An Observation, And A Question.

[Bob Denman]

After breaking my RT out of storage, the fuel mileage has been pretty... poor! :shocked:
I had been averaging 35 to 36 mpg, and the trip to Missouri (At Extra-Legal Speeds!), was usually around 34 mpg.
But now: things seem to be getting back to normal. My most recent tankful was for 203.4 miles, and I took 5.111 gallons. That's back up to 39.8 mpg! :yes:
Could this have been the result of the fuel stabilizer that I dumped in the tank last Fall? I was pretty darn liberal in my application of it. Would it take this long, for it to all get worked out of the tank? :dontknow:
Thanks!

 

[ARtraveler]

I am guessing a combination of fuel stabilizer and winter gas blend. Don't know when yours is at the gas pumps but guessing its about the time you put the :spyder2: to bed.

I experience the same thing on the first couple tanks.

 

[Bob Denman]

We always have the 10% Ethanol mix in our fuel around here... I don't know what else they do for Wintertime, but it sure could have been that...
Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[PMK]

Very unlikely the mileage was poor long term from the winter stabilizer that you added in regards to affecting the burn of the fuel.

I would suspect the stabilizer you used had less than ideal properties in regards to protecting engine components. Possibly the stabilized had allowed corrosion, swelling of fuel injector seals or gumming up of fuel injectors, or in extreme cases left deposits on the O2 sensor.

Sadly many posts on Spyderlovers take on a herd mentality and these can be possible outcomes. Something may work well for one person and not well for others.

It seemed very few people listened when I mentioned the fuel stabilizer I use year round, every tankful unless on a multi fill up trip.

From experience of using the fuel stabilizer that many people here love, I found that it had very poor results and corrosion concerns in my 2 hp lawn edger. Relatives have used the same product in attempts to store their generators, almost like winterizing until the ext hurricane season, only to find out they are in trouble since the generator run poorly if at all.

Bob, I do not know what you stabilized with, you can share if you care too. If you search, there is good info, that is well supported posted here in my previous posts.

My guess is the stabilizer did a substandard level of protection. With use hopefully things are overcoming the winter storage.

All the best.

 

[Bob Denman]

Previously; I had used Sta-bil.
For this year's "Long Winter Nap" (Actually, it was only five weeks..), I gave StarTron a try.
Truthfully: I DID "over-medicate" my bike. I probably used about double what they suggest... pps:

 

[PMK]

Previously; I had used Sta-bil.
For this year's "Long Winter Nap" (Actually, it was only five weeks..), I gave StarTron a try.
Truthfully: I DID "over-medicate" my bike. I probably used about double what they suggest... pps:

Bob, I will get flamed on this. Sta-bil was better than Star-Tron, but both failed for me compared to what I use now.

Both of those products always had corrosion sediment, that made me have to fix the carbs on the lawn edger. Bad enough it would not run or ran a while then dies from the corrosion particles floating about in the float bowl.

Not telling anyone what to do or run, simply sharing experience.

Again, all the best.

 

[irvin48]

bob, i think we are all guilty of that. ive used stabil, seafoam, startron
and never had trouble. i dont know what the best is but im always open
to listen to anyone.

pmk- what is the potion of the day that works best for you ?--irv

 

[spyderCodes]

If I am going to store something for 6 months or longer, I might use Stabil.
Shorter than that, I fill the tank up and add nothing.

 

[SteveLaoyster]

What to use??

Bob, I will get flamed on this. Sta-bil was better than Star-Tron, but both failed for me compared to what I use now.

Both of those products always had corrosion sediment, that made me have to fix the carbs on the lawn edger. Bad enough it would not run or ran a while then dies from the corrosion particles floating about in the float bowl.

Not telling anyone what to do or run, simply sharing experience.

Again, all the best.

So what do you use now?? That's strange you had problems with Star-Tron. Had a coworker that did a test with Star-Tron on gas in a quart jar. Plain gas sitting for 2 weeks got black specks in the bottom. Put Star-tron in, shook it up & let it sit 2 more weeks, no specks.

 

[grumpybob]

We always have the 10% Ethanol mix in our fuel around here... I don't know what else they do for Wintertime, but it sure could have been that...
Thanks! :thumbup:

I always run non ethanol 91 octane gas. Use Sta-Bil at twice the recommended portion and have had no problems. I do the same with my sled, & side by sides when I store them
.

 

[Mazo EMS2]

I've had good luck with Stabil, but I always use the green stuff, NOT the red. Supposedly the green has better ethanol compatability/treatment. My first tank of fuel after storage of anything, gets a little Seafoam added to it, then it's just straight gas for the season. I've never had an issue doing this, on anything

 

[PMK]

I use Yamalube Fuel Med RX.

You can do all the test you want in a glass jar, glass does not corrode or swell.

I also suspect that the relative humidity can overpower the Star Trons ability to stop phase separation.

It's not simply trying to keep the gas from going stale and causing the engine to run poorly.

The fuel if stabilized properly will not phase separate easily or at all, and with no separation there is no alcohol absorbing water, which then causes corrosion.

 

[Bob Denman]

Fuel Med RX?

Thanks, Paul! :clap:

You're:

:2thumbs:

 

[BajaRon]

Fuel stabilizer (especially in ethanol fuel) keeps it from destroying everything. But the fuel still deteriorates as far as energy value goes. Combine that with a winter fuel which is already degraded in that respect, and you've got a pretty disappointing fuel mix.

Doing what you did is much better than leaving the ethanol fuel untreated. Your Spyder should start and run well enough. But depending on how low you let your fuel get before filling up, it may take several tanks to get everything out of there. You might want to dump some high quality fuel treatment in your tank to help the process along.

If at all possible. Try to use a non-ethanol fuel for storage. Even regular will be much superior to any ethanol blend. You would still want to use a stabilizer. But you'll notice a much happier Spyder come next spring.

 

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for that tip! :clap:
We've got a couple of sources for non-ethanol fuels around here now; I'll have to start visiting them!

 

[Sam Mac]

Bob

Just my 2 cents but I never store any of my stuff with gas that has ethanol in it and non of my small engines even get ethanol during the season. I'm a moderator for a Cub Cadet site and the amount of problems in the spring are unbelievable. Check this site for no ethanol gas http://www.pure-gas.org/ Oh and EPA wants to increase the ethanol content from 10 percent to 15 percent. Local Shell station used to have 93 no ethanol but now they only have 89 no ethanol. Spyder will have to deal with it. Ethanol belongs in booze not gas.

 

[kngfsh27]

Bob,
Stop asking questions.

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: Why? Aren't we here to learn? :dontknow:

i've found two ways to learn:
From questions
From mistakes

I've learned to try and use the former...

 

[PMK]

Bob are you planning to swap to Yamalube Fuel Med RX?

I buy it by the box and get a bunch of small bottles that are for 5 gallons. Just pretty close right for an empty Spyder.

Add Yamalube, fill tank, enjoy.

As I mentioned there is more to all this than fuel stabilizing, corrosion is a factor too. I do not consider all fuel conditioners to have good anti corrosion properties.

 

[kngfsh27]

:shocked: Why? Are n't we here to learn? :dontknow:

i've found two ways to learn:
From questions
From mistakes

I've learned to try and use the former...

When it comes to gas mileage, just enjoy the ride.