Altitude, Bad Gas, or what?

[paste007]

This past Sunday, riding from Reno on 395 South, during my crossing through the high country around Lee Vining, Bridgeport, etc, which is all around 7,000 foot altitude, my new (5 weeks) '06 FJR seemed to cut out for a brief moment. It reminded me of my old bike when it ran low on fuel and needed to switch to the reserve tank. The sensation only lasted a moment, however, it happended around 5 times from the time I gased up in Carson City, until I gased up again in Bishop. From Bishop (about 3,500 ft altitude) on, it didn't have that reaction a single time. I don't know if I got some bad gas, if it was the altitude, or what.

Any thoughts on what it might be and if it's something that needs to be addressed, or, if it was just some water in the gas that I bought in Nevada?

 

[FJRocket]

Quit hitting the rev limiter and that won't happen!

Ok, probably water in your gas.

 

[paste007]

You know, it was kind of like when I hit the rev limiter for the first time, only not quit as abrupt as I wasn't going quite that fast.

 

[chickey191]

not altitude - your fuel injection really doesn't care much about altitude.

couple of things:

1. Probably bad gas - or water in your tank

2. were your running low on fuel - I've had to slosh my gas over on the right side because it cut out on left turns when running near vapors.

3. were your running very hot - or had you been sitting and letting the bike get hot after a particularly hot ride? Mine has stuttered after riding hard in hot weather and then starting up soon after. Cleared up in a few seconds.

4. I'm guessing it was either bad gas or water vapor. if it keeps up - ou might want to put a taste of stabil in the tank - or perhaps ethanol or just run the tank down and go to a station that you know has fresh gas that has been in the tank for a couple of days.

I was once told that especially around older stations (though most if not all should have replaced their tanks by now) that you should never buy gas when the delivery truck is pumping at the station - or even shortly thereafter. The theory was that any particulates in the tank would get stirred up when the truck was pumping fuel and could get into your fill up.

I'd buy that more from a car standpoint - but check out a fuel filter sometime. It is a wonder those hoses don't leak like sieves from all the crap that they shed during their lifetime.

 

[FlyingLow]

Definitely not altitude. 7,000 feet is nothing.

How about getting a second opinion? Going back that way soon? Ride with a bro, trade bikes for a leg, and see if it kicks in again.

 

[C&C]

Pretty much sounds like water in the gas. I doubt it repeats, unless of course you get some more bad gas.

 

[Geezer]

I had a similar experience with my '05. Happened a few miles after filling the tank and stopped right after the next fill. Had to be the gas.

If the problem was severe you might want to drain the tank and make sure you don't have some water or other nasty stuff in the bottom of your tank.

 

[krashdragon]

This past Sunday, riding from Reno on 395 South, during my crossing through the high country around Lee Vining, Bridgeport, etc, which is all around 7,000 foot altitude, my new (5 weeks) '06 FJR seemed to cut out for a brief moment. It reminded me of my old bike when it ran low on fuel and needed to switch to the reserve tank. The sensation only lasted a moment, however, it happended around 5 times from the time I gased up in Carson City, until I gased up again in Bishop. From Bishop (about 3,500 ft altitude) on, it didn't have that reaction a single time. I don't know if I got some bad gas, if it was the altitude, or what. Any thoughts on what it might be and if it's something that needs to be addressed, or, if it was just some water in the gas that I bought in Nevada?

I had the same problem (sorta) riding from San Diego to Texas...but my bike is carbed (ok, it's a Harley..<BG&gt.... milage also dropped form 45 to 35 running over the mountains ..EFI isn't supposed to have that problem, but I'd strongly suspect SOME of the gas stations and also the amount of ethenol or methonal or whatever... a brand new rental Chevy Trailblazer also had similar problems up in the mountains... I put about 6000 miles on it in two weeks, and the only problems seemed to be that all gasoline is not created equal....

Mary

 

[paste007]

Gas? Maybe.

Last week I experienced this problem, on the way back from Reno, as noted in my post.

All week, no problem at all.

Today rode to Escondido and back (around 500 miles) and no problem, until I was about 10 mile from home. Then, it cut out 2-3 times and then seemed ok again.

I had gassed up twice since the previous problem.

Maybe Fifi is haunted?

 

[Geezer]

Have you ruled out an electrical problem? Bad switch on the sidestand or ignitiion?

 

[paste007]

I haven't ruled out anything. How do you suggest determining if it's an electrical problem, since it happens so rarely?

 

[rogdeb]

The "cutting out" happens on my '03 more than I'd like it to.

Always at about 2500', when I restart after an hour break, on a hot day.

She will stumble for the first half mile or so, then she's good.

Ruled out "bad gas" as I'm using the gas I started & finished with, and it only happens for a brief time period.

??

 

[radman]

I haven't ruled out anything. How do you suggest determining if it's an electrical problem, since it happens so rarely?

Thats what makes intermittent electrical gremlins just so much damn fun!! Start by disconnecting and cleaning the terminals on all easily accessed plugs, keeping an eye out for obvious signs of deterioration. This would be sidestand, clutch, tip over switch, ignition, battery terminals etc. If that clears it up, fine. If not, note carefully any associated conditions/symptoms if and when it quits again. Try to recreate these same conditions to help diagnose. Lectrics can be a mofo.

The "cutting out" happens on my '03 more than I'd like it to.Always at about 2500', when I restart after an hour break, on a hot day.

She will stumble for the first half mile or so, then she's good.

Ruled out "bad gas" as I'm using the gas I started & finished with, and it only happens for a brief time period.

??

Yours may be just a case of minor fuel boil in the rail, especially if it occurs at higher altitude.