Filling up the gas tank on your motorcycle is an important step in keeping your bike running smoothly. If you’re new to motorcycles, filling up the tank may seem a bit confusing at first. So, you may wish to know how to fill a motorcycle gas tank properly.
Gas tanks on motorcycles can be tricky to fill. Position the gas nozzle just right, sometimes without being able to see where it’s pointing. The gas nozzle is exposed to the elements, which can make it difficult to get the gas flowing. And sometimes, the gas nozzle is so far away from the filler neck that can be difficult to get the hose in the right position.
In this article, I will describe how you can fill the gas tank of your motorcycle safely and effectively. Please keep reading. Hopefully, this will help you.
6 Steps To Fill A Motorcycle Gas Tank: The Exact Way
Filling a motorcycle gas tank is a quick and easy process that takes only a few minutes. The first thing is to find a gas station. This can be done by looking for the nearest station on a map, using GPS, or asking someone for directions. Once you have found the gas station, follow the steps below to fill the tank properly.
Step-1: Get Off Your Motorcycle And Keep It On The Kickstand
You need to get off the motorcycle to fill the gas tank first. Many people try to fill a gas tank while sitting on a bike, which is not correct at all. This is because, if there is an accident, you cannot react quickly or move to a safe place while you are on the motorcycle.
Leave the motorcycle on the kickstand and start filling the tank. This is because most motorcycle manufacturers recommend keeping the gas tank full on the kickstand. Kickstands help fuel tanks stay in an optimal position.
Step-2: Take Off Your Helmet
Filling the gas tank of a motorcycle is a very short task and it can be embarrassing or painful for you to take off your helmet. In fact, the helmet makes it very difficult to hear many subtle sounds.
You need to hear the gurgling of the fuel in the tank, which can be blocked by the helmet. This indicates how much the tank has been filled or how fast it is being filled. So do not neglect to take off your helmet while filling the gas tank.
Step-3: Insert The Filler Nozzle Into The Tank Completely
It is very important to insert the filler nozzle completely. There is a tendency among many of us to insert a little portion of the filler tip into the tank. This leaves the possibility of several minor accidents.
Fully inserted filler nozzles may not leak or there is no chance of this type of accident. In addition, it takes up some space in the tank. This is why if you accidentally drop a large amount of fuel when you take it out, the fuel level will be at a relatively safe level.
Step-4: Do Not Overfill The Tank
Stop pumping if the fuel level is near the top of the tank. I have seen many people filling the gas tank in such a way that the fuel comes out even with an insignificant movement. The best advice is to never try to do this. Overfilling can cause several problems on your motorcycle.
You may have noticed that the gas tanks of motorcycles have fine holes for air passage. This is because when you ride a bike, the fuel can get a little hot because of the heat. Due to this, the volume of fuel also increases a bit. At this stage, air from the surface of the tank exits through these tiny holes and keeps the tank pressure-free.
But due to overfill, there is no air in the tank and at this stage, fuel comes out through the hole. This can cause many problems and affect or worsen the color of your motorcycle tank.
Step-5: Remove The Filler Nozzle Carefully
Even if you have a tight schedule, you need to be a little more careful and take a little time when removing the filler nozzle. Instead of taking it out at once, take out some parts and hold it by pressing the trigger until the fuel stops flowing.
Some of the fuel leaks out from the tip of the filler nozzle too often due to faster expulsion. The engines of most air-cooled motorcycles become quite hot after running for a while and you would be surprised to know that contact with these fuels here can cause accidents like fire.
Step-6: Apply The Gas Cap Properly
When you have finished receiving the fuel, put on the gas cap properly. Sometimes we don’t do it properly in a hurry and suddenly the gas cap opens and causes trouble. Of course, some models of gas caps are also responsible for this.
Although not many gas caps, some can be tricky to use. Many times these do not close well if you do not do it carefully. So be careful when installing these types of gas caps to avoid unpleasant situations and help motorcycles last longer.
You’ve successfully correctly filled the gas tank. So why wait? Go out for Happy Riding!!!
