Do I need to drain gas from my generator?

[chazzz]

The power went off for several hours and I decided to use my Honda EU2000i generator to light up my house - first time to use it. The power restored and I shut it off. I don't think I'll use it again for a long time, should I drain gas from my generator (to prevent from "gummed up" inside of tank? and let it run until the carb gets dry?

 

[James-W]

A lot of people drain the fuel from their mowers or snowblowers or whatever piece of equipment they have before they store it for long periods of time. Other people use Seafoam of Stabil to prevent the gasoline from causing problems. If you use non-alcohol gasoline in your small engines I would think you would have less problems overall. But I would start the generator at least every other month and run the tank dry and then put fresh non-alcohol gasoline in the tank.

In any case, I would think either way, draining the tank or using a gasoline stabilizer, would work out well for you.

 

[rayra]

I run mine every few months as a function check and to keep the generating head energized. I typically hit the fuel cutoff and let the carb run dry. That's been working for me for several years, but I live in the desert southwest with no hard freezes. And I try to keep ethanol-adulterated gasoline out of my engines.

 

[PCustoms]

Is there a fuel shutoff?

Dump some stabilizer in the tank and run it for ~10 minutes to get the stabilized gas into the carb. Then shut the shutoff and let it run dry.

 

[Rickster]

I always drain and run it out of fuel. Never had a start-up problem after long periods of storage.

 

[Stuart in MN]

A generator should be exercised regularly to make sure it's ready to go when you do need it. Run it once a month or so, and that should keep it from getting gummed up.

 

[mmb617]

A generator should be exercised regularly to make sure it's ready to go when you do need it. Run it once a month or so, and that should keep it from getting gummed up.

That's exactly what I do and no problems so far. I don't like to let any gasoline powered equipment set too long without being run. I start my snowblower and let it run till warm a couple times during the summer and do the same with my lawn tractor during the winter.

The snowblower and lawn tractor are both over 20 years old and never give me any major problems. My generator isn't as old but I can't see why the same procedure wouldn't work with it.

 

[Showkey]

Drain the gas is option. Especially for extended periods of storage.

My choice is:
Non ethanol fuel in the tank. ( so its ready to go)
Stabil in gas as a precaution. Should last a year or two. With no issues.

BUT:
Drain the carb as per the instructions. (That ounce or two will go bad over time. (evaporation )
Pull the starter rope so the piston is top dead center valves closed. ( This stops sticking open valves)

https://cdn.powerequipment.honda.com/pe/pdf/manuals/31Z07610.pdf

 

[CraigStu]

I always drain mine and run it dry. I plan to run several times per year but somehow I don't always do that.

 

[ace10]

What does the owner's manual say?

 

[Neggy]

I have several of those EU's. I stabilize the gas and drain the carb bowl.

I also run them every couple of months

make sure you keep up with the valve adjustments if you have lots of hours on it

not hard to do but vital for long term reliability

The oldest one in my fleet is 13 years old, starts on the first pull every time

 

[FMB4]

Like others, I use Stabil followed by running the tank dry. Sometimes I'll use 2-cycle premix at maybe 60-75: 1 on 4 cycle engines that I don't plan on running anytime soon. However, I try to run my L mower, snow thrower, and various line trimmers every month or so.

 

[johninct]

The power went off for several hours and I decided to use my Honda EU2000i generator to light up my house - first time to use it. The power restored and I shut it off. I don't think I'll use it again for a long time, should I drain gas from my generator (to prevent from "gummed up" inside of tank? and let it run until the carb gets dry?

YES!!!!!

 

[dcg9381]

If it gets gas and sits, it gets drained. Note, it's not the tank that I worry about, it's the carb. Non-ethanol fuel in the tank, 100LL, or maybe even stabilized gas can sit for a long time as long as that tank is full. But the carbs, they are the issue.
All of my generators get drained. Not only the tank, but I drain the carbs.

 

[NUTTSGT]

What kind of gas are you using ?

 

[firebirdparts]

I run mine dry. Had it for about 20 years now.

 

[nadogail]

If you are depending on being able to use the generator for Emergency power, I would not drain the tank. I would treat the gas and run the carburetor dry, keeping treated gas in the tank. The amount of gas in the should not be so much that it gets stale before it is refreshed. The **** gas that we are being sold today does not store like the gas of years ago.

 

[unslow1]

I drain all my stuff and then keep a few gallons in a gas can so I can fire them up whenever I need to. What doesn't get used in the mowers I rotate through the driving vehicles after a few months and refill the jugs with fresh fuel. If you don't have a drain some things I use a turkey baster on to **** out as much fuel as possible. Then I fire them up and run them out of fuel. Rebuilding carbs that the fuel turned in is a pain in the ****.

 

[Monte406SS]

I drain my gas from my mower and snowblower every year. Used to use the fuel stabilizer instead but found the next season it was a bit tough to start.

Have you looked into converting it to propane? I converted my Powerstroke gen I got like 8 years ago (has a Honda 390gx engine) over to be able to use all 3. Gas, propane or natural gas. Hasn't had a drop of gas in it ever, but could if needed. With the leftover hurricane weather coming to NJ starting tomorrow, I rolled my gen out for the first time in years. Of course the battery for the elec start was too low to crank, but I connected it to a 20lb propane tank and on the first pull of the rope it fired right up. No need to worry about stale fuel. Here is where I got mine 8+ years ago. Just a suggestion.

Generator Conversion Kits to Propane and Natural Gas.

