Fuel Additives

[Hingley]

I just got back from a short ride and was wondering if any of you guys have had much luck with fuel additives helping to clean the injectors etc. while riding

By the looks of my work load etc. a good additive may help a great deal since I only put on 500-600km a year

I have heard a number of people liking the Seafoam product referred to as Marine treatment, can says it stabilizes fuel for two years and cleans injectors/carbs

Any Thoughts?

Ride Safe and fast

 

[Mohawk]

If you don't use your bike much then fuel stab is a good idea, as it stops the fuel turning to goo. Injector cleaner is half snake oil half reality. Good clean fuel stays that way if used & replaced regularly. 5th Gen single pintle injectors are hard to block. The later model 12 micro hole injectors can block, so cleaner may help with those. 

[expvet]

I have used Seafoam for injector cleaning and storage stabilization and have found it to do a good job with no side effects. The cleaning effects I cannot measure but have never had any clogging issues in my 10 plus years of VFR ownership. I also use it in my cars mainly for the cleaning properties. Again no issues. It is something to add only every 3rd or 4th fill during riding season.

[vfrpilot28]

Unpopular opinion, I use chevron Techron about 500 miles prior to each oil change. I also use non ethanol fuel as much as possible. My bike has 55k and it's time to get the injectors professionally cleaned.  
 

Taking them out and sending off to a place that flow tests before and after cleaning is the best method.  Usually costs around $120. 

[TimC]

I used Sea Foam for years in my 6th gen, adding the prescribed amount to a full tank of fuel after most oil changes, which was usually a couple times per year.  I don't know how much good it really did, but I never had any fueling issues during my ownership with the bike.

[bmart]

I've tried a bunch of additives from Seafoam to Stabil and StarTron over the years and found them to do nothing or cause harm. There' are a few god comparison on the YouTubes showing how they work...or mostly don't. If the bike is maintained and E-free fusl is used, they're most likely a solution without a problem. 

[Captain 80s]

1 hour ago, bmart said:

If the bike is maintained and E-free fusl is used, they're most likely a solution without a problem. 

 

And that right there is a problem.  I can't, and I would think a lot of people can't either, actually ride a bike any meaningful distance and stay E-free.   I don't even have E-free in my town.  It's a 20-30 minute drive to the nearest.  And it's not even on a route to good riding.

 

I don't use any additives in my street bikes, but every single one gets their carbs drained (not just ran til it dies) every winter.

[ShipFixer]

Redline SI-1 is the only one that makes much of a difference due to the highest concentration of PEA.  Worth looking up and does make a difference.  Before I had my injectors cleaned, I was using a small bottle of this a month.

[Captain 80s]

11 hours ago, ShipFixer said:

Before I had my injectors cleaned, I was using a small bottle of this a month.

 

That is an unusually worded endorsement.  🤔 😉

[ShipFixer]

13 hours ago, Captain 80s said:

 

That is an unusually worded endorsement.  🤔 😉

LOL.  There is a 4oz size for motorsports, that's what I meant.  It calls for 1oz per gallon or 2oz per gallon for serious cleaning if I remember correctly.  PEA is about the only thing that makes a difference for fuel residue in injectors, and it did make a noticeable difference on my bike when I needed it where Seafoam and whatnot do not.  22 year old injectors, who-knows-what for the decade between when I owned the bike, etc.  

 

Nothing beats removing the injectors and replacing them or having them sonically cleaned of course.  

[squirrelman]

in the 70's guys with sportscars here, mostly english and italian, could back up to the gates of the private pilot section of the airport, and the ground ops would fill our fuel tanks with potent avgas.

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