Drain tank? Gas too old?

[bpreynolds]

Finally getting back out to work on the ongoing never ending story of the Triumph Thunderbird Sport project that I began about a year ago.  Hoping to bolt up new sprockets and install new chain today.  If I am lucky - I won't be - I might even fire the bike up later.  But my question here involves the carbs (all cursed 3 of them) and the gas that is in there.  The bike has been sitting on the lift in the garage for about 5 months now.  Had new gas in the tank when I put it there.  Is it still good?  The way the TBS is setup, it's a small pain to drain the tank either via the petcock or the bottoms of the carbs so I am hoping the gas is still good?  Should or could I add a small something to it to enliven it a bit or run as is?  Or just drain it? 

[Cam3512]

I think you're good. Pour in some Seafoam for good measure.

[rocker59]

I use Sta-Bil and Seafoam.

I'd second the idea of dashing some Seafoam into the fuel and calling it good.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'll third it.

[Lcarlson]

Stabilizer can't hurt -- I use Startron, which claims to use a somewhat different technology (enzyme). It also claims to preserve fuel for two years, twice as long as Stabil, which I used for years.

[Sheepdog]

My Bonneville had 3 month old gas in it after my tractor accident this past July. It was tough to get it started back in November and when I did start, it ran badly. Even after adding Seafoam it sputtered and missed. The old gas had 10% Ethanol. Once I filled up with no-ethanol premium (I have 2 such stations nearby), it ran beautifully. If the old gas has ethanol, I advise you remove it.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I can send you a gallon of 30 year old gas that came out of my Eldorado project.
That should dilute it down a bit

Guarantee no Ethanol

Stinks a bit though

[Sasquatch Jim]

Aaahh! Vintage gas!

[K250]

PB, just my 2 cents -    The float bowls have probably let enough of the good stuff evaporate out that what is left in there will just get sucked into the combustion chamber and coat the plugs with a mess that won't burn.

If you don't want to drain it all, consider draining the float bowls, siphoning whatever you can get out of the tank out, fill the tank with fresh premium no ethanol if you can find it, shake the bike around to mix it up as best you can, then let some of that prime down into the float bowls and then fire it.   At least do that.  Two cents.   Good luck.

[Chuck in Indiana]

PB, just my 2 cents -    The float bowls have probably let enough of the good stuff evaporate out that what is left in there will just get sucked into the combustion chamber and coat the plugs with a mess that won't burn.

If you don't want to drain it all, consider draining the float bowls, siphoning whatever you can get out of the tank out, fill the tank with fresh premium no ethanol if you can find it, shake the bike around to mix it up as best you can, then let some of that prime down into the float bowls and then fire it.   At least do that.  Two cents.   Good luck.

I thought it was injected? Carbs are a different story, of course..

[stevet]

If in doubt, throw it out.  Drain the carbs if possible.  Siphon the tank the best you can, dump in a nice dose of fuel system cleaner (I think Seafoam is also a fuel system cleaner along with being a fuel stabilizer) like Chevron Techron, Lucas, or other name brand system cleaner, maybe a bit on the heavy side of a normal dose.  Then fill the tank with non-corn juice gasoline and start it up.  Hopefully the corn free gas and the system cleaner will do their magic on the carbs.

http://www.techronworks.com/en-US/products.html#.VosMMVlgy70
http://lucasoil.com/products

Could spraying down the emptied carbs with carb cleaner help before sending through the new gas?

Before doing any of these ideas, you could just cross your fingers and hit the starter.  Who knows, you might be lucky.  Might still need to clean the spark plugs afterward.

Steve.

[K250]

  Might still need to clean the spark plugs afterward.

Again my two cents only, but once a set of plugs gets coated to the point they need cleaned, they are never as good again.   

Edit was to remove un needed words.

[lucian]

5 months, if ethanol I would at least drain the bowls, that's where you'll find the h2o. I also try and catch the old in a clear cup so I can witness the nasty's. If you find jelly like crud it's time to give the carbs a good cleaning. But If the gas already had stabilizer you will be golden.

