just learned about the expanding fuel tank due to ethanol problem Dealer said my tank had expanded a little and deformed a bit. Feels like a ticking time bomb How much are they to replace if they go and how common is it?
They all do that Sir, they will relax back slightly but not fully if dried out, a new one will be expensive and do the same unless you use ethanol free petrol all the time. The earlier Nylon tanks marked 'PA' Poly Amide will expand anyway so be careful of new old stock like this new streetfighter tank currently on Ebay: it will already have expanded due to moisture in the air and will expand further very quickly. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-...673385?hash=item34073c0529:g:UQQAAOSwUjVcMklh Best option is to go Alloy of course, second hand around £1000 + paint
‘The majority of unleaded 95 Octane petrol sold in the UK contains up to 5% ethanol as required under the Government’s Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO). There is currently no requirement for renewable fuel (such as ethanol) to be present in super unleaded (97 grade petrol). Esso super unleaded petrol (Synergy Supreme+ Unleaded 97) is ethanol free (except in Devon, Cornwall, the Teesside area and Scotland). We would therefore advise anyone who has concerns about the presence of ethanol in petrol to use Synergy Supreme+ – providing they do not fill up in Devon or Cornwall, the Teesside area or Scotland.’ https://www.esso.co.uk/fuels-faqs
The tank on my SF848 has expanded a bit. It started getting very close to the ignitition and making getting the plastic ignitition surround on/off a bit tricky as the holes in the tank no longer lined up with the holes in the surround. My solution has been to buy a lightly damaged second hand tank for £200 (a new one from Ducati is £1600) that has not expanded. Coat the inside with Casswell Ethanol Resistant Fuel Tank Sealer https://www.caswelleurope.co.uk/fuel-tank-sealing-kits/ Then get the damage repaired. My old tank can be drained and dried out. If it returns to the correct size I can sell it.
