Plastic Tank problems: Discussion thread, see info thread sticky for updates

[Raux]

I'm sure the chemistry for the plastic tanks was put into place way before politicians got together and decided to put money in their pockets with E10 without ever looking into the reprecusions.

Maybe it isn't Acerbis that should be in court, but the idiots that mandated E10

[ducatiz]

I'm sure the chemistry for the plastic tanks was put into place way before politicians got together and decided to put money in their pockets with E10 without ever looking into the reprecusions.

Maybe it isn't Acerbis that should be in court, but the idiots that mandated E10

No.

First PA6/Nylon tanks appeared in the mid90s on Cagivas.  All of those had bladders though. 

Ethanol has been added to gasoline since the late 80s (at least in the USA) and acceptable for an additive in Europe at least since the 1990s.

No one considered it a problem back then as it replaced MTBE which is carcinogenic.  Ethanol actually does some good -- it cleans carbs and fuel injectors very well.  In fact, most "fuel system cleaners" are just ethanol.

[Bishamon]

I'm sure the chemistry for the plastic tanks was put into place way before politicians got together and decided to put money in their pockets with E10 without ever looking into the reprecusions.

Maybe it isn't Acerbis that should be in court, but the idiots that mandated E10

Agreed.  Our nylon tanks are only the tip of a very big iceberg when it comes to the myriad of problems caused by ethanol.

[extra330]

So your saying that there are no new tanks being made? so in say 5+ years, when they depleted their inventory of tanks, then we are all screwed?

Ducgirl, I'm dropping of my 07 S4RS at Battley's Cycles tomorrow morning for tank #3. When I get it back I'll post the production date. I pretty sure this replacement is out of existing stock just because the dealer had it in hand within three weeks of the request for warranty replacement.

Cheers
Mike

[muskrat]

Maybe it isn't Acerbis that should be in court, but the idiots that mandated E10

 
You should see my gas mileage when I drop E85 in the tank of my truck. 

[Howie]

I'm sure the chemistry for the plastic tanks was put into place way before politicians got together and decided to put money in their pockets with E10 without ever looking into the reprecusions.

Maybe it isn't Acerbis that should be in court, but the idiots that mandated E10

I agree with that.  It seems (at least to me) ethanol became a problem in plastic (PA6) tanks when the volume hit 10%.  I could be wrong.

Plastic does have advantages of not corroding or denting.  Way back when E10, then called Gasahol was first introduced in 1978 corrosion of fuel tanks and fuel systems was rampant.

A

No.

First PA6/Nylon tanks appeared in the mid90s on Cagivas.  All of those had bladders though. 

Ethanol has been added to gasoline since the late 80s (at least in the USA) and acceptable for an additive in Europe at least since the 1990s.

No one considered it a problem back then as it replaced MTBE which is carcinogenic.  Ethanol actually does some good -- it cleans carbs and fuel injectors very well.  In fact, most "fuel system cleaners" are just ethanol.

A bladder could be an interesting cure.  This would also work for evaporative emissions (no more canister).


 

[ducgrl]

I'll be picking up my S2R today for the tank change....first one...

Ducgirl, I'm dropping of my 07 S4RS at Battley's Cycles tomorrow morning for tank #3. When I get it back I'll post the production date. I pretty sure this replacement is out of existing stock just because the dealer had it in hand within three weeks of the request for warranty replacement.

Cheers
Mike

[DucNaked]

If you got a replacement tank, what is the date of manufacture?

You find it on the underside, it looks like this:

Date clock molding.  Dots indicate month, numbers indicate year:


Final inspection stamp (Controllo Finale) :

I picked up my wifes replacement today.Looks like it was made in 2010.

[ducatiz]

Your wife's replacement or wife's replacement TANK?  :-)

[Mojo S2R]

       Well played.

[DucNaked]

Your wife's replacement or wife's replacement TANK?  :-)

I like them young, but 2010 is just plain wrong!
Replacement TANK!

[Punx Clever]

I like them young, but 2010 is just plain wrong!
Replacement TANK!

If you really think about it, it wouldn't be that wrong... I mean hell, if she was plastic and had a date molded into her... you'd want a fresh one right? 

[bikepilot]

I'm glad you got a newer tank, hopefully it'll work better!  I noticed that my Montesa trials bike has a tank made of the same material and is starting to expand.  The PO (I just got the bike) was running half race gas, half premium pump gas (with ethenol no doubt as that's all you can really get around here), or so he said.  I'm going to go to straight race gas and hope it doesn't get any worse. 

[Dave328]

Well, noticed sunday the tank I just had replaced in June '10 is starting to ripple and hang off of the frame.  
I guess I'm taking a trip back to the dealer this weekend. I'm sure it'll be my last one since my Fed Emissions warranty expires this year.

[hillbillypolack]

Well, noticed sunday the tank I just had replaced in June '10 is starting to ripple and hang off of the frame.  
I guess I'm taking a trip back to the dealer this weekend. I'm sure it'll be my last one since my Fed Emissions warranty expires this year.

. . . . .after that, THEN what???  Which is why I'm more than upset about the way this is being handled from DNA.