Old gas...

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jonnythan · Tue May 29, 2007 1:52 pm

Why would you drain the oil out of a bike you're putting away for storage?

If anything, I'd change the oil and take it for a nice ride. Then drain the gas from the tank, lines, and carbs, then put some fogging oil in through the spark plug holes.

grizzlyjoetattoo · Tue May 29, 2007 1:55 pm

i guess i assumed if you thought that the bike wouldn't be going for a while you would drain all fluids but I have always lived in SoCal and have never had to store a bike at all.

jonnythan · Tue May 29, 2007 2:10 pm

You want oil all over the inside of the engine as much as possible. With it sitting around, moisture *will* find its way in and any surface that doesn't have a coating of oil will rust.

grizzlyjoetattoo · Tue May 29, 2007 2:13 pm

that does make sense, and i assume it would prevent the gaskets from drying and cracking.
Thanks for the help again from everyone.

#15 Unread post by **Sev** » Tue May 29, 2007 5:10 pm

jonnythan wrote:
Sev wrote:Adding oil after the bike has been stored seems pointless to me. As if it was going to rust, it has rusted, and burning oil is not good regardless of how it got into the cylinder.
As I understand it, the piston rings need to be lubricated to get any compression.

You need the engine running to get the oil pressure necessary to get the rings lubricated.

You won't get the engine running without compression.

So, you add some oil directly to the cylinder to get the rings lubricated to help with compression and help prevent direct metal to metal contact until the oil pressure goes up and the engine can lubricate itself.

Nothing wrong with burning a little bit of oil on purpose.

Yeah... sealing is caused by the pressure that is supplied by the explosion. Oil will offer a SLIGHT increase in compression, not enough to create a seal... in fact, under ideal running conditions you won't get any oil on the top ring of a 4-stroke.

I still say adding oil to the cylinder would be pointless.

tim conroy · Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:16 pm

grizzlyjoetattoo wrote:that does make sense, and i assume it would prevent the gaskets from drying and cracking.
Thanks for the help again from everyone.

Whes storing a bike you should fill it completly full of fresh oil to keep mosture out of the engine. fill it up past the oil glass and then drian it and put fresh in when getting it out of storage.Also pull the plugs and use marvel mystery oil in the cylinders and turn them over without the plugs in.Put a rag over the cylinder spark plug holes so you dont blow oil everywhere.than install the plugs and fire it up.