F650/F800 Riders - Pick your Sta-Bil carefully!!!!

[Luna]

So hubby & I were out for a nice ride on Tuesday. Back roads, including gravel and dirt, up to Linden & Front Royal; then back down 340 & 211. Everything was great, bikes were running fine, very light traffic. Until Pat stopped for gas.......

The Baby GS (F650GS twin) wouldn't start again It would turn over great, just not fire up. I got on the phone with Stuart at Mortons (thanks for helping me!) and we pinned it down to the red Sta-Bil I had added to the tank a few weeks ago. The tank was less than half full when I added it, so I stopped for gas at the beginning of our ride. Bike started up fine and ran great after that, until we stopped for Pat to fill up. Stuart told me of several cases that he was aware of where the red Sta-Bil mixed with our crappy ethanol gas has gummed up the fuel injectors, keeping the bike from starting.

We trailered the Baby home Tuesday night and started tearing her down on Wednesday. Got the fuel injectors and fuel pump all cleaned out, added some techron, and she fired right up on the second try - phew!!!!

Reading more about this, and the ethanol/fuel injector problems on the 650/800 twin made me decide to put techron in every few fill-ups. It also looks like the injectors for this engine are much more susceptible to the ethanol problems that the R1200.

So - a warning to all those out there riding the great in-line twin bikes: GET THE MARINE (BLUE/GREEN) STA-BIL, or any other fuel stabilizer that is especially for ETHANOL gasoline! It will save you a big headache in the long run

[Georgeinva]

Reading more about this, and the ethanol/fuel injector problems on the 650/800 twin made me decide to put techron in every few fill-ups. It also looks like the injectors for this engine are much more susceptible to the ethanol problems that the R1200.

Same (13617672335) injector is used in the R1200.

[Aether]

A blast from the past.....

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=16096

At that point no additives had ever touched my tank, so it's not simply an issue with StaBil. The tiny injectors that BMW uses on the paralell twins are notorious for clogging. Many believe it's due to particles from the charcoal filter working it's way into the fuel system clogging the injectors. No matter the cause, regular use of Seafoam or Techron to keep 'em clean is not just wise, it's a necessity.

[Luna]

Same (13617672335) injector is used in the R1200.

If this is the case, then why haven't we heard of any problems with the 1200???

[Aether]

Same (13617672335) injector is used in the R1200.

If this is the case, then why haven't we heard of any problems with the 1200???

Different situation with the charcoal tank position and plumbing between the boxers and the parallel twins. Read the thread I linked to.