What Is The Way To Know If The Tank Is Full? (3 Different Ways)
It is important to understand when the gas tank will be full and when to turn off the pump. This can prevent problems, such as overfill. You can pay attention to the whole thing in three ways which I am describing below.
Way-1
As I said in the tank filling method, you need to take off the helmet while filling the gas tank and observe the sound of fuel falling on the tank. In fact, from these sounds, you can easily guess about the fuel level and guess when the pump needs to be shut off.
Way-2
As well as hearing the sound, you try to see how far the fuel level has come. In fact, it is not always possible to look up the inside of the tank, but it is easy to check it when the fuel level gradually rises to the top. That’s why if you look at the fuel level carefully as well as hear the noise, you will detect for sure whether the gas tank of your motorcycle is full or not.
Way-3
You understand enough about the motorcycle you use, I can say it for sure. That is why you will get the correct idea about the remaining amount of fuel from the meter reading. So you can also guess how much extra fuel you have to put in the tank. If you set the pump accordingly, only a certain amount of fuel will be added to the tank. This often means that the tank may not be filled fully, but you can be safe.
By paying attention to the three things mentioned above, you can estimate whether the gas tank of your motorcycle is full or exactly how much fuel you need to add.
How Can You Avoid Overfilling A Gas Tank?
A little precaution is enough to avoid overfilling of the gas tank and helps to maintain your motorcycle appropriately. All you need to do is:
Know The Capacity Of The Fuel Tank
If you have a good idea about the capacity of the fuel tank, you can notice from the meter reading how much more fuel the gas tank of your motorcycle can hold. Add the fuel into the tank accordingly. This is one of the most effective ways to avoid overfilling.
Be Careful When Fueling
One reason for overfilling is your lack of attention. Keep your full attention here while filling the gas tank. Try to fill the tank slowly instead of filling it too fast. This will make it easier to avoid unwanted problems.
Monitor The Fuel Level
Pay special attention to the fuel level by listening carefully to the sound and aiming at the tank. Sometimes the sounds can confuse you, so in addition, you need to look at the inside of the tank to check how far the fuel level has risen.
Avoid Squeezing In As Much Gas As Possible
I have seen many of my acquaintances try to fill the gas tank in such a way that they left not even the slightest space in the tank empty. Avoid things like this. It is reasonable to leave only a small part of the tank empty.
Beware Of New Gas Stations
It is uncommon for all gas stations to pass on fuel at the same rate. So, if you have to refill the tank from a new gas station, be careful not to overfill the tank too fast.
Don’t Blindly Believe Auto Shut-Off
Auto shut-off is one of the best features of gas pumps that we always enjoy, but it is best not to believe it blindly. Try to fill the tank manually. Of course, with this, you can avoid the problem of overfilling.
Safety Tips When Filling Up Gas Tank: Do It Without Any Risk
Although it is not a dangerous task to fill a gas tank on a motorcycle, sometimes accidents happen and we never expect that to happen to us. So we need to follow some tips for our safety.
- Do not sit on the motorcycle while filling the gas tank, but get off the motorcycle. If you ever have an unexpected accident, you will respond quickly and move to a safe place in a short time.
- Keep the helmet off, no matter how embarrassing or annoying it may seem. This will allow you to better monitor the fueling process.
- Always insert the filler nozzle completely into the tank. This will help you prevent overfilling.
- Gas tank overfilling does not bring you any special benefits, but it creates some disadvantages. So be careful about overfilling.
- Avoid the tendency to squeeze as much fuel as you can in the gas tank. Rather, it causes the problem of overfilling the most.
- If the fuel inadvertently spills somewhere, wash your motorcycle‘s that specific area as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Should You Fill Your Motorcycle’s Gas Tank?
It matters how much you fill the gas tank. Because you don’t like overfilling, you shouldn’t expect most of the tank to be empty. So, you need to fill in the amount that is safe for you and the motorcycle.
I would advise you to always keep the fuel level of the gas tank one to two inches below the filler neck. This way, you can easily avoid overfilling. Moreover, excess fuel often comes out through the gas cap and often soaks the fuel tank, which can also prevent this problem.
