mixing additives

[big r]

I have a question for the more experienced FJers here. Would cause a problem if I mixed a couple of additives  in my gas. I.E. stabil and seafoam. I am thinking that Father Pat could probably answer this one. I haven't gone thru a tank of gas yet and was pondering this. Any thoughts gentlemen. Thanks Big R

[fintip]

Marvel mystery motor oil won't hurt.

Then again, it likely won't help much, either. Unless you are running hot and want a temporary, small cooling effect, since it's basically light oil.

There's also the small chance of dislodging something.

Most additives are basically snake oil, but most won't hurt either.

If you're storing your bike, of course, stabil is good for storing the bike for winter.

[racerman_27410]

I dont believe addititives are necessary for normal running...I'm usually burning thru the fuel too fast to think about adding anything extra to it  .

however i am a huge fan of startron fuel stabilizer (sold at walmart) for when the bike is going to be parked for extended periods.

its the only stuff i've found that does the trick with ethanol laced fuels.

http://mystarbrite.com/startron/

KOokaloo!   

[movenon]

I dont believe addititives are necessary for normal running...I'm usually burning thru the fuel too fast to think about adding anything extra to it  .

however i am a huge fan of startron fuel stabilizer (sold at walmart) for when the bike is going to be parked for extended periods.

its the only stuff i've found that does the trick with ethanol laced fuels.

http://mystarbrite.com/startron/

KOokaloo!   

I have started to add a little Startron with every fill up. Usually only about a eyeball 1/2 ounce per fill up. During the Winter I load it heavy in all my gas powered stuff. Starts right up in the spring. For me it works ! At most Walmarts usually in the boat / RV supply area. Around here seems all the bike shops also sell it.
George

[Pat Conlon]

Yep, +1 what Frank said..StarTron seems the best I've found (so far) for *hot* weather storage. I store the bikes in the hot summer months. For the first time this year, after the WCR, I'm going to drain the fuel bowls. Even with StarTron all the fuel still evaporates in the carb bowls leaving residue.

I don't know anything about cold weather storage or mixing additives.

[andyb]

Mix enough additives and you can go lean.

You can use a proper storage fuel or drain the carbs, if you're having difficulty with them gumming up.

[HARTLESS]

I've used marvels and techron. Marvels was already talked about and I agree. Techron is made by chevron of course who is the leading edge in gas "production" ( and has Been for many, many years) so that's why I use it. Of coarse techron is in all chevron gas but  the additive you buy is more concentrated. Don't really notice
A difference in mpg or performance ( obviously) but I like to use it
To help keep the fuel system clean. I think the most important thing is to not
Use cheap gas such as arco. I learned the hard way with my escort....

[fintip]

For whatever a sourceless statement is worth, I recall hearing from someone with authority saying that all gas, even 'cheap' gas, in the US, came from the same place, and that there wasn't good evidence that additives made any real difference.

Lots of people who ride bikes through mexico note that their bikes seem to run better on Mexican gas. Which is red, by the way.

Ah well. We all have our little superstitions.

[yamaha fj rider]

Since they started putting ethanol in the gas, I have had my carbs apart more than all the years before combined. So I now use Lucas Safeguard ethanol fuel conditioner with stabilizers, works great!!! Last fall after braking my arm, all riding stopped late September. I had this in the bike at the time, this spring bikes fired right up and so did the lawn mower, pressure washer, gas trimmer, everything else. Works great and is available every where. I have on affiliation with this company or this product. Hope this helps.

Kurt 

[Dan Filetti]

As others have said, for dealing with the ethanol crap in the gas, StarTron works great.

I did, on a whim, buy some Suzuki fuel injector cleaner.  I was having a very slight intermittent cough at idle on the GSXR that I was occasionally annoyed by. The stealer swore by the stuff so I decided to try it -what the hell -it was only $7.

I pushed the motor HARD (high RPM as well as low RPM lugging) for the entire tank, and it seems to, knock wood, resolved the cough.  Not sure if it was giving the motor a much needed workout, or the stuff, but again, it seems to have resolved itself. 


I have good personal experience that the StarTron product works to keep the carbs from gumming up with Ethanol gas sitting in them.  The verdict is out on whether purpose-made snake oils are any help.

Dan 

[HARTLESS]

For whatever a sourceless statement is worth, I recall hearing from someone with authority saying that all gas, even 'cheap' gas, in the US, came from the same place, and that there wasn't good evidence that additives made any real difference.

Lots of people who ride bikes through mexico note that their bikes seem to run better on Mexican gas. Which is red, by the way.

Ah well. We all have our little superstitions.

Could be right. I did do a days worth of research on the topic of cheap gas and found that the oil may be from the same place, but the quality in which it's refined and distributed
Is different( my info comes from the net, so take it with a grain of salt, though it was fairly consistent). Supposedly like I said before chevron is suppose to be the best and they own a couple chains like texaco( I beleive) and so they would be the same gas. Arco and others wouldn't. Now that I say that I do use chevron because it's suppose to have superior additives as well but it does have a 10% ethanol content in which I am not fond of( at least where I fill up in Oregon) and from what I have found most of the local cheap places don't have the ethanol.

Really when it comes down to it, it's superstition and preference like anything else involving oil! But then again, there is a top tier gasoline list... Conspiracy? Who knows