Just curious for the next guy who reads this-- will fuel stabilizer prevent ethanol damage?  Most of them at least claim on the bottle to prevent ethanol related damage during storage...

Can you still get ethanol free gas anywhere in the US?

Keifer wrote on 09/19/20 at 13:33:53:



I am just getting back from a trip to Arkansas, and several stations stated their premium fuel grade was pure gas and had no ethanol.  Back home in KY the only way you can get ethanol free fuel is to take your gas cans to a marina and buy the gas for boats.  A few members from New York State claim their premium fuel is ethanol free.

There is a web site called "Pure Gas" that lists the local places you can buy ethanol free fuel.  It is based on the reports of users, and is not always up to date or accurate.
https://www.pure-gas.org/

Additives for the treatment of ethanol fuel can extend the time the fuel will stay stable and prevent damage for a while - but not indefinitely.  The best way to prevent damage from storage of any equipment with a carb is to drain the tank and run the engine until the carb is out of fuel.  Some people mistakenly claim that gaskets, seals, O-rings and similar pieces will dry out if no fuel is in the system - equipment stores well without fuel and most problems with dried out gaskets/seals is a result of being store stored for long periods of time in hot garages, barns or sheds.

Ethanol free gas does store a bit better than E10 fuel - but it still goes bad after an extended period.  In the old days old gasoline would varnish up the parts and leave a thick heavy and stinky slime on everything......the ethanol fuel causes corrosion and is very hard on aluminum parts.

Leaving either fuel in a steel fuel tank for extended periods can result in a rusty fuel tank......as the vent in the fuel tank allows moist air to be drawn into the fuel tank whenever there are temperature or air pressure changes.

If you are storing your Savage for just a month or two - it would be best to use an ethanol free fuel and add a fuel stabilizer.....and keep the bike in the most temperature stable place you can find.  For longer term storage I would drain the tank and carb completely.

Don't start the bike up every month unless you can ride it - running an air cooled engine while sitting still is not good, and idling the bike while leaning over on the side stand can ruin the cam and rockers as it can starve them for oil.....there is very little oil pressure and oil flow at idle speeds.

Fuel injected engines tend to store much better than equipment with carbs.  The fuel injections system is sealed and air/moisture cannot get to the fuel in the pressure side of the system.....and the tanks are often vented in a way that will prevent the vapors from polluting the environment and this helps to keep moisture out (and often the fuel tanks are made from plastic).