Winterization...to drain or not to drain?

[97prizm]

What is the consensus as far as draining carbs for extended storage? I have done it both ways for the last 10 years, and I've never had any issues regardless of whether or not I've shut off the fuel and drained the carbs. I always store the bike with a full tank of stabilized E0 fuel, and I ensure that the treated fuel has made its way through the carbs as I add stabilizer the tank prior to my last fill-up as well. I store my bike for 6 months in a heated garage at 50F.

I'm leaning toward not draining the carbs and just shutting off the petcock at the tank since it takes way less cranking in the Spring compared to when I drain the carbs. Any issues that I am not foreseeing with this method considering I am doing my due diligence with fuel prep?

According to the local mechanic retiree near me ethanol free with a healthy dose of stabilizer you can leave in. If it has ethanol run it dry then empty the last of the gas in the carburetor.

 

[Ducati996]

How about not draining and opening the garage door and starting them at least once per month?

Not a good idea in cold (freezing climates) unless you throughly warm it up. Condensation from combustion is created and settled in exahust & will eat it up.
Park it after a hot supper then prep for storage however you choose but do not start it until you’re ready to completely warm it up.
90cummins

 

[Bonz]

With all respect, it is so well known not to start the bike up, let it idle to warm it up every so often and expect it to be a positive experience for an internal combustion engine over, say, a 6 month period. The water temperature comes up, but oil is not being stressed, and it will never come up to temperature to evaporate or burn off any of the byproducts of combustion.

With that said, ignorance is bliss, and has been happening for the better part of 100 years and engines seem to survive, as the same discussion is regurgitated fairly regularly.

 

[dvblanch]

Do not use sheets or blankets covering your equipment the mice love them

 

[Pete in PA]

Filled my carb. bike with E0, Stabil Marine 360, 1 oz of 2 stroke oil, and 2oz of MMO.
NOT going to drain carbs, may run bike once over the winter. See what happens.