K11 Owners Group

1960mog · Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject: Long term strage

Last year I revived my K1 after long term storage.
Before I stored the bike I filled the tank to the top with gasoline.
After 14 years the tank was empty (No external leaks), the fuel pump was
a rusty mess and so were the injectors.
What would happend if I would fill the tank with diesel before long term storage and crank the engine until the pump and the injectors are filled with diesel?
Diesel dose not evaporate like gas and it lubricates mechanical parts.
Are there any negative effects on the injection system due to long term exposure to diesel?
Thanks for your opinion.
_________________
86 R80G/S
91 K1
93 K11LT

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 7:00 pm Post subject:

Just how long term are you talking about here? just over the winter or longer.
_________________
Ride safe.

1997 K1100LT 0302488
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1995 K1100LT 0302044(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

1960mog · Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject:

Well, I had a fuel pump go bad on a brick in less then one year of non use.
But I am talking about 2 to 5 years here.

Thanks
Tom
_________________
86 R80G/S
91 K1
93 K11LT

Jim · Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:21 pm Post subject:

Tom - I don't think I would leave anything in the tank for 2 - 5 years. Probably better off to drain it completely and fog it with light oil - same with the cylinders.

As bad as gasoline is now, there's no way it's going to last a year - I doubt even additives like Startron, SeaFoam, or blue Stabil would keep gas that long.

I don't know the best way to take care of the injectors - blow them out, I guess - unless there is someway to leave some type of protectant in them, too.

Diesel is not stable over the long haul, either.

Nice looking bike, BTW.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

John Clauss · Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:47 pm Post subject:

I agree with the above. I played hell out getting my mower to start after sitting from Nov to May with Sta-bil in the tank. For my snowblower I emptied the gas tank and then ran it out of fuel before storing for the summer. When I pulled it out in Dec, filled it up and it started right up. Emptying certainly seems the way to go in these days of ethanol.
_________________
1997 K1100LT
1975 R75/6

It will bring you so close to nausea, it will make you sick! - Big Al

1960mog · Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 11:33 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your reply guys!
Emptying the tank and misting it with oil is a good plan, but the pump is still filled with gas and will gum up.
I reused diesel fuel that I took out of cars that were parked for 10 years
in other cars and it worked just fine.
The injection systems on this long parked diesel cars never (in my experience)
show any sign of rust or stickiness.

John- Is your snow blower a 2 stroke? Some oil will remain in the carb after emptying it and protect the metal parts.

Thanks
Tom
_________________
86 R80G/S
91 K1
93 K11LT