Ducati plastic fuel tanks
Discussion
Yep, it's true. I have an 1198S (up for sale, incidentally), which will need a new tank in the next few years. You just notice the gap between it and the frame getting smaller over time. There's no point replacing with a Ducati one because they'll just do it again (unless they've magically fixed it on current stock of the tanks, but I doubt it). You can get an ally one from a company in Japan for £1500 or something. Or get one that's a bit less swollen than yours off ebay for a few hundred quid.
Once you've ridden a 1198 you'll forgive it though…
Once you've ridden a 1198 you'll forgive it though…
Yup same story with the early multistradas and sport classics. When i had my Multi 1000DS i heard of peoples tanks so swollen they couldn't even be removed from the frame! (Multi tanks run down and inside the lattice)
This is one (of many) reasons that when i go back to Ducati i will stick to 916 era bikes. With metal tanks
This is one (of many) reasons that when i go back to Ducati i will stick to 916 era bikes. With metal tanks
There are plenty of second hand 1x98 tanks out there and they are not that expensive generally.
Mine has not expanded, but since I've owned my 1098S, I only use superunleaded (which mostly does not have ethanol in it which is what causes expansion) and I store it empty, or try to plan rides so I fill up at start and come back with as little fuel as possible. I have a jerry can and fuel pump, so now winter is here I've pumped the tank dry.
As insurance, I also have a brand new never used spare tank in the attic tucked away
If not wanting to worry there are two options:
Keep an eye out for an 1198SP or Ducati performance aluminium tank - usually in region of £2k.
Buy a Beater tank - usually just over £2k painted, brand new https://beater-japan.com/?cat=12
The beater tanks are beautiful and can be ordered with higher fuel capacity. They come up second hand, painted from time to time too, usually again around £1500. As an investment they are not bad though - store your OEM tank, put one on and if you sell the bike, change it back out and you lose very little selling it separately. It's just a bit of money tied up.
Mine has not expanded, but since I've owned my 1098S, I only use superunleaded (which mostly does not have ethanol in it which is what causes expansion) and I store it empty, or try to plan rides so I fill up at start and come back with as little fuel as possible. I have a jerry can and fuel pump, so now winter is here I've pumped the tank dry.
As insurance, I also have a brand new never used spare tank in the attic tucked away
If not wanting to worry there are two options:
Keep an eye out for an 1198SP or Ducati performance aluminium tank - usually in region of £2k.
Buy a Beater tank - usually just over £2k painted, brand new https://beater-japan.com/?cat=12
The beater tanks are beautiful and can be ordered with higher fuel capacity. They come up second hand, painted from time to time too, usually again around £1500. As an investment they are not bad though - store your OEM tank, put one on and if you sell the bike, change it back out and you lose very little selling it separately. It's just a bit of money tied up.
My MV Agusta was the same - it was actually a contributory factor in my getting rid of it. It was barely noticeable except to me (I'm very particular about stuff, I'm the sort of person that cleans brake calipers with cotton buds) but it was starting.
I believe that using higher octane fuel such as V Power is meant to stop it happening.
I believe that using higher octane fuel such as V Power is meant to stop it happening.
The dealer I spoke to has got a mint 1098 with under 4k miles on it. Supplied and serviced by them and just one owner. They've just fitted a brand new tank so that's a big plus point. Though I'd much rather have had an alloy tank. Super unleaded has got ethanol in it, and the level is increasing, so I wouldn't count on that saving your plastic tank. Seems to me 3DP has got the right idea.
blade7 said:
Super unleaded has got ethanol in it, and the level is increasing,
Not in all cases. Its widely reported that BP and Esso super unleaded have none and have no plans to introduce it except in the South West (where it exists in all Super unleaded for some reason)Edited by wsn03 on Wednesday 7th November 10:56
wsn03 said:
blade7 said:
Super unleaded has got ethanol in it, and the level is increasing,
Not in all cases. Its widely reported that BP and Esso super unleaded have none and have no plans to introduce it except in the South West (where it exists in all Super unleaded for some reason)blade7 said:
The dealer I spoke to has got a mint 1098 with under 4k miles on it. Supplied and serviced by them and just one owner. They've just fitted a brand new tank so that's a big plus point. Though I'd much rather have had an alloy tank. Super unleaded has got ethanol in it, and the level is increasing, so I wouldn't count on that saving your plastic tank. Seems to me 3DP has got the right idea.
