2017 Stelvio - Gas Tank Cracking due to Ethanol in our fuel!!

[TommyR]

Hello fellow Stelvio owners. Over the last few weeks several bulging cracks started to appear in the outer skin of my gas tank. I just did a quick Google search to find to my utter horror that it's a common problem with these blow molded painted tanks, apparently the plastic reacts to the ethanol in our fuel. Seems like Ducati has the same issue. More concerning is some rumor that plastic particles loosen off inside the tank and can get lodged into the fuel injection system. So, on top of a myriad of electrical issues, my tank is now on it's way out.  Has anyone had this gas tank problem before....and what did you do about it?

With thanks - Tom

[Kiwi_Roy]

Don't use Ethanol, its as simple as that, its ok to use when you can't find anything else but at the end of a trip you should be on Ethanol free gas.

[TommyR]

Thanks Kiwi_Roy, all good but pretty much every pump in the USA has 10% to 20% Ethanol, and when i`m riding an 8 day tour i`m probably not going to hunt around for ethanol free gas every time i have to fill up. The damage is done though, had my dealer told ne to avoid ethanol from the start, or had the Stelvio owners manual stated to avoid it, i`d not have the problem (i`d probably have skipped buying the bike).

[TommyR]

A quick Google search reveals no less than 23 gas stations across the entirety of California sell Ethanol free gas. Tough to avoid the stuff.....

[TommyR]

If any other Stelvio owners 2011-2017 have this issue, then i`d suggest we mount a class action lawsuit against MG USA. I work in the Automotive Engineering Industry and anything to do with Gas or Vapor escaping from a cracked fuel storage system is 1. Regulated under Federal and State Environment protection & Emissions laws 2. Is deemed safety critical because in the event of an accident, it's more likely a fire can break out.

Come back to me if interested to discuss further. Cheers - Tom.

[Tkelly]

Interesting.Until a trip to NC this summer I always used premium, usually alcohol free and have had no problems in 63000 miles.I just started using regular to save money when a friend recommended it,and I can’t tell any difference in performance.It sounds like the solution is to burn premium on local trips and regular if you are going to burn it quickly and store it with premium alcohol free.Does that make sense?As for a lawsuit,how much is a replacement tank and labor to replace the old one?There would have to be huge numbers of plaintiffs for any lawyer to take the case.

[Motormike]

There's really nothing practical that can be done about it (other than selling the bike I suppose).  If you tour on the bike, you're going to be stuck with Ethanol gas more often than not.  I have the "Pure Gas" app. on my phone and it's still a royal PITA and completely ridiculous to plan a ride around what gas stations sell non-ethanol gas.  The only "permanent" solution (and I put that in quotes for a very good reason, maybe permanent, maybe not) is to coat the inside of a new tank (or a used one in excellent condition) with Caswell epoxy coating.  A lot of Ducati owners have done this, including myself, with good results so far.  It seals  the inside of the tank from the effects of the ethanol, but doing it yourself is no small task.  The coating must cover every inside centimeter of the tank to be successful.  On a large tank like on the Stelvio, that's a tall order, but not impossible. 

[Perazzimx14]

E-10 fuel has been around for along time now. I wonder how long manufactures will claim that is the culprit of all these ills. Early on I agree it might have been an issue but 3 decades later I cannot believe manufacturers have not solved for it yet. If they haven't then the blame is on them for making an inferior product that is not compatible with commonly avalaible fuel.

[Bisbee]

Maverick stations in Arizona have ethanol free. Octane is lower than 91, though. I’ll give it a try. No issues with my 2017 yet. I wonder if repeated parking in the hot sun might be an issue. My Stelvio will vent from the tank for quite awhile after parking inside. If that vent were to clog , the tank would definitely develop bulges.

[mr_pacman]

When did MG introduce the plastic tank back into the market? I thought they were all steel after the 2011 model year?

Is the chrome plated tank on my 2014 V7 racer also plastic as it feels like metal to me?

[Bisbonian]

When did MG introduce the plastic tank back into the market? I thought they were all steel after the 2011 model year?

Is the chrome plated tank on my 2014 V7 racer also plastic as it feels like metal to me?

The V7 is not the same bike as a Stelvio.

[blackcat]

"Over the last few weeks several bulging cracks started to appear in the outer skin of my gas tank."

Can you post a photo?

[Iron Cross Junction]

"Over the last few weeks several bulging cracks started to appear in the outer skin of my gas tank."

Can you post a photo?

 

 

Tom, as you have seen from the posts, above, many of us feel your pain.

I have not, however, seen the "bulging cracks" you describe.

My own experiences with this have been limited to (1) the tanks porking up to the point that I cannot reseat the rear bolt that fixes the tank to the frame, and (2) getting "acne" with pimples appearing in various places all over the surface.

My "solution" is to have two tanks (!) for the Norge and Griso.  I bought those along the way when opportunities arose.

I swap those out from time to time -- think winter when I can't ride and the Moto Grappa is a handy refuge from  .   

The one coming off gets rinsed well and dries for the next season.  When I do that, the tanks "shrink" to original size and the pimples recede. 

This is, of course, yet another YMMV situation.

Best wishes,

Bill

[Dilliw]

Same issue with the Griso.  Luckily there is ethanol free right down the road from my storage unit, so I just have to plan to arrive empty. I cut it a little close this last time!

My tank had one crack and several pimples when I got it.  By not allowing ethanol to sit in there the pimples have disappeared and I can barely see the crack.  Still run the ethanol on the road, however.

Oh, and the Griso gets better mpg on 87 regular...

[blackcat]

 

Tom, as you have seen from the posts, above, many of us feel your pain.

I have not, however, seen the "bulging cracks" you describe.

My own experiences with this have been limited to (1) the tanks porking up to the point that I cannot reseat the rear bolt that fixes the tank to the frame, and (2) getting "acne" with pimples appearing in various places all over the surface.

My "solution" is to have two tanks (!) for the Norge and Griso.  I bought those along the way when opportunities arose.

I swap those out from time to time -- think winter when I can't ride and the Moto Grappa is a handy refuge from  .   

The one coming off gets rinsed well and dries for the next season.  When I do that, the tanks "shrink" to original size and the pimples recede. 

This is, of course, yet another YMMV situation.

Best wishes,

Bill

I have an extra tank for the 07 Norge which is brand new but my original tank is just swollen to the point of not being able to install the rear bolt and it's been that way for about 5 years or maybe longer. I haven't seen any distortions, cracks, pimples, etc., in fact to the naked eye it looks as new.  Maybe I'll drain the tank someday and let it sit for a month or so and see what happens and if it goes back to it's original size or a size that will enable me to mount the bolt then I'll try the tank rotation.