VP-U4 Leave in tank?

Started by EM JAY, September 12, 2007, 10:56:10 AM

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EM JAY

 I've heard different responses to this...  Do you leave U4 in your tank or drain it?  I know that the MR9 stuff is bad to leave in but don't use it.   The U4 drums say to drain it... but a few don't have the sticker either.   What do you do?   

Have heard that it can be  bad on seals and what not...
Michael Jordan
           CCS EX #??   ASRA #??
   01 SV Midwest
  Thanks to Expert Racing Ltd. in Chicago and Madness Custom Choppers of Fox Lake

Jeff

I drain it... 

A sealed can is 'sealed'.  A gas tank 'breathes'.  VP seems to evaporate much quicker than regular gas does... 
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gpz11

I drain it from my tank. Why take the chance?

tzracer

Gasoline should be stored in a closed container. The lighter fractions of the gasoline will evaporate more quickly. After a while your gasoline will not be the same, you will lose some performance. Not very crucial for a car running pump gas, a problem for a vehicle tuned to take full advantage of its fuel (race or pump).

You should always drain your tank at the end of a race weekend, even if you are running pump gas.

If you are worried about the corrosive nature of some race fuels, drain the tank, put in some pump gas, idle the engine for a few minutes, drain the pump gas.
Brian McLaughlin
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2 strokes smoke, 4 strokes choke

BlueRidgePerformance

Drain Pump???? That's a new one. There is a warning label on every can of U4 advising you to drain it.
VP claims you don't have to do that with U4.2, I still do.
One thing we do, after draining, we mix 2 stroke oil at 80:1 and run it through the engine for a few minutes. Keeps thing lubed up.
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dylanfan53

Man you guys are anal.  I've never bothered as long as it's only a few weeks at most between rides.  I try to plan ahead so there's not much in there and then run regular gas through to dilute the race fuel that remains.  Never had a problem even when it's stayed in the tank by itself.  I know, I know, it evaporates faster than regular gas but I was told by a mechanic I trust that U4 is okay to leave in (as long as it's not over winter or something stupid like that) and I haven't had any reason to worry about it.         
Don Cook
CCS #53

tzracer

Most race fuels have stabilizers added to them to increase shelf life.

Modern oxygenated pump gas has a shelf life of about a month.

The main reason for draining is that the composition of any fuel changes if it is in a vented container. All the different chemicals that make up the fuel do not evaporate at the same rate. Steel cans are best for long term storage.

I got into the habit of draining fuel from racing a 2 stroke. The oil begins to degrade the moment it is mixed with gasoline. A cheap engine does not matter. A GP bike is another thing. At the end of the weekend the fuel tank is drained and the fuel is used in the lawnmower. Of course it only takes (literally) a minute to drain the tank on my TZ.
Brian McLaughlin
http://www.redflagfund.org
Donate at http://www.donate.redflagfund.org
 
2 strokes smoke, 4 strokes choke

EM JAY

 Thanks for all the response.   When you drain it from the tank would you save it back into the "original" drum to run again or use it for another purpose since it's been in the bike?   Would it be a bad idea to mix it back into the original drum?
Michael Jordan
           CCS EX #??   ASRA #??
   01 SV Midwest
  Thanks to Expert Racing Ltd. in Chicago and Madness Custom Choppers of Fox Lake

tzracer

Since it was in the tank for a short period of time, I would return it to the same container.
Brian McLaughlin
http://www.redflagfund.org
Donate at http://www.donate.redflagfund.org
 
2 strokes smoke, 4 strokes choke

gpz11

Yeah, I return it to the same container. I then run pump gas in my bike for a few minutes.

Super Dave

Don't store racing fuel in plastic containers.  They will breath out the good aromatics and the oxygenates, if your fuel has oxygenates.  U4 is oxygenated.
Super Dave

dylanfan53

Quote from: Super Dave on September 13, 2007, 09:04:29 PM
Don't store racing fuel in plastic containers.  They will breath out the good aromatics and the oxygenates, if your fuel has oxygenates.  U4 is oxygenated.
...and the fumes eventually make your hose limp and sticky.  Really...I'm not kidding.

My hose got limp and sticky.  Fortunately Lithium Motorsports has nice firm hoses to replace the old ones.  :thumb:

Don Cook
CCS #53