Change oil now, or wait until spring?

[Checkswrecks]

Disconnect the battery or put a trickle charger on it every couple of weeks. Otherwise the clock will drain it.

 

[ScoutDogMan]

Another interesting note: Yamaha outboard marine folks say that if an engine is stored for winter you should not fill the tank, it should be as low as you can get it. Their engineers says that the octane level will drop
substantially, low enough to cause major engine damage in the spring. Also, there is almost no way that significant moisture can accumulate enough to harm the engine especially with today's additives and since most tanks are plastic now, rust should not be a problem.

This was news to me, since I have always made sure the tank was full at the beginning of winter.. Confusing at the least, but since I start and/or ride my bikes each month during the winter I haven't worried about them. However, I do follow my Yamaha boat dealer's directions on my outboard.
ScoutDogMan

 

[ADKsuper10]

Disconnect the battery or put a trickle charger on it every couple of weeks. Otherwise the clock will drain it.

That's the plan. will install the trickle charger when I haver a chance. Thanks.

 

[markjenn]

Another interesting note: Yamaha outboard marine folks say that if an engine is stored for winter you should not fill the tank, it should be as low as you can get it. Their engineers says that the octane level will drop
substantially, low enough to cause major engine damage in the spring. Also, there is almost no way that significant moisture can accumulate enough to harm the engine especially with today's additives and since most tanks are plastic now, rust should not be a problem.

This was news to me, since I have always made sure the tank was full at the beginning of winter.. Confusing at the least, but since I start and/or ride my bikes each month during the winter I haven't worried about them. However, I do follow my Yamaha boat dealer's directions on my outboard.
ScoutDogMan

Confusing to me as well. For a steel-tanked motorcycle where rusting of exposed interior surfaces is a common problem, I'll stick to keeping the tank as full as possible with a little Sta-bil for good measure. If you're really worried about octane degradation (I wouldn't be), then drain and refill the tank in the spring with fresh gas. Or just don't romp on the throttle until you've burned off enough to put some fresh gas in.

- Mark

 

[ADKsuper10]

Confusing to me as well. For a steel-tanked motorcycle where rusting of exposed interior surfaces is a common problem, I'll stick to keeping the tank as full as possible with a little Sta-bil for good measure. If you're really worried about octane degradation (I wouldn't be), then drain and refill the tank in the spring with fresh gas. Or just don't romp on the throttle until you've burned off enough to put some fresh gas in.

- Mark

I'm with you 100% on this one. Blue stabil in my gas tank (full) and I don't worry about it. I put blue stabil in my gas cans and when I fill up the lawnmower, atv, snowblower, pressure washer, and generator (whew!!) I know they are good to go when stored for the winter or whatever. On carbureted engines I always shut off the fuel peacock and let them stall out before shutting them down. In the spring everything starts up like a charm.