Should You Always Run A Motorcycle On Reserve?
You can ride a motorcycle in reserve all the time and it is not a bad thing for your motorcycle to ride. Most experts recommend riding a motorcycle in reserve occasionally. But you should do it when the motorcycle runs out of fuel, otherwise, you may face an embarrassing situation, especially when you are traveling too far. You may have to deal with a very embarrassing situation when you run out of fuel at that moment. But if you use regular supply, you are not likely to face this kind of problem.
Does Fuel Go Bad?
Although the shelf life of regular gasoline is three to six months, the fuel can be spoiled if left unused for a long time. Exposure to oxygen usually causes this problem. Oxygen can break down the chemical structure of the fuel and make the fuel worse.
Besides, if it is not taken care of properly when it is in unused condition, it can accumulate dust, dirt, and even rust. This type of fuel consumption can cause problems or damage to your motorcycle’s engine. So you must be careful when using unused fuel.
How Long Can You Keep Gas Unused In A Motorcycle Tank?
A lot of times it can happen that you are not using the motorcycle for a long time. In that case, how long the gas in the tank will stay good may be a matter of concern for you. However, regular use of motorcycles does not cause this problem.
In a normally unused condition of a motorcycle, the gas goes bad within 30 days. Exposure to oxygen eventually causes the chemistry of the gas to change. Because of this, it increases the possibility of accumulation of gum and varnish. In addition, you should not use gas in the tank for over 6 months under any circumstances.
Can You Mix New Gas With Old Gas In The Tank?
Yes, you can use new gas mixed with old gas in the tank if it is a few days old. However, you must dispose of the old gas, dilute it with fresh gas and reuse it. The matter is not complicated at all, you can easily do this.
However, one thing you must note is whether there is a problem with the remaining old fuel. Especially if it shows any rust, dirt, or discoloration particles. If such a thing is present, then I can say that it has become contaminated and you should not reuse this fuel in any situation.
How Much Is A Full Tank Of Gas For A Motorcycle?
The cost of a full tank of gas for a motorcycle depends on several factors. Mostly depends on the type of bike you have, the size of the gas tank, as well as the type of gas you will use. It also depends on how much the bike was used and how far you rode it.
Full tank of gas for a motorcycle: $40-$70, or more, depending on the size and mileage of the bike. For example, I used my bike very little and only for quick trips. So a full tank of gas for my bike costs $40. But if you need to use your motorcycle a lot and travel long distances, then you have to spend a lot more.
Should You Store Your Motorcycle With A Full Tank Of Gas?
Motorcycles are fun to ride, can save you money on gas, and can help clear your head when you need it most. Most people store their motorcycles when they aren’t being used, but one question that often arises is whether it’s better to store your motorcycle with a full tank of gas?
Storing half a tank with unrefined gasoline can be harmful to a motorcycle. When the gas tank is full, it prevents the formation of rust and prevents the formation of gunk and grime when the motorcycle is not in use.
You should store the motorcycle in full tank condition, but you can use gas stabilizer chemicals like STA-BIL. These help keep the fuel fresh, prevent rust as well as clean the carburetor and fuel injectors clean.
Should You Use Premium Gas On Your Motorcycle?
Motorcycles are complex machines. They require regular maintenance and occasional repairs, and they emit dangerous emissions that can harm the environment. Because of this, many people want to know if they should use premium gas on their motorcycles.
Motorcycles are well known for their high performance and efficiency. However, the high performance of a motorcycle comes at a cost. Using premium gas on your motorcycle will allow it to run at maximum performance and efficiency, but it will also wear out your engine faster. Besides, using regular gas will save you a little money, but your motorcycle will run at suboptimal performance.
Final Verdict
Whether you have an expensive motorcycle or a cheap scooter, it’s always important to know how to fill a motorcycle gas tank the right way. You may get confused and spill gas all over your bike while fueling.
In this article, I have explained the exact way of filling the motorcycle’s gas tank. Besides, I have described the details of what kind of problem may occur and also the way to get rid of it. Hopefully, this article will help make your motorcycle riding safe and enjoyable.
