Why add stabilizer for ethanol-free fuel?

timtek

timtek

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Hi everyone,

I'm sure this topic is saturated but I want clarification. If anyone can enlighten me or link me previously talked thread, much appreciated.

With November coming close, I'm thinking of winterizing the bike soon. I got the battery tender so I got that covered. in terms of fuel........
My understanding for adding stabilizer into fuel is to minimize the gumming of fuel during long storage due to ethanol acting as hydrophile.
I've been running only Shell's V-Power ethanol free fuel.
I also have my bike stored in separated garage (not warm but isolated from the elements). I don't know if stabilizers are necessary for ethanol free fuels, or am I misunderstanding this?

Thanks everyone

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Instead of gum, you will get fuel varnish. Effectly the same problem in a slightly different form.
 
I didn't do anything to my 91 ethanol-free fuel last year. All I did was shut my fuel off, run the bike until it stalled, and restart with the coke on until it stalled. Probably bad in some sense, but I didn't have issues come spring.
 
Considering how cheap a bottle of stabilizer is (and will last you many years), why not use it for cheap insurance. As for ethanol...if you fill with Shell 91 or some other non-ethanol fuel then you just need the basic stuff, but if you used fuel with ethanol then get a stabilizer that says marine grade or 'for ethanol fuels' (STP makes one).

That said, my car sits out the worst of winter, and I rarely stabilize it (filled with 91 fuel) since I'm never sure when I'll use it again. Always started up fine, but still, why not play it safe with the bike when you know it will sit for months.
 
Alright thanks for the info guys!

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I also use Sta-Bil in my lawn mower and snow blower. I add it to the jerry can I keep on hand in my garage. Both have plastic tanks so I empty them and run the machine dry. I put the gas from one to the other winter/summer. I keep the motorcycle tanks full during the winter...
 
There is a lot of debate whether you need it for the 4 months of no riding. Some riders do nothing but add their battery maintainer.

Fuel stabilizer is cheap and lasts a long time. I'd rather not take the chance so I do it. Also I recommend removing your battery and maintaining it indoors, this advice from a motorcycle tech. I'm sure it is more gentle on the battery than in the cold.
 
I've never bothered with stabilizer in a m/c but I do leave the tank close to empty. Stabilizer in snowmobiles yes, I think heat affects gas more than cold. Those tanks also got left almost empty.

Batteries always come in, I have an 03 r6 and it's on the original battery! No tender, just a day long trickle charge in the spring.
 
I want to add another question

I was told i can use seafoam instead of Stabil. Is it correct?

If not, can i have both in my fuel? I already added seafoam...but i can always go for a last ride of the season and fill it up with fresh fuel
 
Concac said:
I want to add another question

I was told i can use seafoam instead of Stabil. Is it correct?

If not, can i have both in my fuel? I already added seafoam...but i can always go for a last ride of the season and fill it up with fresh fuel
Click to expand...

I add seafoam rather than fuel stabiliser but I don't have my bike away for long. I ride until first real snows and permanent ice, then get the bike out when there's no ice in the morning. The Seafoam (and stabilisers) work to reduce the water content in your tank among other things.

Edit: I can't see there being a problem with both in there.
 
Seafoam- I wouldn't put that in my bike, it's a cleaner but doesn't actually clean imo. It's like spraying something and then rinsing without scrubbing. If my carbs/injectors/whatever need cleaning I'm gonna wrench and do it properly.

I'm not lazy, just don't believe cold affects gas as much as heat.

It runs like crap until you get rid of old gas/or gas with stabilizer.

To each their own.
 
meme said:
Seafoam- I wouldn't put that in my bike, it's a cleaner but doesn't actually clean imo. It's like spraying something and then rinsing without scrubbing. If my carbs/injectors/whatever need cleaning I'm gonna wrench and do it properly.

I'm not lazy, just don't believe cold affects gas as much as heat.

It runs like crap until you get rid of old gas/or gas with stabilizer.

To each their own.
Click to expand...

With the cold you get more water condensate in the gas. Seafoam isn't a permanent cleaning solution ...it's a first pass fix for slightly clogged bikes. It worked fine on my carbed EX500 to get rid of some minor starting issues but anything serious would have meant a full carb clean.
 
Your bike, your maintenance.

Draining the tank and a garage that doesn't vary in temp has done me very well. Snowmobiles were left outside during the summer, covered but out.

I know what Seafoam does, I think my analogy of rinsing/vs cleaning was a good one. It's half the job imo.
 
I have never added stabilizer to any of my bikes and never had any issues.

..and yes I am lazy but I don't believe in adding stuff for no reason.
 
meme said:
Your bike, your maintenance.

Draining the tank and a garage that doesn't vary in temp has done me very well. Snowmobiles were left outside during the summer, covered but out.

I know what Seafoam does, I think my analogy of rinsing/vs cleaning was a good one. It's half the job imo.
Click to expand...

Well not really...I'm a chemist and I know what seafoam does which is why I use it for what it does best. Not a miracle cure by any means though.
 
jc100 said:
...I'm a chemist
Click to expand...

But you're not an "automotive specialized mechanical engineer working for a multinational auto manufacturer", not sure if I can trust you. ?

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Seafoam is advertised as a cleaner. Period. I stated that a few posts ago. So yes I do "really" know.

You may be a Chemist, and I'm no mechanic but if it needs to be cleaned/degunked this is not the way I would do it. Stated that from the start too.

You wanna put that in your bike, go ahead. I won't.
 
I add Seafoam to the last tank of fuel as a stabilizer/cleaner and eventually run the carbs dry before storage. I also use Seafoam in my lawnmower, and snowblower when storing them for the season. Done it for years and never a problem in the sping and this is as you can see, is an old bike.
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