Should I drain the gas tank if the bike has been sitting for two weeks?

K

Kawapilot

Member

Aug 19, 2004

7

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• Aug 22, 2004

• #1

I have a KX 250 and was wondering if I should drain the gas tank if the bike has been sitting a couple of weeks. I've read that it's not a good idea to run the bike on "old" premix. Thanks for your help.

 

darringer

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Dec 2, 2001

1,029

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• Aug 22, 2004

• #2

I have gone 1 month on a regular basis without any problems. The oil will stay suspended in the fuel. I haven't noticed any difference in performance, and have never had detonation problems because of it.

 

M

Mike's 2003 YZ250

Member

Feb 28, 2004

153

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• Aug 22, 2004

• #3

I agree with Darringer. I have gone as long as 3 weeks or a month between rides, and didnt drain the tank and never had a problem. What I do when Im about to take the bike out for a quick ride after it has been sitting so long, is squeeze the front brake lever and rock the bike back and forth so the forks compress. You hear the fuel sloshing back and forth in the tank. Its like your shaking it up and mixing it again. Maybe its not doing anything, and maybe you dont even need to do this, but it makes me feel like its helping after having the bike sit so long. With my luck, Im probably just hurting my front brake and forks, LOL! :laugh: Mike :)

 

S

Speeed

Proud American

Member

Jul 4, 2004

143

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• Aug 22, 2004

• #4

Mike's 2003 YZ250 said:

I agree with Darringer. I have gone as long as 3 weeks or a month between rides, and didnt drain the tank and never had a problem. What I do when Im about to take the bike out for a quick ride after it has been sitting so long, is squeeze the front brake lever and rock the bike back and forth so the forks compress. You hear the fuel sloshing back and forth in the tank. Its like your shaking it up and mixing it again. Maybe its not doing anything, and maybe you dont even need to do this, but it makes me feel like its helping after having the bike sit so long. With my luck, Im probably just hurting my front brake and forks, LOL! :laugh: Mike :)

Click to expand...

I agree with both of em ! I have left premix in for as long as a month also. when its been in longer than a month I drain it and dump it in the lawn equip. or the beater pick-up so it doesnt go to waste.

btw....Mike, I do the same thing and feel the same way.......dont know if it does any good...... but I do it anyways.

 

K

Kawapilot

Member

Aug 19, 2004

7

0

• Aug 23, 2004

• Thread starter
• #5

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

 

D

dracula1

Member

Apr 21, 2003

14

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• Aug 23, 2004

• #6

ohh man am I gonna get sh!t for this!!!

My kx500 sat for four months with half a tank and I decided to start it and ride it :bang: to my amazment after shaking it like crazy the beast fired right up :yikes: Yes it ran like crap but it still ran :nener: and has been fine for the past six months

I dont recommend being as ignorant as myself but I dont think a couple of weeks is gonna do very much.

Just my 2 cents,
2fast

 

Last edited by a moderator: Aug 23, 2004

MikeT

~SPONSOR~

Jan 17, 2001

4,095

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• Aug 23, 2004

• #7

Two weeks, Two months, Four months. Not a big deal. Yes after two months your performance will go down a little, very little. I think if I went say six months I'd drain it, but anything less than that and we'd be OK. The PROs might want to drain it but we don't need to.

 

M

Mike_socal

Member

Oct 1, 2003

189

0

• Aug 23, 2004

• #8

I've used 4 month old gas and didn't seem to have a problem. I think the weedeater has used 8 month old gas and still runs. I do however use Mobil mx2t so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

SpectraSVT

Member

Apr 17, 2002

720

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• Aug 23, 2004

• #9

Depends on the pre-mix. I used some Rock Oil stuff and it seperated itself from the gas. After 5 months of sitting it clogged the carb. Other than this specific oil I used in an emergency once, I am pretty sure once the pre-mix is mixed its mixed-in for good. If your using 100 octane the fuel may start degrading after 3 weeks I think. Can't remember the numbers though.

 

Porstala F9

Member

Jul 30, 2003

345

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• Aug 23, 2004

• #10

I went abought a month with it sitting there in the tank and mine fired right up too..

Is that really true that the fuel octane goes down after a while or is it just a myth? I buy 94 pump octane gas and I let it sit in the garage shelf in the tank for sometimes 2 months. Not premixed yet, just the gas. Is this "bad"?

 

SpectraSVT

Member

Apr 17, 2002

720

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• Aug 23, 2004

• #11

I was told that the plastic containers are porous and that octane can degrade thru those but a metal container will retain the fuels octane as metal is not a porous material.

 

S

syko

Member

Jan 10, 2004

182

0

• Aug 24, 2004

• #12

Jeeez,
I must just love wasting my hard earned cash.
cuz whatever fuel I have left at the end of my days riding i drain and throw away.
I use fresh mix every time!!!

I must have money to burn.
for some reason I always thought fresh mix was all that 2 strokes appreciated.

Now I can start enjoying life and not spending every spare penny on fuel.

 

D

dat dude

Member

Nov 11, 2002

17

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #13

How do you guys normally dispose of old (premixed) gas anyway???

 

B

BigSwole

Member

Jun 8, 2004

179

1

• Aug 24, 2004

• #14

I run it all.never waste it.I dont care if it's 3 months old,I will use it.

 

B

BonChance13

Member

May 7, 2002

126

0

• Aug 24, 2004

• #15

I usually don't go more than a month between rides,so I manage to use my pre-mix up,I have gone way over a month and have used it without worry.If you're worried about seperation,give the can a shake,just like the initial mix or grab some front brake and bounce the bike if it's in the tank.I do this everytime I add gas or ride anyway.Metal cans are definately best for long term storage,I also guesstimate my riding time and mix what I think I'll use,this way there is'nt as much leftover.

 

S

Speeed

Proud American

Member

Jul 4, 2004

143

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #16

dat dude said:

How do you guys normally dispose of old (premixed) gas anyway???

Click to expand...

Speeed said:

I drain it and dump it in the lawn equip. or the beater pick-up so it doesnt go to waste.

Click to expand...

 

KelvinKDX

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Aug 25, 2000

1,622

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• Aug 24, 2004

• #17

dat dude said:

How do you guys normally dispose of old (premixed) gas anyway???

Click to expand...

I pour it into my KDX!! :nener:

Sometimes the lawn mower gets to burn some of it.

 

U

uts

Member

Jan 8, 2004

305

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• Aug 25, 2004

• #18

I think that gas octane can go down. If you are using a good oil separation from fuel won't be a problem. I have noticed on my CR250 that if I use fuel (I use 98 octane) that is more than 3 weeks old I start to get some detonation which indicates a loss of octane. My bike has over 200 PSI though.

 

darringer

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Dec 2, 2001

1,029

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• Aug 25, 2004

• #19

Even with over 210psi compression I have not had a problem with detonation because of old fuel. I run 91 octane with no problems. If there was a problem, I would use octane booster. Here in California, the quality of pump gas has been declining just as steadily as the price going up, so I am constantly watching for detonation problems. Like my friends always tell me...
"Less talking, more riding!"