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How many people run stable or start frequently?

Stable or not?

  • Yes I put a gas treatment in

    Votes: 446 59.4%
  • No, I use no treatments and start motor several times a summer

    Votes: 199 26.5%
  • No, I use nothing at all and do not start and never had any problems

    Votes: 107 14.2%

  • Total voters
    751
IMHO you should drain all gas out of the entire fuel system, especially important if you burn ethanol. Pour some 2 stroke on top of the pistons and pull the engine over a few times. DON'T start it up once in a while during the summer unless you get it up to operating temp. If you just start it up and run it for a few minutes you will get condensation in you cases and bearing pitting. In humid climates it's even worse.
 
There was a thread about this a while back and a chemist tested every brand of fuel stabilizer out there and stabil and seafoam did not work at all to treat ethanol gas. The gas still gummed up and formed that yellowish skum we all know about. The guy who tested all of these products suggested a brand known as GasRx to use as a stabil since that was the only product that prevented separation of the gas. This is what I'll be using in my sled and all of my other products when I store them.

http://www.enertechlabs.com/gasoline_additives.php
 
Just use Startron all the time, a couple ounces to 5 gallons. You can let it sit for a year and no probs. I use it in everything, mowers, generators, dirtbikes, 4 wheelers. Absolutely not one problem ever.
 
IMO, its not a good procedure to start the engine over the summer. Not for the fact of bad fuel but the fact of condensation from the air entering the engine and becoming trapped. This will cause rust or corrosion. Its better to have a full tank of fuel, Use a stabilizer (its not that expensive), Run the engine til the stabilizer gets through all the lines, Shut the fuel line off if possible, Fog the engine until it shuts off, spray some fogging oil down the spark plug holes and turn it over a few times, let it sit until you are going to ride again, then empty the tank and put fresh fuel in it.

I don't fully agree. With the two cylinder motor, (correct if wrong) one cylinder is always open on top. So what I'm saying is when the iron warms up in the day and cools of at night. The open cylinder will get condensation inside regardless.
I feel starting the engine will re-coat the inside of the motor with oil AND flush out any moisture.
Thoughts?
 
I don't fully agree. With the two cylinder motor, (correct if wrong) one cylinder is always open on top. So what I'm saying is when the iron warms up in the day and cools of at night. The open cylinder will get condensation inside regardless.
I feel starting the engine will re-coat the inside of the motor with oil AND flush out any moisture.
Thoughts?

That's the reason for the fogging and oil in the cylinders, keeps 'em coated. When you start it during the summer you're washing off the oil, letting moisture condense as the engine cools after you run it. Especially in high moisture climates.

I was a dealer for 20yrs, can't tell you how many guys with sad faces came into the shop after 25 miles into the new season with frozen cranks. They'd say "but I started it once a month all summer" ----worst thing they could do!

Fog 'em and forget 'em.
 
IMHO you should drain all gas out of the entire fuel system, especially important if you burn ethanol. Pour some 2 stroke on top of the pistons and pull the engine over a few times. DON'T start it up once in a while during the summer unless you get it up to operating temp. If you just start it up and run it for a few minutes you will get condensation in you cases and bearing pitting. In humid climates it's even worse.

Ummm, no. Not machines with submerged fuel pumps anyway. Need to leave enough in the tank to keep the pump wet so teh seals don't dry out over time.
Anything with carbs, I do as you say and drain/run the gas out of it. EFI, dose the fuel before layup and run it long enough to get stabilized fuel trhu the entire system.
 
Out east on the Tug Hill Plateau in N Y we have non ethanol hi test gas available at several on trail locations ..Luckily one is across from my snowmobile camp
(thats an adirondak term for house).I am still nervous about ethanol being in the fuel.I store with and combination of Sea Foam and Marine Stabil and fog, I add both throughout the riding season for mostly frozen gas line issues .Sea Foam is always cleaning my carbs and Marine Stabil in case I have to get regular fuel. Since i started this and I'm talking about small amounts , I have not had any issues. Sea Foam is a great fuel additive ..My wife just bought a used Scion TC . I just put a full bottle of Sea Foam in the tank . I had her take a ride in the car them let it sit overnight .Next day she noticed that the car was running smoother and seemed faster ..
 
