What Happens if You Leave Gas on a Motorcycle During the Winter?

Winter is around the corner, and you’ll need to store the motorbike carefully, especially when it’s about the gas in the tank. Now the question arises, What Happens if You Leave Gas on a Motorcycle During the Winter? 

If you leave the motorbike with the gas in it, then the ethanol and water content in the gas tank will start to freeze, making micro-ice crystals. These micro ice crystals will block fuel lines and hamper gas tanks in the long run. 

Let’s consider what it means and what you can do about it. 

While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned, so you can know everything about leaving the gas in the motorbike tank. 

What Happens if You Leave Gas on a Motorcycle During the Winter?

Winter is indeed around the corner, and thus you need to be extra careful, especially when it comes to motorbike gas tanks. And thus, the question arises, what happens if you leave the gas on a motorcycle during the winter? 

If you leave the motorbike with the gas in it, then the ethanol content in the gas tank will start to freeze, making micro ice crystals. These micro ice crystals will block fuel lines and hamper gas tanks in the long run. 

And that’s why experts never recommend leaving fuel on a motorcycle during the winter. 

Can You Protect Motorbike Gas Tanks During Winter? 

Indeed your motorbike will have to suffer from minute ice crystals; now, can you protect gas tanks during winter? 

You can protect your motorbike gas tank during winter storage by adding the fuel stabilizer or anti-freezing fluid in it, which can protect your motorbike from rusting and ice crystal formations. Adding the antifreeze fluid will also protect your motorbike engine from catching rust. 

You should ensure that the antifreeze fluid should rotate properly in the motorbike engine. 

How Much Antifreeze Should You Insert in the Gas Tank? 

So far, you understand that you should use antifreeze liquor to protect your motorbike from minute ice crystals. Now, how much antifreeze should you insert into the gas tank? 

If you’re planning to store the motorbike in the winter, you should add 10% antifreeze fluid to the gas tank and fill the remaining tank with gas. Doing this would prevent your motorbike from attacking ice crystals. Ensure you ride the motorbike for at least 20 minutes after inserting it. 

To promote better circulation in the motorbike engine, you should ride the motorbike for at least 20 minutes. 

Does Rust Occurs If You Leave Fuel on a Motorcycle? 

Indeed you should add 10% antifreeze fluid to the motorbike gas tank to protect it from rust. Now the question arises, does rust occur if you leave fuel on a motorcycle? 

Rust and gunk are the most common things that riders observe when riding the motorbike after a long storage period. It occurs when gas comes in contact with the humid air and dust in your motorbike garage. 

Fortunately, the motorbike antifreeze fluid can protect your gas tank from all motorbike problems. Because of the high density, the antifreeze fluid settles down, thus replacing the water layer, which causes rusting and gunk formations. 

What Happens if You Leave Fuel on a Motorcycle Without a Garage? 

So far, you understand that rusting can occur if you leave fuel on a motorcycle. Now the question arises, what happens if you leave fuel on a motorcycle without the garage? 

Leaving the motorbike gas tank with gas without a garage would be no more than a disaster for your motorbike. It’s because moisture in the air, especially if it’s rainy, will start to enter the gas tank, which will cause internal rusting or may decrease the efficiency of motorbike fuel. 

Also, the micro ice crystals would start to make significantly fast, impacting your motorbike fuel line health. 

Should You Empty the Motorbike Gas Tank? 

Indeed you shouldn’t leave the motorbike gas tank outside during winter storage. Now the question arises, should you empty the motorbike gas tank before storing it? 

Storing the empty motorbike gas during the winter storage wouldn’t help you. It may not prevent your motorbike gas from ice crystals and rusting. It’s because you can’t empty the motorbike gas tank full; there will still be enough droplets of the gas present which can harm your motorbike gas tank. 

And that’s why experts never recommend emptying the motorbike gas tank before storing it during the winter. 

What Happens if You Leave Gas in a Motorcycle in the Heated Garage? 

So far, you understand there’s no such benefit in storing the motorbike with an empty tank. Now the question arises, what happens if you leave vegas on the motorcycle in the heated garage? 

There won’t be any significant damage to your motorbike gas tank if you leave the motorbike gas tank with the fuel in the heated garage because, in the heated garage, there won’t be ice crystal formation. However, you must cover your motorbike with a reliable cover to protect it from rusting. 

It’s because covering the motorbike with a reliable cover would restrict entering of the moist air, which is reasonable for the gas tank rusting. 

Should You Add Antifreeze Before or After Filling the Motorbike Gas Tank? 

So far, you understand the working of antifreeze in simpler words and how it prevents the motorbike gas tank from ice crystals. Now the question arises, should you add antifreeze before or after filling the motorbike gas tank? 

According to experts, it doesn’t matter whether you add the antifreeze liquid before or after filling the motorbike gas tank. The antifreeze works the same either way. 

Some riders preferred to add antifreeze after filling the motorbike gas tank to boost the mixability of both fluids. 

Can Antifreeze Protect Motorcycle Gas Tanks from Rusting? 

Indeed the antifreeze settles below in the motorbike gas tank and protects the motorbike gas tank from the ice crystals. Now the question arises, can antifreeze protect your motorbike gas tank from rusting? 

The antifreeze protects your motorbike gas tank from forming ice crystals by settling below the gas tank and absorbing the trace of water in the fuel. 

Rust and corrosion need traces of water and air, by absorbing the fuel tank’s moisture content, antifreeze protects the motorbike gas tank from ice crystal formation, rust, and corrosion. 

So one fluid can protect your motorbike gas tank from two problems simultaneously.

If you own a garage then you should read my previous post where I discussed how can you protect your motorbike by storing it in the garage, CLICK HERE to read.

Frequently Asked Questions:  

Can you protect motorbike gas tanks during winter? 

You can protect your motorbike gas tank during winter storage by adding the fuel stabilizer or anti-freezing fluid in it, which can protect your motorbike from rusting and ice crystal formations. Adding the antifreeze fluid will also protect your motorbike engine from catching rust. 

How much antifreeze should you insert into the gas tank? 

If you’re planning to store the motorbike in the winter, you should add 10% antifreeze fluid to the gas tank and fill the remaining tank with gas. Doing this would prevent your motorbike from attacking ice crystals. Ensure you ride the motorbike for at least 20 minutes after inserting it. 

Does rust occur if you leave fuel on a motorcycle? 

Rust and gunk are the most common things that riders observe when riding the motorbike after the storage period. It occurs when gas comes in contact with the humid air and dust in your motorbike garage. 

What happens if you leave fuel on a motorcycle without a garage? 

Leaving the motorbike gas tank with gas without a garage would be no more than a disaster for your motorbike. It’s because moisture in the air, especially if it’s rainy, will start to enter the gas tank, which will cause internal rusting or may decrease the efficiency of motorbike fuel. 

Should you empty the motorbike gas tank? 

Storing the empty motorbike gas during the winter storage wouldn’t help you. It may not prevent your motorbike gas from ice crystals and rusting. It’s because you can’t empty the motorbike gas tank full; there will still be enough droplets of the gas present which can harm your motorbike gas tank. 

Final Verdict: 

What Happens if You Leave Gas on a Motorcycle During the Winter? If you leave the motorbike with the gas in it, then the ethanol content in the gas tank will start to freeze, making micro ice crystals. These micro ice crystals will block fuel lines and hamper gas tanks in the long run. 

If you want to protect your motorbike gas tank, you should insert antifreeze fluid in it appropriately.