[bpreynolds]

All the input here very greatly appreciated.  I think what I'll try and do is drain the bowls, drop some cleaner in the tank, shake it up, and give it a go.  Worse comes to worse I'll just have to pull the carbs and clean them again (a small monster of a job on the triple as they only slide out the side from a ridiculously tight fit). 

[Aaron D.]

I'd push the button. I bet a dollar it starts.

[chuck peterson]

Seafoam and or Startron or Stabil with every fresh tank keeps the gas goo away

[Mike Tashjian]

I like to start with the tank full to minimize fuel problems. Non Ethanol when possible and stabilizer of some kind if the bike is not going to be run in more than a month.  If your weather conditions are less than ideal and your tank is not full, it will not take long for fuel with Ethanol to cause problems.  I would siphon some fuel from the bottom of the tank into a coffee can and see what it looks like.  Bad gas will be easy to see as the fuel in the can should be clear. Any cloudiness or separation visible and the fuel should be drained. Water can be easily seen as it separates immediately. Questionable fuel goes to my riding lawnmower which seems to run fine on it.  Mike   

[Chuck in Indiana]

All the input here very greatly appreciated.  I think what I'll try and do is drain the bowls, drop some cleaner in the tank, shake it up, and give it a go.  Worse comes to worse I'll just have to pull the carbs and clean them again (a small monster of a job on the triple as they only slide out the side from a ridiculously tight fit).

You should try to pull the carbs on the early Honda V4. Four of em on a manifold siamesed between the V. 

[JeffOlson]

I always use stale gas in my lawn mover. In the spring, it coughs and sputters, but it eventually fires up. The gas must be two years old by now...

[George_S]

Don't just dump cleaner in the tank. Siphon the old gas out, into a container, and then dump that into your car or truck and fill that vehicle and also the bike with fresh gas and cleaner.

[Aaron D.]

My goodness. 5 month old gas? I wouldn't even think about all this. Even my old points-equipped tractor would deal with that. Ethanol or no.

[George_S]

Yeah but that was back in the days when gas was gas. The crap they sell now can begin to turn to varnish in 3 or 4 weeks.

[Aaron D.]

Nope. Ethanol at 10%, only 18 months since I got a different tractor.

Heck, I start bikes in spring all the time with 4 month old gas in them.

[George_S]

Then keep buying whatever brand you are using. You are basically rolling the dice at 4 months.
There are many problems reported every spring when it's time to take the bike or boat out of storage.

I'm also told that Stabil made for marine use is blue, and is supposed to be better and stay fresh longer than the Stabil red we see at the auto parts stores.

[Vagrant]

even if it runs it has a much lower octane level and it WILL varnish the piston and rings. it is especially hard on 2 cycle and small engines.

[Aaron D.]

Has anyone here actually measured the octane in their fuel? Or pulled down an engine after running "old" gas and said "My God, look at the varnish?"

[Vagrant]

dozens of 2 cycles. the piston either seizes or it looses power. looks like it was painted with varnish but has plenty of oil in the mix. you can tell by the oil present under the rings. when run without oil they will pull every last bit of existing oil from the bearings and behind the rings.
The comment is always, "but the fuel is only x months old."
 gas is $2.00 a gallon. use the old S... if you want.

[bpreynolds]

Nobody was asking for an update here and my specific result doesn't prove anything one way nor another per se, but I did finally get everything back together, threw a little treatment in the gas, cranked it and...nope.  Drained gas, put in new, cranked it and...nope.  Gonna test the plug tonight to make sure I'm getting a spark there as the bike is turning over but not giving any hint of firing per se.  Since the bike was running prior, I fully assume the gas has done a number on the carbs but who knows - and one never knows with this T-Bird it seems - maybe I can add an ignition problem to the list as well 

[guzzisteve]

Did you spray some ether in it? Goes boom, it's got spark!  I had a ign pick up fail on a customers, they all go bad between 60-90Kmi. It would go cold, sensor warms up & it died.

[bpreynolds]

Did you spray some ether in it? Goes boom, it's got spark!  I had a ign pick up fail on a customers, they all go bad between 60-90Kmi. It would go cold, sensor warms up & it died.

Thanks, Steve.  I actually replaced mine during the remodel/rebuild this past year along with a new thermostat as well since I was trying to diagnose why the bike - back then, at least - was dying when warmed up.