Out east on the Tug Hill Plateau in N Y we have non ethanol hi test gas available at several on trail locations ..Luckily one is across from my snowmobile camp
(thats an adirondak term for house).I am still nervous about ethanol being in the fuel.I store with and combination of Sea Foam and Marine Stabil and fog, I add both throughout the riding season for mostly frozen gas line issues .Sea Foam is always cleaning my carbs and Marine Stabil in case I have to get regular fuel. Since i started this and I'm talking about small amounts , I have not had any issues. Sea Foam is a great fuel additive ..My wife just bought a used Scion TC . I just put a full bottle of Sea Foam in the tank . I had her take a ride in the car them let it sit overnight .Next day she noticed that the car was running smoother and seemed faster ..

I was also in your situation thinking seafoam was ok for storage until I pulled apart my carbs on my dirt bike and older carbed sleds. The gas still separates. It may however be a good additive for cleaning injectors and things like that in a car or to run some in your sled periodically. This will lead to it driving and running smoother. Seafoam as well as stability don't work with ethanol gasoline. They might have some effect on 91 octane non ethanol gas for storage. Do what you want cuz everyone does anyways, but this is what I've found.
 
Seafoam in everything I own that sits for any period of time. No ethenal in anything of mine with small engine or two stroke!
 
Run non ethanol fuel. Start it every 4weeks or so. Run it on the grass at different throttle positions then cool the radiator with a hose. Drain all the fuel out in Nov (dump in wife's rig) and replace with fresh non ethanol. Good to go. NON ETHANOL GAS IS THE KEY.
 
I tried out the Amsoil treatments last year and tore the carbs down this fall to see how everything looked. The jets were as clean as new ones yet after sitting since March. The year prior I used Stabil and tore down a set of carbs just a little over 2 months into the off-season and they were already badly tarnished. We don't have the luxury of running up town for some Non-Ethanol gas and for those that do.... it's just a matter of time before the Government has it shoved down your throat also.

Check out the products, I use the Quickshot and Stabilizer with good results (in 13 sleds).
 
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My brother in law subscribes to the start once a month theory. In a carbed sled that might work somewhat but in CFI sled, that really accomplishes nothing and it certainly doesn't do anything for the gas. This winter he left the old unstabilized gas in and went riding. He burned both of his 800's down, one on the first ride out and the other one on the 2nd ride.

I stabilize with either Stabil or Startron and so far haven't had any issues. We usually go for a mild ride cutting Christmas trees the first ride out and I burn up as much of the old gas as possible and then start adding fresh again. I use 91 octane e10.
 
Witchhunter Performance does a great job and is used the sled stuff.

They also give you a full report on what they were doing and what they are after the clean.

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http://www.witchhunter.com/

About $20 each for peace of mind.
I DO THE SAME FOR THOES IN THE IDAHO AREA
 
I use Yamaha Fuel Med RX with every tank of gas in every sled, regardless of make. If the gas sits over 2 weeks, I drain, put in new gas and the Fuel Med. When I store my sleds I use VP Small Engine Fuel - 94 octane, non ethanol - 2 years shelf life in a sled. Use this on every thing that I have that uses gas - sleds, ATV's, etc. I use this all season as my primary fuel for all my lawn equipment as well as off season storage. No more fuel parts rotted out, runs like a champ, fires up 1st time - amazing products. I also use Yamaha Engine Med RX as directed in my sleds and wheelers.
 
Me and my dad have just put stabil in and ran the sled a bit. Always use premium. Then a fresh tank in fall. Never had any issues. Lots of sleds with high miles no issues.
 
Summerize your sled

I add STAR TRON to my fuel tanks and then fill them all the way to the brim with ethanol free Premium gas. Start the sleds up the first of the month and let them idle till they are warm. Been doing this to our 4 sleds for the past 5 years and never had a problem. Used to pull all the carbs in the fall but since I have been doing the Star Tron treat and monthly starts I quit cleaning the carbs as there isn't anything to clean out.
 
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