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Author Topic: Gas tank in the winter  (Read 2376 times)

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Offline kpier883

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Gas tank in the winter
« on: October 24, 2007, 05:32:31 PM »
Does anyone ever take the tank off, drain it and hang it somewhere warm and dry for the winter?  I am worried that condensation in the tank could lead to additional rust during the damp and cold of winter.

I have noticed a lot of threads on fixing rusty tanks and am thinking of the best way to prevent rust.

Additionally, if there is any water in the bottom of the tank from the summer, then it would be drained away.
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Offline Patrick

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #1 on: October 24, 2007, 06:06:58 PM »
During the "winter" here in Austin, I fill the tank and run the bike until it is near empty, then refill. Repeat until "spring."

Patrick
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #2 on: October 24, 2007, 06:16:16 PM »
Quote from: Patrick on October 24, 2007, 06:06:58 PM
During the "winter" here in Austin, I fill the tank and run the bike until it is near empty, then refill. Repeat until "spring."

Patrick

Hey, that's the same method I use! :D :D


kpier,
You're in Alabama! (unless you moved since filling out your personal info).  There shouldn't be any need to Winterize anything. ???
Regardless, if it's only going to be for a few months, I think the best storage method is to fill the tank with gas and mix in a little fuel stabilizer. 
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Offline Bodain

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #3 on: October 24, 2007, 06:24:42 PM »
During the winter here in Texas I fill the tank and keep riding. Best time of year to ride.
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Offline Sam Green Racing

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #4 on: October 24, 2007, 06:37:29 PM »
Quote from: Patrick on October 24, 2007, 06:06:58 PM
During the "winter" here in Austin, I fill the tank and run the bike until it is near empty, then refill. Repeat until "spring."

Patrick

I'll bet the only moisture you get then is around mid summer


































then your balls drop off ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Sam. ;)
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Offline MRieck

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #5 on: October 24, 2007, 06:45:18 PM »
Guys....you have to be extremely diligent with this new gas with 10% ethanol. I have cleaned carbs on bikes TWICE because the bikes sit longer than 4 weeks. This gas is absolute poison and, secondary to high evaporation and the ability to draw moisture from carbs vented to the atmosphere, wreck havoc on carb equipped bikes. Non alcohol based fuel stabilizer and CARB DRAINING....not running dry.....are mandatory. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THIS NEW FUEL........IT WILL SCREW YOUR CARBS UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Offline Johnie

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2007, 09:19:00 AM »
Here in WI I fill the tank with gas and stabilizer.  Now I ride the Goldwing all year as long as there is no snow, ice or salt on the roads.  Get some weird looks from people too.  The CB750 and my others will go into a heated patio which becomes my winter shop and play area...I have an understanding wife.   ;D
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johnny-from-bel

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2007, 09:36:04 AM »
I keep it full, so it is ready to go when wheather permits
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Offline BobbyR

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2007, 09:46:49 AM »
Quote from: MRieck on October 24, 2007, 06:45:18 PM
Guys....you have to be extremely diligent with this new gas with 10% ethanol. I have cleaned carbs on bikes TWICE because the bikes sit longer than 4 weeks. This gas is absolute poison and, secondary to high evaporation and the ability to draw moisture from carbs vented to the atmosphere, wreck havoc on carb equipped bikes. Non alcohol based fuel stabilizer and CARB DRAINING....not running dry.....are mandatory. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THIS NEW FUEL........IT WILL SCREW YOUR CARBS UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is sage advice. I drain the carbs and flush them out with cheap carb cleaner. I empty the tank fully and run my snow blower with it. I fill the tank with kero which I slowly drain out if I need some extra for my garage heater. Kero does not gum up like gas and leaves an oily film behind.  Yes she will smoke on the first startup but so does the fogging stuff I put in the cylinders. Just ride into the wind fast as you can for 15 mins.  ;D 
« Last Edit: October 25, 2007, 12:31:41 PM by BobbyR »
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Offline Patrick

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2007, 10:39:13 AM »
Snow blower?!? I had forgotten such devices existed. It snowed here in Austin... in 1986. I remember.

