Fuel stabiliser - is it worth a try?

Hi Andrew. I have only ever known petrol to go off if it was vented to the outside air thus allowing the volatile gases to escape and thus change the concentration and eventually the viscosity. Perhaps over many years there might be a chemical change but not weeks.I know there will be lots of people saying that it does though but unless they are professional petroleum chemists, I'll ignore them.

It is true that fuel left in the carb float chambers will evaporate and leave a residue, but you should adopt the age old routine of turning off the petrol at a known distance from your house so that the engine just about dies when you arrive. If you use the bike daily, this technique will also save quite a bit of fuel over a year too. If you have an empty float bowl, it cannot gum up. You may also consider putting some âBlue Tackâ or tape over the vent hole too, if you are leaving the bike for over a week or two but only after the engine has cooled down as the engine heat does drive off quite a bit of fuel by heating the tank.

If you are leaving the bike over an extended period, surely it would be cheaper to make sure you donât have too much petrol left in the tank, and you can then drain it off and keep it in a sealed petrol container, it is a very simple thing to do.When you are back to regular use, get some fresh petrol to start the bike then pour back the older stuff and use it. I would not waste money on the stabilizer, Iâd rather just buy new petrol. You will never get me to waste my money on it... ever.

Les

Previously wrote:

Hi Andrew. I have only ever known petrol to go off if it was vented to the outside air thus allowing the volatile gases to escape and thus change the concentration and eventually the viscosity. Perhaps over many years there might be a chemical change but not weeks.I know there will be lots of people saying that it does though but unless they are professional petroleum chemists, I'll ignore them.

It is true that fuel left in the carb float chambers will evaporate and leave a residue, but you should adopt the age old routine of turning off the petrol at a known distance from your house so that the engine just about dies when you arrive. If you use the bike daily, this technique will also save quite a bit of fuel over a year too. If you have an empty float bowl, it cannot gum up. You may also consider putting some âBlue Tackâ or tape over the vent hole too, if you are leaving the bike for over a week or two but only after the engine has cooled down as the engine heat does drive off quite a bit of fuel by heating the tank.

If you are leaving the bike over an extended period, surely it would be cheaper to make sure you donât have too much petrol left in the tank, and you can then drain it off and keep it in a sealed petrol container, it is a very simple thing to do.When you are back to regular use, get some fresh petrol to start the bike then pour back the older stuff and use it. I would not waste money on the stabilizer, Iâd rather just buy new petrol. You will never get me to waste my money on it... ever.

Les

CORRECTION:

MISSED A COUPLE OF WORDS OUT: I have only ever known petrol to go off if it was vented to the outside air FOR AVERY LONG TIME...etc

Les