Look what I picked up look what I picked up at costco.

[AllanEdie]

I fought literally for years with storage problems with our 8hp Yamaha outboard. Even with fuel preservative, after a winter of storage, I would run into carb plugging the following season. Usually not at the beginning of the season... Once the problem almost resulted in a nighttime row back to the sailboat on the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Islands. Not fun, especially for the better half. She was not happy.





The solution I found that changed everything was that I now fill the fuel circuit completely with fresh paint thinner for storage, and then drain it before running the following season. The engine now runs perfectly from the get go every time.



The bizarre thing is that our 8 hp Honda snowblower has never once in over twenty years required anything other than filling with preserved fuel for the storage period. Go figure.

[Ian and Sue]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

I've never had a generator but I'm tempted to buy this one. I don't know how to maintain one-- do you need to run it periodically so that it's engine stays healthy? I would think so.

I have a honda 3000is and run it once a month under some sort of load is best(run your drill battery charger). Keep adding gas stabilizer once in a while too. I don't know about this generator but old style big gensets need the generator part to be run once in a while to keep the pickups on the rotator and stator clean and shiny too.

[mylo-pat@sbcglobal.net]

I use aircraft fuel no problems with shellac build up as they don't wat airplanes falling out of the sky everyday.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by BigSwede

Just check the oil before each use, and never use ethanol gas in an engine that sees infrequent use. Spend the little extra cash for non-ethanol, prevents gumming up your carburetor and will keep good a LOT longer.

THIS.

Used to have nothing but trouble in pressure washers, chain saws, etc. I used fuel stabilizers of various types with not much of an effect. The real fix was to use non-ethanol fuel. That's it. Everything fires up now on the first or second pull, even if not used for over a year. I had an old chain saw that I got running last spring, and had forgotten about. When we had the big freeze a couple weeks ago, and I needed to go cut some logs for the fireplace, I grabbed it out of a very cold garage (7F), and it started without issue. I never used to have the ethanol free gas option close by, until they built a QT station only 8 miles from the house.

[kiekhaefer]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

Some folks leave gas in the tank, (non-ethanol, highly recommended) and add a gas stabilizer, like Sea Foam or others.


Some generators (mine) have a carburetor/tank drain so you can run it dry.


If left with gas in, some folks run it for 1/2 hour per month.


Hard to say which is best. I drain and run things dry. Once a month operation is logical, to know if the unit will run, but folks forget.


Gas with ethanol is very problematic for long term storage.


There's aerosol fogging spray oil that is used prior to storage into the carb to coat things before empty storage.

I have never in my 60 years had an issue with "old gas" or "bad gas" or "varnish" in a gas tank. And I have left gas in the tank or a can for years - started up and no problem. My own view is that gas only goes bad if your tank is not airtight and the more volatile components escape, leaving behind the heavier hydrocarbons. Not telling anyone else what to do, just my experience.

[JimCO]

There are non-ethonal fuels available on Amazon. Here's the one I've purchased:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QT1KLO..._RXS9GXPl8StLj

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by JimCO

There are non-ethonal fuels available on Amazon. Here's the one I've purchased:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009QT1KLO..._RXS9GXPl8StLj

Very expensive, like $23/gallon....why not just run the item until it it becomes empty?

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Very expensive, like $23/gallon....why not just run the item until it it becomes empty?

Pollution for one. A Stihl weed wacker will run forever on the gas in the carb. I don't have the patience.
And here's a carb bowl from my generator that got contaminated by water in gas.

[thetugboater]

there is an app that you can download to your smart phone called "Pure Gas". With that app you can locate stations that sell ethanol-free gas. Stations are shown either in a list or on a map.

[campokish]

TruFuel available at

https://trufuel50.com/where-to-buy/

[freetodream]

Anybody tried a duel fuel generator and just run it on propane? I'm thinking about this one:

PWE10079 Champion 2500W Dual Fuel Inverter Generator

(The lowest price I've seen is $599.00.)

[Bea]

Originally Posted by freetodream

Anybody tried a duel fuel generator and just run it on propane? I'm thinking about this one:

PWE10079 Champion 2500W Dual Fuel Inverter Generator

(The lowest price I've seen is $599.00.)

Yup. But we have the 2000W Dual Fuel Champion Generator:

https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Powe...5426265&sr=8-3

I see that the 2000W and the 2500W Champion Dual Fuel both weigh only 39 lbs and ours works well on propane. So I would expect the 2500W one to work well, if not better! -Bea

[Farmerdoug]

Their are some gas stations that carry Rec Fuel (non-ethonol) at the pump, it was under $5 a gallon. I use it for my generators and all outdoor power equipment.
Check Circle K or google for locations

[oldwave]

I bought the firman, 350 was too good a price. Haven’t tried it yet, but there’s a station close by that sells no ethanol gas.