Winter storage

[mvk24_imp]

Sometimes I think too much thought goes into this petrol and storage debate and people get overly conservative.

The RAC (Royal Automobile Club), akin to AAA states the following:

Generally speaking, petrol has a shelf-life of six months if stored in a sealed container at 20 degrees Centigrade – or just three months if kept at 30 degrees Centigrade. The more it's exposed to heat, the more quickly it will go off.

So we are probably in good order storing fuel in our tanks at any level in that cold garage. I have never bothered to fill or empty a tank during the winter on any of my bikes or two classic cars. If there is a sunny but cold day I would try to take a run to get some fuel through the whole system and give the gearbox, bearings, brakes and oil seals a little workout too but I never worried about the fuel.

My MG TD would often sit for 4 months without running, it has never let me down on start-up. The storage location is unheated so the fuel is sitting at a very cold ambient.

Luckily I am in a temperate climate, we don't suffer long months of snow

The level only matters here because the Ethanol attracts moisture from the air. So thats why they say to do full so that there is no bare metal to be affected by the moisture that is absorbed within the tank/fuel.

It basically mitigates having rust develop in the tank. Not so much worried about stale gas like you said won't happen within a winter storage cycle.

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

[Cormanus]

Sometimes I think too much thought goes into this petrol and storage debate and people get overly conservative.

The RAC (Royal Automobile Club), akin to AAA states the following:

Generally speaking, petrol has a shelf-life of six months if stored in a sealed container at 20 degrees Centigrade – or just three months if kept at 30 degrees Centigrade. The more it's exposed to heat, the more quickly it will go off.

So we are probably in good order storing fuel in our tanks at any level in that cold garage. I have never bothered to fill or empty a tank during the winter on any of my bikes or two classic cars. If there is a sunny but cold day I would try to take a run to get some fuel through the whole system and give the gearbox, bearings, brakes and oil seals a little workout too but I never worried about the fuel.

My MG TD would often sit for 4 months without running, it has never let me down on start-up. The storage location is unheated so the fuel is sitting at a very cold ambient.

Luckily I am in a temperate climate, we don't suffer long months of snow

The level only matters here because the Ethanol attracts moisture from the air. So thats why they say to do full so that there is no bare metal to be affected by the moisture that is absorbed within the tank/fuel.

It basically mitigates having rust develop in the tank. Not so much worried about stale gas like you said won't happen within a winter storage cycle.

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

That goes to ride4now’s original question: if the CB1100’s fuel system is sealed, why would moisture be a problem? I suspect the answer may be that the system isn’t sealed. The tank has a breather pipe I think which presumably lets small amounts of air in.

[mvk24_imp]

Sometimes I think too much thought goes into this petrol and storage debate and people get overly conservative.

The RAC (Royal Automobile Club), akin to AAA states the following:

Generally speaking, petrol has a shelf-life of six months if stored in a sealed container at 20 degrees Centigrade – or just three months if kept at 30 degrees Centigrade. The more it's exposed to heat, the more quickly it will go off.

So we are probably in good order storing fuel in our tanks at any level in that cold garage. I have never bothered to fill or empty a tank during the winter on any of my bikes or two classic cars. If there is a sunny but cold day I would try to take a run to get some fuel through the whole system and give the gearbox, bearings, brakes and oil seals a little workout too but I never worried about the fuel.

My MG TD would often sit for 4 months without running, it has never let me down on start-up. The storage location is unheated so the fuel is sitting at a very cold ambient.

Luckily I am in a temperate climate, we don't suffer long months of snow

The level only matters here because the Ethanol attracts moisture from the air. So thats why they say to do full so that there is no bare metal to be affected by the moisture that is absorbed within the tank/fuel.

It basically mitigates having rust develop in the tank. Not so much worried about stale gas like you said won't happen within a winter storage cycle.

