Fuel stabilizer/car storage

FWIW, I thought I'd relate some info...

About a week ago we arrived in Mexico after a 2+ year absence. Before leaving in late 2019 I had put some StaBil in the tanks and attached a smart charger to each. Yesterday, I went out to the garage and tried to start them. My wife's Honda Africa Twin started instantly, as if it had been running yesterday. My BMW R9T was a bit sluggish in cranking. In fact, it sounded to me like the battery was nearly dead - despite the smart charger. However, at the third attempt the starter cranked sufficiently and, like the Honda, the bike started as if it had been running yesterday.

I always put StaBil in the tank for storage but the longest I had ever left a vehicle in that way until now was 7 months. 2+ years is pretty impressive performance!! TBH, I was expecting problems with deposits and thought I might have to disassemble/clean the fuel systems but the bikes are running great and are going on a 200 mile day ride today!

 

Curious if you noticed any "stale gas" smell from the gas tank or exhaust. I always leave fuel in my boat (60 gal tank) over the winter (it's on a lift in a boat house). I use ValvTect treatment and never had any issues, always cranks up in the spring. But the gas definitely smells "old" if left longer than 5-6 months, and the same stale gas smell is noticeable in the exhaust. I dilute the tank with new gas as soon as feasible and by summer I am usually on all new gas. Never had any issues but that stale gas smell is unmistakable.

 

I didn't notice any odd exhaust smell; I didn't actually open the filler so can't say about the odor of the gas itself. The Ferrari also gets Stabil but the longest it has ever sat is 7 months. Never noticed any odd exhaust odor with it either.

 

Sorry for off topic, but where in mexico? I spend the majority of my year in mexico.

 

San Miguel de Allende - about 170 miles north of Mexico City.

I should have mentioned in the first post that I was referring to motorcycles. but I guess everybody figured that out! The Ferrari stays in TX but normally 4-5 months in "storage." Longest it's ever been in that mode is 7 months.

 

My favorite place in the world