of course.
Melted pistons, is like getting a suprise visit from motherinlaw...

HOW PETROL CHANGES IN EQUIPMENT TANKS
Loss of light components – impact on mixture
The light components in petrol are lost first as the petrol sits in the fuel tanks. These
components provide valuable octane benefits during cold start. Because they are
volatile they compose most of the air fuel mixture during cold start, if they are absent
then the mixture becomes lean resulting in higher temperatures, pre ignition,
detonation and piston damage. This is generally the cause of piston damage in high
revving engines used in boats and small engines such as chain saws etc.
The portion of the petrol that remains has a higher density and higher octane but this
is not available during cold start resulting in hard starting. Because the fuel
carburetors and injectors operate on a volume metering system the higher density
means that more fuel is introduced for a given volume of air and so the air fuel ratio is
fuel rich. If all the fuel cannot be burnt then it forms carbon deposits that will foul the
spark plug and cause the engine to stop and not start. This is generally the cause of
problems in classic cars where the engine stumbles and hesitates or cuts out.
Good shit quick chick, err sorry, fastest chookist.

Bonkerz
6 years ago

I had a tank rust out on me years ago. After doing all the tank cleaning bs (sand? I can't remember) I got a product that was supposed to seal and stop rust, but it seems once it started it didn't want to stop and after awhile I got a pin hole leak near the seat and I fucked the tank off.
After that if my bike isn't being ridden for any length of time I make a point of going out occasionally and wobbling the bike so the fuel sloshes around. If I'm not home I ask someone else to do it.

Baloffski
6 years ago

Had an XT600 , fucken huge tank, Tenere 83.
Thought be smart and fix tank by mixing a product (Like hair shit s"pose) and that fucken bike put on 20kgs from shite in tank.. Old cunts will know what am on about.

softfat
6 years ago

Yes, I fill my tank after a ride from fuel I have stored here. I also do the same with my classic car. With the classic. I try to keep the tank as full as possible and it will sometimes sit for a few months without me starting it. I've seen too many fuel tanks from these series of cars leak from pinholes because rust inside the tank has eaten through the metal.
Soft...

Humbug
6 years ago

Mine never sits long enough to worry about it. Love the NT a place where you can ride nearly every day.

Humbug
6 years ago

Hey OldFarter,
Always fun overtaking a road train. Just be patient and when you have plenty of room nail it and stay wide. The speed limit is 130 on most of the open roads with most trucks doing 100 so you can get around them easily enough and it is not sparse. Its only 1000ks between Darwin and Alice with fuck all in between lol. Its winter now, nights getting down to 12deg and the days are a nice cool 25deg perrrrfect riding weather in the top end. Tad cooler in the Alice though.

Krash Kinkade
6 years ago

As Old Farter fire's up the falcon, all the ladies in the street run to take there white sheet's off clothesline .
Cheers mate

Krash Kinkade
6 years ago

I was thinking more important to charge your oil if live in cold climate, that gets condensation.

Topics

1/2

Fuel in tank when not riding

Fuel in tank when not riding

Phelics

Soapbox2627

Far Canal

Phelics

Baloffski

Ratbob

Phelics

Vic

Krash Kinkade

Oz Dan

Baloffski

Ratbob

Baloffski

Bonkerz

Baloffski

softfat

Humbug

Humbug

Krash Kinkade

Krash Kinkade