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

That goes to ride4now’s original question: if the CB1100’s fuel system is sealed, why would moisture be a problem? I suspect the answer may be that the system isn’t sealed. The tank has a breather pipe I think which presumably lets small amounts of air in.

That goes to ride4now’s original question: if the CB1100’s fuel system is sealed, why would moisture be a problem? I suspect the answer may be that the system isn’t sealed. The tank has a breather pipe I think which presumably lets small amounts of air in. Yea thats why I figured I would throw that tid bit back into the convo

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

[peterbaron]

Another question… I recently learned that among the recommended storage procedures for my Corvette is to store it with only 1/4 tank of gas, not full as we’ve always done. The idea that condensation will form in this sealed system is negligible. And the problem, if stored full, is the gas could leave a film of some kind on the in tank fuel level sensor necessitating its removal (big job…) and fix when/if it goes bad. This comes from the engineers at Chevy. And yes, I use Stabil so would think that wouldn’t be an issue… but? So my question is… since the CB’s have what I assume is a sealed system as well, does anyone know if this ‘direction’ to leave it low on fuel would apply here too? The owners manual says there is a storage procedure that the dealers know of, but actual direction is not mentioned in the manual. TIA!

1. Whether your Corvette is carburated or FI, there is no such thing as a sealed system. I assume you are talking about the fuel tank?
If the gas tank were 100% tight, the fuel would not be able to be sucked in and transferred to the engine due to too much vacuum in the tank, which is why every gas tank needs a breathing hole. This purpose will be served by a tiny hole in the gas cap, an EVAP system, or a combination of both, or somthing else...
2. The fuel sending unit and fuel pump are always submerged in fuel, whether the fuel tank is 1/10 or 10/10 full. So, what film are yoiu talking about???
Am I missing somthing or I don't get it????? Please explain.

[balkanhound_imp]

I just keep the tank topped off and add some marine stabil in all four of my bikes. Never had a problem and the tanks look clean. And one of the bikes has carbs.

[curlyjoe]

It's been 4 years since I've ridden my 2013 CB1100. It's been sitting in the garage in a neglected state during that time. I guess my only excuse is my wife became ill and I was her 24/7 caregiver for 2 years. She passed away last year. Anyway, I went into the garage and tried to start it up and no go. I opened up the fuel cap and I didn't see any fuel and it looked pretty nasty in there. Corrosion maybe? I added some fuel and some seafoam and waited for a couple of hours and tried to start it again. I didn't start. Any thoughts? I suspect this will be an expensive repair.

[air-cooled fan]

It's been 4 years since I've ridden my 2013 CB1100.  It's been sitting in the garage in a neglected state during that time.  I guess my only excuse is my wife became ill and I was her 24/7 caregiver for 2 years.  She passed away last year. Anyway, I went into the garage and tried to start it up and no go.  I opened up the fuel cap and I didn't see any fuel and it looked pretty nasty in there.  Corrosion maybe?  I added some fuel and some seafoam and waited for a couple of hours and tried to start it again.  I didn't start.  Any thoughts?  I suspect this will be an expensive repair.

Sorry to read the news about your wife. Old fuel can cause problems with the fuel injectors and fuel pump as if they get gummed up there will be no fuel delivery.

[MagnaRider]

Sorry about the news CJ. I'd agree you probably need to flush the fueling system & injectors, especially if there was ethanol fuel in there.
How was your battery after that long of sit? This will also play a factor into getting it started. I've had plenty of success with fuel injected cars that have sat for longer than 4 years without pulling the injectors. Just drained as much of the old gas as I can, then added new with a fuel cleaner like seafoam and ran it hard to blow the cobwebs out so to speak.

[curlyjoe]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. @MagnaRider, I did put a trickle charger on the battery from time to time so the battery was ok. I guess I have to decide on whether or not to let a mechanic deal with this or try to do something myself.

[Cormanus]

So sorry to hear of your wife's passing, curlyjoe. I hope you're able to sort the CB1100 easily.