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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: JEREMY JOCK on December 19, 2009, 01:10:17 PM

Title: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: JEREMY JOCK on December 19, 2009, 01:10:17 PM
Is it better to have a full tank of gas, or just some gas in the tank?

I picked up some Sta-Bil today to start winterizing. It says how much to use per gallon, but doesn't say anything about how much gas should be kept in the tank.

Thoughts, tips, comments appreciated.

Thanks!
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: joshr08 on December 19, 2009, 01:20:48 PM
i would fill the tank full put in the sta-bil then run the bike to get the sta-bil into the carbs. :thumb: filling the tank full keeps the tank from condunsation in the tank causing rust where the gas isnt covering metel.
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: PachmanP on December 19, 2009, 01:27:53 PM
Full tank.  If you don't fill it, then the exposed part can rust.
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: JEREMY JOCK on December 19, 2009, 01:31:57 PM
That's what I thought, but I wanted to make sure before I did so.

Thanks guys!  :thumb:
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: tt_four on December 19, 2009, 04:39:10 PM
I've never used this stuff before, I've always been curious, can you still just run the stuff through when winter's over? Will it just run a little goofy until all the mixed gas gets through and you fill it up with clean gas? I feel like the whole thing would be pointless if you had to change the gas in spring anyway.
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: joshr08 on December 19, 2009, 05:31:18 PM
you just run it through after winter and it doesnt act fun at all it just keeps your gas from breaking down into varnish
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: tt_four on December 19, 2009, 05:45:01 PM
Cool, how long does it take for gas to start to go bad? More specifically, what's the longest you'd let your bike sit before you felt like you needed to put some stabilizer in it?
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: BaltimoreGS on December 19, 2009, 06:56:52 PM
It goes bad in about a month if left untreated (note: adding stabilizer to already oxidized gas does nothing).  The one factor you don't know is how long that gas sat around in the holding tank at the gas station.  My old Camaro has had the same gas treated with Stabil in it for 2 years and it still starts and runs fine on the rare occasions I actually dig it out of it's grave so I think you'll have no problems with storing a bike over winter. And even when I do get around to draining the old gas out of the Camaro I still dump it in the truck and run it   ;)

-Jessie
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: kml.krk on December 20, 2009, 07:35:36 PM
I never added anything to my gas when I stored the bike for winter, and I did not notice any negative effects, or gas going bad.
For first two years of owning my bike it was parked outside, all year long (under fabric cover). Now she's parked in the garage.

Anyways, I never put any anything in the gas and never had problems starting it in the spring  :dunno_white:
Are there going to be any negative consequences in the long run, this I don't know but I doubt it.
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: gregvhen on December 20, 2009, 08:59:52 PM
that suprises me that you could not ride your bike all winter, while leaving it outside, and notice nothing the next spring. you have a great bike then. hold onto to that thing
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: kml.krk on December 21, 2009, 08:59:25 AM
^^^
I am not going to get rid of her anytime soon  :thumb:
I wish I could add another bike to my garage though, let's say Aprilia SXV 550... unfortunately it won't happen in economy like that  :2guns:
Title: Re: When using a fuel stablizer for the winter...
Post by: bassmechanicsz on December 21, 2009, 09:19:22 AM
Last year i let my bike sit the whole winter probably about 4 months without doing anything to the gas and it ran a little rough at first but after i filtered through the old gas in the tank it ran perfectly fine again.  I wouldn't recommend doing this but it will work.  Getting the Sta-Bil is a good idea i was just to lazy to get it last year.