To add - I forgot another option is Jap4Carbon's carbon Fibre tank. About £1200 plus painting up.Depending on vendor, some super-unleaded fuel has zero ethanol, and even in cases where it's added, it's in significantly lower %ages than normal unleaded. As it's the solely ethanol causing the problem, the less you have and the less time it's in the tank, the less the worries are over swelling.
Unfortunately, advice on parking bikes up over winter is usually to have a full tank. This is to stop rust as no air to metal interface or ability for condensation to form. On plastic tanks it should be the opposite, park them up empty. When empty, obviously no rust risk, and plastic doesn't have a condensation risk like a metal tank in garage. The tank will have zero ethanol to act on it so stays stable.
If being really anal on a low mileage occasional use bike with perfect tank as mind and the OPs prospective one is, you can buy hand pump fuel syphons on e-bay for a few quid. At the end of the ride just pump out the fuel into a waiting 4 gallon jerry can - takes seconds. Refill the bike in your garage before a ride, from the jerry can.... again, takes 30 seconds. I may be guilty of doing this
3DP said:
Buy a Beater tank - usually just over £2k painted, brand new https://beater-japan.com/?cat=12
The beater tanks are beautiful and can be ordered with higher fuel capacity. They come up second hand, painted from time to time too, usually again around £1500. As an investment they are not bad though - store your OEM tank, put one on and if you sell the bike, change it back out and you lose very little selling it separately. It's just a bit of money tied up.
Cheers for that! Nice to know my tank will obliterate itself. Will look to add that to the list of future mods.The beater tanks are beautiful and can be ordered with higher fuel capacity. They come up second hand, painted from time to time too, usually again around £1500. As an investment they are not bad though - store your OEM tank, put one on and if you sell the bike, change it back out and you lose very little selling it separately. It's just a bit of money tied up.
Ethanol is added to meet renewable energy targets. Given super gets sold less than bog standard unleaded (hardly surprising as Vpower is £1.50 per L, but I'll use nothing else). There isn't pressure for petrol companies to add Ethanol to super to meet targets, however, it might be a different story when the targets become a bit higher. Interestingly as an additive it might help air cooled engines by helping to lower engine temps.
some more info here
some more info here
blade7 said:
I couldn't find any current info online re ethanol in BP super unleaded petrol, so I rang their customer care dept. Judging by the response I got it seems the reports may possibly be out of date...
I found loads recently but cant remember where. Some scientific bods had been testing the fuel. What they found totally contradicted the "official" line when they rang up, with their suspicions that the companies are covering their backs in case of contamination It was really interesting and all linked to cost and performance, implying a case for not using it in their premium fuels.
Wish I could source it, gave me hope anyway!
MDUBZ said:
Ethanol is added to meet renewable energy targets. Given super gets sold less than bog standard unleaded (hardly surprising as Vpower is £1.50 per L, but I'll use nothing else). There isn't pressure for petrol companies to add Ethanol to super to meet targets, however, it might be a different story when the targets become a bit higher. Interestingly as an additive it might help air cooled engines by helping to lower engine temps.
some more info here
Ah, some info on the subject related to what I found a couple of months ago.some more info here
It will get worse when E10 fuel is standard, government is running a consultation process at the moment, but it is definitely coming to the UK at some point, a lot of older engines will have issues due to plastic washers / pipes / parts in the engine that will degrade etc, let alone the fuel tank.
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