How long before fuel 'goes off'

[snerkler]

I've been having nerve problems in my arm which has meant I've not been able to ride my GSA, in fact I've used it once in 3 months. How long is it before the fuel goes off?

Apart from raising the bike up off it's tyres and keeping the battery topped up what else do I need to consider? I've never had to put my bike out of action before

 

[cookie]

years.

 

[Kremmen]

For sure petrol doesn't have a storage life like it did years ago, but leaving in the tank till the spring wont cause you any issues at all...now if it was in a carb, then draining it out might be prudent.
Other than that have another mince pie..i can recommend those from Heston Bluminhell..

 

[Pukmeister]

I didn't use my KTM for a year, the carb needs cleaning, it runs like shit and won't idle properly. I'm gonna drain the fuel then use it in the GSA a little at a time to get rid of it ( along with a shot of redex).

 

[seadog]

My bikE gets left 6 weeks each time I am at work, starts and runs fine each time home

 

[(RIP) Tunneruk]

My 250LC project ran (albeit like a sack of shit) with fuel in the float bowls that was EIGHT YEARS OLD!

I think it must be dependent on how hooch oxygen the fuel is exposed to?

 

[snerkler]

Thanks for the replies. I thought I'd read about people draining their fuel tanks when storing their bikes for winter, guess I must be losing it

 

[cookie]

actually, draining the tank is not a bad idea, but not because the fuel goes off.

it's nice to get any water out of the bottom of the tank that may be there and corroding the metal. not really a problem with plastic tanks though

 

[FatAl]

I 've just bought a bottle of Lucas fuel stabiliser from my local motor factor (approx £9) as I'm laying my Stelvio up until spring, will be on R100gs now for next few months.

 

[littleredrooster]

Fuel companies reckon unleaded has a shelf life of about three months and old-fashioned four-star about a year. My petrol mower cheerfully runs on u/l which must be two years old at least.

 

[Ogmios]

How long before fuel 'goes off'

Depends how far away the match is.

 

[seadog]

Depends how far away the match is.

 

[Sumprat]

My bikE gets left 6 weeks each time I am at work, starts and runs fine each time home

Good grief! And I thought working 12 hours shifts were bad.

 

[tanneman]

Add some off this http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-809-silkolene-pro-fst-fuel-system-treatment-for-petrol-engines.aspx to your fuel tank full of unleaded

 

[Grey Beard]

Over the winter I follow the recommendation to top up the fuel tank and add a fuel stabiliser. Run the bike with this mix before laying up over winter to ensure the fuel is mixed and through the carburettor/injection system.

Louis Motor Accessory shops sell the fuel stabiliser.

Basically any fuel which has, in chemical terms, unsaturated carbon compounds (double bonds) can slowly polymerise and form a gummy substance.

That said, it will be slow at winter temperatures and with things like lawnmowers I have never experienced any problem. Motor cycle engines are a bit more sophisticated, so being new to biking, take the precaution of adding the stabiliser.

The tank is best kept full to minimise the air space and any breathing caused by changes in air temperature, which could draw damp air into the fuel tank.

Grey Beard

 

[snerkler]

Over the winter I follow the recommendation to top up the fuel tank and add a fuel stabiliser. Run the bike with this mix before laying up over winter to ensure the fuel is mixed and through the carburettor/injection system.

Louis Motor Accessory shops sell the fuel stabiliser.

Basically any fuel which has, in chemical terms, unsaturated carbon compounds (double bonds) can slowly polymerise and form a gummy substance.

That said, it will be slow at winter temperatures and with things like lawnmowers I have never experienced any problem. Motor cycle engines are a bit more sophisticated, so being new to biking, take the precaution of adding the stabiliser.

The tank is best kept full to minimise the air space and any breathing caused by changes in air temperature, which could draw damp air into the fuel tank.

Grey Beard

Thanks for the advice, interesting stuff.

Just for the record, I'm not new to biking but have always ridden all year round so never 'laid the bike up' before

 

[pistonbrokescooby]

fuel

hi
i have left mine for up to 28 months and been ok . its not a good idea though.did miss fired a bit till fresh went in .
fuel stabilizer would be a good idea as others said , i have a car in the garage now , sat for two years and by march it will be three . so i will drain out and put fresh in to be on safe side.

 

[Kintessack GSr]

Thanks for the advice, interesting stuff.

Just for the record, I'm not new to biking but have always ridden all year round so never 'laid the bike up' before

I also 'ride' year round. I have 4 children and a happy wife. Leave the bike in garage from Dec to April tho!

 

[GSTourer]

Left my 07 GSA between Oct and March last year with half a tank of fuel...all was well on startup in spring.

 

[Renatus]

I believe that recent (European?) changes to fuel regulations have allowed/decreed the use of greater levels of biofuel in both diesel and unleaded fuel. This apparently decreases the shelf life considerably and is potentially going to cause me trouble at work where I have a number of diesel standby generators which have very large tanks with little turnover of fuel. The biofuel can become infected with microbes which then result in particulate contamination, water etc, and I think the bio and petro products separate out after a while too. It looks like I'll have to fit "polishers" to my fuel tanks which continuously filter the fuel and separate out any water. At the moment I can still buy non-bio diesel but it's more expensive and less easy to get quickly. Somewhere on the web there's a government document explaining all this.