K11 Owners Group

[nickw]

Being a real noobie as you call it, I eagerly read all the postings on fan and fuel tanks in my recent troubles with my 93 K1100.

I noted that many comments are made about using Techron regularly. I normally haven't made a habit of using snake oil cures which many of these types of things can be. Not to say that Techron or generic fuel injection cleaner is, but lots of claims are made for liquid cures of all kinds, so I believe healthy skepticism should serve one well and objective analysis applied to usage of these many types of nostrums.

That being said, I purchased a bottle when I picked up my weld-repaired tank and prepared to install it.

During the wait, I had a long discussion about coolants and fuel additives with a Mercedes technician I know very well. He made mention of the fact that Mercedes has their proprietary coolant as does just about every major manufacturer now, and he said that Mercedes includes a "water-wetter" surfactant in their coolant as well. He strongly urged me to buy some Red-Line "Water-Wetter" and include it when I refilled my K-bike cooling system. A claimed 20 degree reduction in running temp wouldn't hurt any water cooled system which seems to have little margin for heat overload.

I know several high performance car enthusiasts who use it in their high horsepower street cars, (Chevy 502 engines in 60's Camaros for example) They said that there was a noticeable drop in the normal temp gauge position after stabilization, "a needle width" according to one.

I don't know if BMW includes such a surfactant in their formulation. Has anyone heard of or used this in your bikes?

Comments eagerly sought!

Nick W
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"It's not what people know, it's that they know so much that just ain't so!" (Apologies to Will Rogers)
93 K1100LT
(2) 79 Suzuki GS850's (In limbo)
65 Triumph TR6S/C ( sold)
2009 Suzuki SV650
2009 Suzuki DL650

[Flying Duck]

I use Red Line Water Wetter in my bikes just to improve heat transfer.

It won't reduce the operating temperature of the cooling system. Why? Because the thermostat still opens and closes at the same temperatures.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[Ted]

I use Blue Stabil occasionally, especially if I think I will not be riding for a week or two. I was given a bottle of StarTron and tried that last tank, can't really say if it made a difference.
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Ted
KOG#1

[Flying Duck]

Techron is good stuff. I used it to free up a stuck fuel pump. Also, it's about the only fuel additive aside from SeaFoam that you'll find consistently good reports on on most auto buff sites.

Stabil is good for storage but one or two weeks? Sometimes my bikes sit for months (I take the one that's closest to the garage door to avoid playing MC musical chairs) and I've never needed it even though I live in a WET winter climate. My K75RT used to sit for 8 or 9 months over the winter and I never had problems.

I recently tried some Guard Dog moly additive in the 75/140 Mobil 1 in my K1100LT tranny. Don't notice any difference in shifting but I suppose it might help on the wear front.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

[Ted]

The Stabil has great detergents plus it keeps the Ethanol at bay. I actually had a long talk with one of their engineers when I called to ask about the difference between red and blue (blue is basically red with 3x the detergents and is made to keep ethanol from separating, soaking up water and damaging rubber and metal in the system.) The detergents are very similiar to Techron, made to be kind to rubber when sitting but still be very effective against corrosion, residue, etc. The "regular" dose is about a quarter of the "storage" dose.

The StarTron is like the Stabil in that it can be regularly used at a lower dose to clean and condition the fuel system. It advertises some super-enzymes that sort of sounds like snake oil, lots of folks seem to like it though.
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Ted
KOG#1

[granth]

I use a product called Redex, which has been around on the UK market since time began. I presume it has similar properties to Stabil and Techron,both of which I am unfamiliar with .
Originally ,Redex was marketed as an "upper cylinder lubricant",reducing the need to decoke cylinder heads/valves. More recent formulations are said to keep clean, valves,injectors etc and prevent gum/varnish build up in petrol systems.
I have used it for forty odd years and still use it in my petrol injected machinery.
I also find that a little in my garden mower ensures a first time start after a seasons layup.The one season I did not use it ,guess what, a strip and clean of the carb was required !
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1993(94 MODEL) K1100RS IN ASTRAL BLUE
2006 URAL 750CC DALESMAN SIDECAR OUTFIT,
RED AND CREAM.

[Ernie-NH]

Good morning....

I use Seafoam on a regular basis, perhaps 4oz every fourth tank,,, and I have recently put guard Dog molly emulsion in the tranny of both my BMWs as well as in the final drives. Like "Duck" I feel no difference in the "shift feel" but agree that moly is a great wear inhibitor !

... but a word to note from Ted,, Ethanol will not soften any elastomer in concentrations less than 18%. It does like to attract "water" as you know, so the Stabil is probably a good idea as well. The real problem as I see it is that we do not really know for sure EXACTLY what is being put into our gas since it changes from region to region and season to season!!

best regards all........// Ernie-NH
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'11 G650gs
'95 K1100LT
'76 R100/7