• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Fuel Additives and Fuel Filters.. The good, the bad..

  • Thread starter Thread starter GregM.
  • Start date Start date
G

GregM.

Guest
Thanks for your advice, thoughts and opinions on two subjects.

#1 Fuel additives... like Chevron Techron... should I care about cleaning deposits and or build-up of bad stuff... or reducing any moisture out of my fuel system? I mean, I know I should, but is this good or bad for our old bikes? Do they work, or is it fantasy? Which one do you like? How often do you use it? Are the directions on the label appropriate for a 5 gal tank?

#2 In-line fuel filters... Should I add one of these? Why didn't Suzuki use 'em in 1980? Pros and cons? Any brand OK? Which brand or type should I look for? And any tips for installation would be great... I want to learn this stuff, but I've never even taken a gas tank off before.
Thanks a ton...
 
Fuel filters: The petcock on the 1980 suzuki has a fuel filter on it ( it's in the tank). It takes care of most of the junk in the tank. I put a fuel filter on and had nothing but problems. The way the fuel line needs to be routed from the carbs to the petcock leaves very little space for a filter. The one I had was an inch and a half long and it was too big. The fuel line needed to do a U turn and was higher than the petcock. This led to inconsistant fuel flow. I removed the fuel filter and have not had any problems. No junk no problem.

Fuel additives: On occasion I add some carb cleaner to the fuel. Usually at the beginning of teh season. I also add Stabil when I store it for the season.
 
There is a screen type fuel filter on the petcock, and each float bowl has a screen at the float needle. There is no need for a 6th inline fuel filter, your bike already has 5.
 
I ran plastic/paper filter for some time with little trouble. eventually I noticed it had softened and was drooping on the nozzles on each end...

I found an old glass and metal one buried in the mud at the salvage yard, cleaned it up, it has a fiber type element in it, removeable and washable, got new orings and have been running it for a year and a half at least?

I had some really bad rust problems in my tank, to the point of having to replace it, somehow all five filters failed and I had rust particles in the float bowls... :roll:
 
I agree in spades Jethro. The only advantage adding an inline fuel filter provides is creating problems to solve in your spare time.
They're trouble waiting to give you a bite in the ass. LOL

Earl

Jethro said:
There is a screen type fuel filter on the petcock, and each float bowl has a screen at the float needle. There is no need for a 6th inline fuel filter, your bike already has 5.
Click to expand...
 
The fuel fuel additives i think acceptable are Stabil if the bike is to be stored and injector cleaner added to the gas if there is minor build up in the carb passages. Neither of those will harm the "O" rings and rubber/plastic parts in the carbs.

Earl
 
If you add any carb cleaner type additives ever do it at a time when you going to run the whole tank out and refill. Most modern cleaners are fairly safe on soft carb parts but you still don't want to let anything but gas soak in there while sitting.
 
I have mixed feeling about the filters. If your tank and the screen is crummy then why not? If you don't feel like fixing the tank that is. Just curious from those with bad experiences... What did the extra filter cause in terms of problems?

As far as fuel additive... I like SeaFoam. But agree with the thought that you should use Stabil if you plan to store it and not a carb. cleaner. Chevron Techron is excellent product also.
 
I personally think that running without a fuel filter is only for those who love taking their carbs of to dislodge foreign mater.

But that's my take :lol:
 
cloudbreakmd said:
I agree with Hoomgar. I use inline's on all of my bikes. I always have.
Click to expand...

Maybe you guys should try lining your gas tanks :wink:
 
I guess if you insist on running around with a tank full of rust, having a clogged fuel filter is better than having a clogged carb. :-) I've never had a fuel filter on my 1150 but I dont have a dirty tank either.


Earl

Hoomgar said:
I personally think that running without a fuel filter is only for those who love taking their carbs of to dislodge foreign mater.

But that's my take :lol:
Click to expand...
 
If you've ever seen the filter on the inlet of the petcock, you'll wonder how even the tiniest particle could get to the carbs. It's made of very very fine weave material. Some of these old tanks may have had this screen damaged or removed, if so, fix it, then you won't need an in line filter. But if you want one, put it on, it won't hurt anything as long as you can find room for it. I've had three different bike mechanics recommend the Chevron Techron, If any slight build-up would occur, it can help remove it. Can't hurt a thing.
 
the problem Ive always had with inline filters is not having the room to route the hosing correctly, usually resulting in kinked fuel line.

that and I have seen heat melt em on motorcycles, and fuel is slippery as heck when its on the ground under your bike.

I used the lil plastic inlines on all my beetles back when I was into air cooled cars :) never had a problem with em there, never any luck on a bike.

that being said Ive seen one with the bottom spigot coming out at a 90 degree bend, thatd be the one Id try if I were gonna.

Ive seen fuel additives sink the poly floats before, not on a GS but still... Id have to know someone here ran alot of something through their bike before Id risk it. there is enough garbage in gasoline without me adding to it.
 
I agree. Take care of your tank and the filter provided inside it. I feel that it is important to use a good brand of fuel as many additives are already in it in the correct proportions. Whereas your bike may run well on regular, the premium fuels, at least in Canada, contain more cleaners and such. Since the advent of fuel injection in the auto industry, fuel has had to become so much cleaner that nothing large enough to cause a problem is present. Most of these bikes were sold when North America was still using carbs so this new fuel standard is a bonus for us. The altitude difference between tank and carb doesnt make for much preasure so an inline filter may pose a significant obstruction to the fuel.
 
How many people pull down the petcock and clean off the filter that is there? It seems easier to replace the small filter under the tank that I can see if it dirty than to drop the petcock.

Of course my little 650 does not have the appetite for OPEC that the big blocks do so maybe the smaller bikes tolerte the restriction better.
 
FUEL ADDITIVES AND FILTERS

FUEL ADDITIVES AND FILTERS

AS FAR AS FUEL ADDITIVES
USE AMSOIL API OR DEEP FOAM

AS FOR THE FILTERS
I JUST KEEP MY TANK CLEAN AND CLEAN OUT THE PETCOCK ON OCASSION

GARY
 
Fuel filters are a waste of money and a potential problem.
Never tried any fuel additives in a bike.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top