| Author | Message | ||
     Kootenay |
Went for a ride today to pick up a few things, and to warm up the bike to do the first oil change. While I was out, I filled the tank; pulled into a Mohawk station, forgetting (until I started to fill) that Mohawk premium is 10% ethanol--I've run it before, it runs fine, and the manual says up to 10% is OK. Anyway, back at the ranch as I'm working on the oil and filter change, I keep hearing this gurgling sound. At first I thought it might be oil draining back to the swingarm or something, but it continued for quite a while (at least 15 minutes, maybe longer) and sounded like it was coming from the fuel tank. I took a look inside, and sure enough the surface of the fuel was roiled, not still... Anyways, I assume it was the ethanol boiling out of the fuel. Anyone else experience this? (it also makes a discharge from the vent line, happened last time I used Mohawk fuel). Went for a long ride this evening afterwards, and everything ran fine... | ||
| Ara |
Geeze, that's a little scary. I haven't had the experience, we don't get the ethanol fuels here in the Deepest Darkest South. It must have been the heat from the engine that raised the temp of the fuel enough to do that. One thing that you could do would be to insulate the bottom of the fuel tank. I remember that there is a BMW part that is a piece of self-adhesive reflective insulation. Installed on the bottom of your tank, it might be enought to keep your fuel from boiling. | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
I'd say it's all fine and dandy with the cap on; but what happens if you had a full tank and removed the cap? Would it boil over like a pot on the stove? Now that would be scary! I've had a fresh tank of fuel blow fuel out the vent before, cold fuel from the ground into a hot bike and it expanded. I didn't even overfill; but nothing like that. | ||
| Norrisperformance |
Could be, fuel pressure releasing back thru the pump. | ||
| Ted |
I've used Mohawk gas and never noticed that. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Just how "full" did you fill it. I have heard of this happening when people over fill the tank with California models. There is a reason you only fill the tank to that bottom ring. Even on 115° days its never "boiled" over. | ||
| Jlnance |
but what happens if you had a full tank and removed the cap? Oh, but we all heed the warning sticker on the tank that says not to do that.  | ||
| Kootenay |
Wycked, I never fill above the bottom ring visible through the filler neck. I've never noticed this noise before, but I wasn't necessarily listening before. It sounded just like water on the stove at a slow boil...I noticed the frame gets pretty hot. I wasn't able to hang out to listen to my bike after a three hour ride last night (after the oil change), but I'm going to listen next time I park it if I can... | ||
| Wardog3187 |
I was a "gas hauler" for 2 years running around Louisville, KY delivering fuel (up to 8,000 gallons) and never experienced "boiling fuel". That's a new one on me. I do know that when the weather is hot, fuel does expand. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
I would check your vent and make certain it hasn't gotten blocked. | ||
| Dale |
Did your fan run after you turned off the bike. That is what the fan is for, to cool the fuel. | ||
| Lovematt |
I don't believe the primary purpose of the fan is to cool the fuel...it may be a side effect of it though. The primary reason for the fan is to keep the rear cylinder cool or at least have air flowing by it. The front one is less of a problem since it is...well in front getting plenty of air flow. The other thing it is for is to keep the oil in the heads from cooking too much upon shut off. Heat rises and the top of the cylinders are the last to cool off and breakdown of the oil in that area should be avoided as much as possible. | ||
| Fogal |
Did your fan run after you turned off the bike. That is what the fan is for, to cool the fuel. haaaa brewhaaa thats awesome, the fan is there to cool the fuel. nice one |
