On not having fallen off

[Steffan]

I set off yesterday for Aberystwyth on the Skorpion. Called to see the parish secretary and then out of town only to have the recently electrically sorted bike come to a popping and banging halt, over to reserve and we managed another couple of hundred metres before popping and banging to another halt.

Checked the tank and there was plenty of fuel, so I drained the carb bowl and with a lot of popping and banging and bit of pushing we got back to the vicarage. Off came the tank and on draining the contents into a bucket (2) I found what looked like water but on inspection appeared more like stringy silicon. I put everything back sans the crud and off we went, an hour late but without incident.

On checking with Graham's IE MR MZ supplier, he tells me it is ethanol eating my tank and that I should use hi octane fuel as they don't put ethanol into this product, anyone else experienced similar?

Steff

[Mark]

Modern petrol is sh1t, how long has it been in the tank, it will absorb water and rust your tank as well as go off and not ignite properly, a bit longer and it becomes really cruddy and will evapourate from your carbs and leave black tar in your jets.

The super fuel is definitely better and lasts longer but not sure if it is ethanol free, I am now trying a fuel stabilizer at the moment(although I don't really believe they can work miracles) Briggs and Stratton Fuel Fit.

It may be worth POR15 lining you tank if it can shield it from the ethanol.

I would like to hear other views on the above.

Mark

[Richard]

My understanding is that some of the fuel tank liners are also dissolving in ethanol.

[Mark]

Some, and plastic tanks and fiberglass tanks, it was be so good for the environment.

[themoudie]

Skorpion tank is blow moulded plastic job, so no point in POR15 etc.

If the bikes off the road for the winter, drain the tank and carbies, put some 2stroke oil in and slosh it about to coat the inside of the tank.

Infrequent use of the bike, say within 6 week intervals, Wynn's 'Dry Fuel', Miller's VSPe or Miller's VSP octane booster and a drop of 2 stroke oil at 50:1. All available from Halfrauds, cheaper than online and 'Frost's' in many cases. The 2stroke just helps lubricate the top end on start up after standing idle for any length of time.

Briggs and Stratton fuel stabiliser works as well, just my local supplier 'charges' for the pleasure!

'Super fuel' is not ethanol free, just the cheap crap with some more octane boosters/detergents and some extra stabilisers. If you want real poke, the 'quality' straight pump fuel 50:50 with Avgas is the route and make sure you pay the tax etc and speak to a knowledgable engineer first.

Hope the 'snot' remains banished Steffan.

My regards, Bill.

[themoudie]

Further to my last post, this man is recommended by the Norton singles engineer "Pushrod Performance" and is based in Cawston, Norwich, Norfolk:

FUEL_TANK_REPAIR_ETHANOL_RESISTANT_RESIN

I hope this helps.

My regards, Bill.

[Mark]

Cheers for the info Bill.

What is says on the labels http://www.halfords.com/wcsstore/libraries/document/millersvsp.pdf

Just found this, said simply for people like me. http://fulloctane.com/article/1/why-does-fuel-go-stale/

[Steve Lake]

this man is recommended by the Norton singles engineer "Pushrod Performance" and is based in Cawston, Norwich, Norfolk:
FUEL_TANK_REPAIR_ETHANOL_RESISTANT_RESIN
I hope this helps.
My regards, Bill.

This guy is 10 miles from me.. if you want me to check it out i'll ride over there and have a butchers...

cheers

[welland99]

So what exactly was the stringy stuff?  Do we presume that it is some product of the ethanol eating the tank?

And what exactly what caused the engine to stop?  Was the fuel pipe blocked, or were the carb jets blocked?

I have heard that some have prevented the carb jets blocking by the fitment of an inline fuel filter, but that wouldn't help if the fuel pipe is actually blocked. 

[Steffan]

I don't know is the answer, it looks like dirty water in the bottom of the tank but when you isolate it it has a sort of stingy look to it. I had it once before and it made the petrol cloudy until it settled out.  The bike coughs and sputters, pops and bangs and then stops, restarts and then does it all over, like water in the tank.

Steff

[Richard]

Sounds like what I dug out of the bottom of the MZ carb a while back.

Modern petrol really does appear to be crap.

[themoudie]

Aye Steffan,

Condensation and ethanol breakdown, rather than eating your tank, I suspect.

Link to a site giving information on restance of differing plastics to ethanol degredation: Engineering_Toolbox

If you keep the bike in an unheated garage, or lean-to etc, view the condensation on the outside of the petrol tank and crankcases, when the weather turns warm. Same thing is going on inside the tank and the motor. Hence, the de-watering fuel additives, drain off the carbie float bowl and the thorough 'warm-up' of a motor, to evaporate the condensate.

My regards, Bill.