Dirt bikes have relatively simple engines, usually with just one cylinder. This helps to keep the bike light and reduces friction in the engine. As friction causes power losses, reducing this allows for more power to be delivered to the wheels.
Of course, the simplicity of the setup also means there are fewer things to go wrong with the bike. Considering the harsh conditions it operates under, that’s a good thing. It helps reliability even further if you invest in a high-quality dirt bike, such as these Kawasaki dirt bikes Sydney.
But, no matter how well you look after your bike, you’ll find that putting the wrong fuel in can give you serious problems. In most cases, the bike will almost instantly start to smoke. This will be followed by a knocking noise, the final warning before the piston seals blow and the engine dies. In short, the wrong fuel will kill your bike.
Don’t Ride It!
The best solution to putting the wrong fuel in is to realize before you turn the motor back on. If this is the case, you can drain the tank and all the fuel in the bike. While draining, flush the internal fuel lines with fresh fuel. This should remove all traces of diesel, allowing you to put the bike back together and refill it with the correct fuel.
At this stage, you can restart your bike!
If It’s Ethanol
Ethanol is significantly cheaper than petrol, making it an attractive option. However, you need to change the pipes for any vehicle to run on ethanol. It’s highly corrosive and will eat the pipes and possibly your engine.
Again, if you’ve put ethanol in, you’re going to want to drain the tank and flush your system. It’s the only safe way to remove the wrong fuel and start again with the right one.
The Rebuild
However, if you have put the wrong fuel in and didn’t realize it, your first warning may be when you notice a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust.At this point, the fuel has already contaminated the engine and possibly damaged it. If this has happened, your only viable option is to strip the engine and rebuild it. You’ll need to replace all the seals and gaskets and ensure everything is clean.
If this isn’t something you’re capable of, you can rebuild the engine. But you may prefer to invest in a reconditioned unit.
Top Tip re High Octane Fuel
It should be noted that most dirt bikes will run without an issue on regular unleaded fuel. However, if your dirt bike needs high-octane fuel and you put it in regular, it will damage the engine. So again, you’ll need to drain the fuel and flush the engine before using the bike again.
Remember, putting the wrong fuel in is easy, especially if you’re distracted. The key is to know how to react and save your engine.