I am from Wisconsin and visit regularly. During the summer.

The Pack is Back. But I'm not.....

Patrick
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #10 on: October 25, 2007, 02:04:43 PM »
Rust (ferric oxide) is formed from Iron (the FE in steel) and oxygen, with water as a catalyst.

Deprive the FE of oxygen and you prevent rust.

Used to be, just keeping the tank full of gas would do that.  As the humidity (water) in the air, along with the oxygen, couldn't reach the iron. No rust.
Alcohol changes things considerably.  Alcohol absorbs water (from the humidity) and that water contains dissolved oxygen.  Putting this (contaminated) fuel next to iron or aluminum creates corrosion from oxidation.  Worse, the presence of water and oxygen in alcohol begin to form alkali which actively attacks metals by chemical conversion.  It is as aggressive as acid for destruction of metal.

Alcohol fuels must be used and renewed constantly, or as MRieck notes, your fuel system will begin to destruct.

Just another benefit of lobby groups in a short sighted government.

Cheers,
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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #11 on: October 25, 2007, 03:24:19 PM »
I keep the tank full, add about 2 ounces of Seafoam per gallon of fuel (double my summer mix), and ride on nice days.  Yes, I get some looks, but I know it's just the Hardly owners wishing they could be riding too!
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Offline MRieck

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2007, 04:11:11 PM »
 Is ethanol used in Canadian fuel???
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Offline bwaller

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #13 on: October 25, 2007, 05:48:17 PM »
Mike, there are some Canadian companies that sell a 10% ethanol blend but it isn't throughout the industry. I think if I wanted gas from corn, I'd have been a cow!



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Offline BobbyR

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #14 on: October 25, 2007, 06:15:56 PM »
Since Ethanol is being produced at a rapid rate, expect to see more of it in the fuel. It will become the Hamburger Helper of the petroleum industry. It has some good points, but for us it has some issues.
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Offline MRieck

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #15 on: October 25, 2007, 06:43:13 PM »
Quote from: bwaller on October 25, 2007, 05:48:17 PM
Mike, there are some Canadian companies that sell a 10% ethanol blend but it isn't throughout the industry. I think if I wanted gas from corn, I'd have been a cow!
See....you'll be able to order a steak and fill the tank at the same place. ;)
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freefourall

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #16 on: October 27, 2007, 03:27:15 AM »
My Honda dealer told me to add one ounce of two-cycle oil per gallon of gas to keep rust from forming in the tank. Keep tank full. He said this ratio would not show any smoke coming out of the exhaust.
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Offline nteek754

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #17 on: October 27, 2007, 05:44:32 AM »
Hey all I live up here in gods country, Maine so we get some wild cold winters I fill my tank and might put some stabilizer in . But would never think of draining everything  someone I know  will turn the gas off run bike till it dies . then when they went to fire it up next spring  hmmmm bowls all had that white residue in there. to each their own just seems like more work than needed. and also like someone said fill it ready for a good day. last winter on January 7th it was like 64 degrees guess where we were that day? have fun Craig in Maine
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Offline Dave K

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Re: Gas tank in the winter
« Reply #18 on: October 27, 2007, 07:45:24 AM »
Freefourall, That is exactly what I do. Add a couple ounces of 2 stroke oil per gallon. I run the bike for 20 miles with that to help coat the inside of the mufflers as well. I also use LPS #3 to spray heavily into the mufflers. I spray both into the weep holes and then down through the baffles to get a good coat of oil in the mufflers. I start the bike again, to vaporize the oil and get it every where in the exhaust system and then do it again. I then remove the battery, lube the fork tubes, lube the chain, air up the tires, top off the tank and cover the bike with a breathable sheet. Did this for years, without trouble. Actually, I did this last night to winterize the bike. It will be off the road now and not started until about April. Or the salt comes off of the roads here in Ohio.
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