Fuel “winterising”
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
I've never had that issue. I ride year-round. My Deere get's the Stabil and fires right up when the wee...ur uh grass needs mowing again.
Most are now formulated to keep that corn at bay, as well as the H2O.
Most are now formulated to keep that corn at bay, as well as the H2O.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
Unless you’re going to take it for a ride and let it heat all the way up to operating temps.
Warm it up, get the moisture out by riding it…
I know many like to start it up a couple times just to hear it run. Letting it sit until ready to ride is better than a couple minutes of idling and rapping the throttle.
I agree with fill the tank as much as you can and put it on a tender.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 417
From: Outer Banks, NC
There's crazy car guy on youtube, Scotty Kilmer. He's been working on car's for 50+ years. He has strong opinions on fuel additives, he says Seafoam is an old fashioned product that doesn't do much. But he likes Stay-Bil. For what it's worth!
I'm donning my Flack Jacket!
I'm donning my Flack Jacket!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,310
Likes: 2,446
From: Eastern NE
IMO...that video's more of a fuel murder/mystery episode that anything...purely entertainment. Unless your bike just rolled off the assy line - there's going to be some microscopic form of gunk/impurities so add, or don't add anything. Your bike/your call & I've used everything from Heet in the 70's w/ my 350 Kawasaki dirt bike to Sta-Bil 360 just yesterday in my 2020 Heritage. From MN winters to NE spring, they've always started.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 543
Likes: 92
From: clinton CT
I am a firm believer in adding either stabil or seafoam, however my favorite is startron. One year I forgot to winterize the fuel in my bike and it was a mess. Everything had to come apart. Now that was a carb bike vs. fuel injection but It takes really no extra effort and it is just a good piece of mind. I do this for both my 08 ultra and my 87 sportster. Last year(2020) I was diagnosed with leukemia and was admitted to the hospital from August to October. I was sent home late October and could not physically winterize my bikes but because both tanks were relatively full all I did was add some stabilizer and let the bikes run for about 10 minutes shut them down and closed the shed doors. I opened the doors in the spring probably mid April and both fired right up. I really wasn't able to ride like I love to because I am physically not strong enough yet but did manage to get about 750 miles in this pass season. Bikes stay on a tender when not in use and will continue to have fuel treatment added as long as I own them.
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 2,457
While I know this is a popular thing to do… I think it’s a bad idea.
Unless you’re going to take it for a ride and let it heat all the way up to operating temps.
Warm it up, get the moisture out by riding it…
I know many like to start it up a couple times just to hear it run. Letting it sit until ready to ride is better than a couple minutes of idling and rapping the throttle.
I agree with fill the tank as much as you can and put it on a tender.
Unless you’re going to take it for a ride and let it heat all the way up to operating temps.
Warm it up, get the moisture out by riding it…
I know many like to start it up a couple times just to hear it run. Letting it sit until ready to ride is better than a couple minutes of idling and rapping the throttle.
I agree with fill the tank as much as you can and put it on a tender.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 5,157
Likes: 740
From: new caney, tx
Im near Houston so we dont have much of a winter but I've never used any additives in any of my engines. When its time to start up everything is fine. With that being said i have several gallons of reserve gas for emergencies and i habe stabil in them. I usually try to use one set when i mow to keep them rotated. Some of it has been sittin since March and works just fine.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 25,054
Likes: 19,456
From: New York
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
At least it won’t sump or transfer…
(there, I said it…lol)
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 229
From: Saskatchewan
Edit: This motorcycle made a few trips to the shop. He later found in the ECM logs the most trips were very short on a daily bases.
Edit 2: Here's where he found the run logs.
Last edited by Sparkee...; Dec 5, 2021 at 04:33 PM.