Winter storage...

For the mainly Northern Hemisphere riders-

The winter weather is here; maybe not so much riding for a few months.

I remember the old suggestion of filling the tank with fresh fuel for long term storage.

I drained my steel Interstate tank into a clean bucket today and found a quite nasty yellow colored fuel also with some very fine rust flakes.
A bit of water was observed. The 10% ethanol laced fuel has probably lost its edge too.

I'm going to do a de-rusting treatment to the tank and get it coated over the winter but I wonder what is the preferred way to store for the
winter these days?

Sta-Bil is life. I add a few oz. of 2-stroke oil and slosh it around. No tanks rusted while on my watch for 40 years.

Ugh drain carbs too or zinc oxide + moisture forms crust faster and chokes on next start. Besides all the normal worth while details, I'd thought to get big sheet of plastic with a bag of charcoal and roll the bike up in it. Those spray on waxes are good protection you just wipe off lovingly to the shine. We used to de-rust gas boat tanks with lye then water out good then rinse a bit of gas then good to go. Phos acid works but not that long term protective. Theres stronger pickling agents but booze resistant thick layered coated does it once and for all. If that the case then acetone is your friend inside and paint enemy outside.

I guess that's one good thing about the old fiberglass tanks and avgas. Just drain it, let it dry and go on with life. Avgas stores good too, no water or corn, plus the carbs and bowls evaporate everything in a few days except the blue dye, which washes away next year.

But it's not for everyone, I know.

Dave
69S