Generator storage

[Light in the Dark]

Hi All. I normally just run dry my generator, and put it away for the summer. Got to thinking... is there a better way? Should I add fuel stabilizer THEN run it dry, so any fuel remaining has remnants of the stabilizer in it too?

Should I just stabilize and not worry? Gas that is in it, was put in back in November. I have never really had issue with the way I have done it, but figured I would see what everyone else does. Thanks

 

[Ashful]

Depends how long it might sit. I just close fuel shutoff valve, then drain carb bowl using bleeder screw (some have them, some don't), and add fuel stabilizer only if tank is more than half full. If tank is below half, I've always gotten away with adding fresh fuel to the old, when running up to two years later.

 

[velvetfoot]

Is what you are saying that you turn off the fuel valve and then run the generator til it stops? I try to run the tank dry too, but I am wondering if that might not be needed. They've always started for me, but are harder to start if you drain the gas.

 

[Light in the Dark]

No I leave the valve open and truly run it dry. Never really had an issue this way, or if I forget, seasoning over and getting it to start with fuel from the previous year. Damn thing is going on 20 years old now (a 5kw Honda)... just put $200 into it to be rewound and she works great still (not spending the $400 they want to fix the auto throttle though). Saving my shekels for a nice prime power diesel genny (maybe 8-10kw) with 275g fuel reserve.

 

[Light in the Dark]

And to answer the other question, the pig is full at the moment. Ran the old fuel out of it last November, before the stormy season started.

 

[velvetfoot]

I like your diesel idea, as I'm in the same boat with the 275g, and then wouldn't have to deal with additional big gallon propane tank.

just put $200 into it to be rewound

I've heard that sometimes generators will lose their magnetism (or something like that), if they haven't been run for a long while, and stop putting out the juice, and that it's a simple fix to get it charged up again. Did you use it a lot and did it definitely need rewinding? Too late now, just wondering.

 

[Light in the Dark]

Wasn't putting out any juice. Brought it to the dealer I bought it from all those years ago. Pretty reasonable price to rewind and put new brushes in.

 

[Light in the Dark]

I want something like this: http://www.centralmainediesel.com/order/KB900.asp?page=KB900
Build a room off the back of my garage, and install it on a pad, as well as the 275g tank, and ride out any disturbance (including partial grid failure). Only consumes .4gph at half load (about what my Honda does at max now)... about 690 hours of continual running on a full tank. Pretty sure that could be stretched to many many months in a SHTF situation.

Edit: It is also only an 1800rpm unit too, so its quieter and MADE to last.

 

[velvetfoot]

It's a Kubota, lol. I've had a hankering for a Kubota for years, only with the rest of the tractor attached.

 

[jotul8e2]

I keep a minimal amount of fuel in mine and power the house with it for a couple of hours every quarter. This keeps the windings free of corrosion, the fuel reasonably fresh, and I get a full charge on the battery.

I am going to get a dedicated battery tender for it, however.

 

[xman23]

My little 15 amp champion, has a fuel valve on the front panel. You turn it of and it runs the carb out of gas. Also the gas cap has a vent seal slider, that you close after its cooled down. So no guessing here that's what they want you to do. This method has worked fine for a few years. I keep the tank filled with stabilized gas. Run it every three months then shut it down as I described. It depends on the type of carb, some will leave a little fuel in the bowl even when you run them out. I guess non in the jet that would dry out and plug it. All my other equipment I leave the carb wet with stabilizer in it for the winter, and run monthly or so.

 

[CordWrangler]

I always put stabilizer in my gas when I get it. I start my generator and my snowblower once a quarter and let it run for 20 minutes. This has worked well for me.
CW

 

[cachunko]

I store it full of fuel with stabilizer in it. I don't run the carb dry. The stabilizer prevents it from getting gummed up, and fuel in the system prevents any water build up. My gas tank is metal and the manual suggests keeping it full of fuel, to prevent condensation, thus preventing corrosion on the tank. I change the fuel out every two years if it's not used. I also start it up every few months and let it run for a bit. My father in law, an electrician, said you should also put a load on the generator (like a hair dryer). He said something to the effect that it helps maintain the polarity in the magnets in the generator. No clue if it's true, but I do it

 

[Highbeam]

Me too. Genset is only filled with stabilized gas. Adding Sta-Bil to each 5 gallon can of fuel is cheap insurance against all sorts of stale fuel related issues. I will turn the petcock to off, let the carb run dry, and make sure the metal genset tank is topped off and ready to go again.

 

[Chimney Smoke]

Like others, I have Stabil in the fuel and every few months I start it and then close the fuel valve to run the carb dry.

 

[TimfromMA]

I leave my generator's tank empty. Twice a year I dump in a little bit of gas and let it run until it's empty.

 

[NYSB]

I used to use Stabil for my Briggs and Straton generator, and run it every few months while hooked to a load. However, I have since converted it to run on Natural Gas. It's a rather simple do-it-yourself job and I had a plumber install an exterior natural gas outlet a few feet from the generator shed. I have a 10 foot length of industrial-duty flexible rubber gas line to get the gas to the generator and I never have to worry about gasoline! The carb never gets gummed up, it runs quiter and smoother, and I can keep it running for days if needed. Another benefit is much less carbon monoxide so it's safer. A similar conversion kit can also be used for propane or CNG if you do not have a city gas line. This was great a couple of years ago after a Hurricane. We were without power for a full week and all the local gas stations were empty due to the ports being shut down. I do still run the generator for a few hours with a load every 2-3 months.

 

[TimfromMA]

No NG on my street.