Generator conversion kits to propane, lp gas and natural gas for most gasoline generators and engines.

www.uscarburetion.com

 

[Badgerstate]

The power went off for several hours and I decided to use my Honda EU2000i generator to light up my house - first time to use it. The power restored and I shut it off. I don't think I'll use it again for a long time, should I drain gas from my generator (to prevent from "gummed up" inside of tank? and let it run until the carb gets dry?

I would just put some Stabil in the gas and run it for about 10 minutes to make sure that the treated gas gets into the carb. Completely draining the tank isnt really a good idea because it can introduce condensation into the tank and eventually into the entire fuel system.
Putting Stabil in the fuel and completely filling the tank eliminates any chance of condensation in the fuel system.

 

[like2wheel]

What kind of gas are you using ?

This is an important question. Gas that does not contain ethanol is much better for storage.

If you can shut off the fuel to the carburetor, then the fuel tank is no different than the gas can that people suggest you transfer it to.
I consider it additional storage.

 

[dcg9381]

Completely draining the tank isnt really a good idea because it can introduce condensation into the tank and eventually into the entire fuel system

Horse plucky. Have you never lived in Texas? Just leave the cap off in Texas, I promise not a drop of water will be in there. I mean, I get it if you've got a 100 gallon tank, but on any thing small?

I'm being serious though, I'd rather check a tank for condensation (water) - which might be present under certain conditions rather than leave fuel in there to go back.. Especially ethanol fuel. And aren't all tanks vented? They have to deal with off-gassing of fuel that evaporates as well as a decrease in volume if you use the fuel.

 

[kelpaso1]

I'm being serious though, I'd rather check a tank for condensation (water) - which might be present under certain conditions rather than leave fuel in there to go back.. Especially ethanol fuel. And aren't all tanks vented? They have to deal with off-gassing of fuel that evaporates as well as a decrease in volume if you use the fuel.

Yes and no. On Honda gens like his you can turn the vent off with the lever on top of the gas cap.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The power went off for several hours and I decided to use my Honda EU2000i generator to light up my house - first time to use it. The power restored and I shut it off. I don't think I'll use it again for a long time, should I drain gas from my generator (to prevent from "gummed up" inside of tank? and let it run until the carb gets dry?

The short answer is YES, TO BOTH !

 

[theoldwizard1]

This is an important question. Gas that does not contain ethanol is much better for storage.

Better, yes, but even with fuel stabilizer I would not trust E00 after a year.

 

[slow]

I drain the bowl on all of my Honda powered generators. My Eu2000, and GX390 powered blackmax unit. The blackmax unit, I got for free from a neighbor with 1 hour on the hour meter. He put fuel in it back in 2008 for a hurricane, turned off the gas valve, but did not drain the carb, in 2018, he tried to start it, would not start. I tried to clean the carb, and the passages were blocked and the bit of gas in the bowl was like stinky varnish. Since the generator had 1 hour on the meter, I splurged for a Honda OEM carb, ($82 vs $22 knock off) and it fired first pull and runs like a champ. My procedure is run it twice a years, once before and once after hurricane season for a good 20-30 minutes, turn off gas valve and drain the bowl. I try to only run ethanol free in the EU2000.

 

[RickyPetite]

I service my generator twice a year. That includes running it for an hour or so and topping off with ethanol free gas plus stabilizer. Getting the engine up to running temp helps clear water from the system. I turn off the gas and let the carb run dry. Regarding stabilizer, I prefer Star Brite over Stabil. Stabil has a shelf life, Star Brite does not. Stabil reportedly keeps gas fresh for 1 year, Star Brite 2 years. 10+ year old Generac still runs like new.

 

[Cardboard Man]

I think products sold as fuel stabilizers are really just wallet lighteners. I can only buy ethanol gas here, so I keep the generator full at all times and exercise it monthly without fail. After about 3 months without sustained use, I will drain the gas from the generator and use it in something else after refueling the generator with fresh gas. This has worked for me for many years and my generator starts on the first crank every time.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

I have owned my generator for 9 years now. I intended to exercise it every month, and did so at first, but for at least the last 5 years, that has slipped to once every 2 or 3 months. I always put an electrical load on it during exercise runs. I keep about 20 gallons of fuel on hand, all get treated with Stabil on day of purchase. That fuel gets used on an oldest first basis in the zero turn and other gasoline powered equipment. If the generator hasn’t run enough to burn through a tank after a year or two, it gets siphoned out and refilled with the freshest fuel with Stabil. I don’t run the carburetor dry when I shut it down. It always starts right up. My snowblower sits from the last use in winter until a test start around Thanksgiving. In all my 40 years with this place, I have never experienced a fuel related problem with any of our many 4 stroke engines.

 

[CJM8515]

every piece of gas equipment i run dry and drain the carb and tank if they are gonna sit. the only ones i dont are 2 stroke with primer bulbs as the bulbs tend to dry out. those get stabil or pri g and checked every few months

 

[RickyPetite]

Great Project Farm video on ethanol-free gasoline and corrosion.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...B2889B2A3F04A8BD4BE4B2889B2A3F04A8B&q=project farm fuel stabilizer&shtp=GetUrl&shid=dc2361a6-c14c-4a59-8abc-4248a65ab344&shtk=RG9lcyBGdWVsIFN0YWJpbGl6ZXIgUHJldmVudCBFdGhhbm9sIERhbWFnZT8gTGV0J3MgZmluZCBvdXQh&shdk=RTg1LCBFMTAgYW5kIG5vbi1ldGhhbm9sIGdhc29saW5lIGNvbXBhcmVkIGFmdGVyIDkgbW9udGhzIG9mIHN0b3JhZ2Ugd2l0aCBhbmQgd2l0aG91dCBmdWVsIHN0YWJpbGl6ZXIgKEx1Y2FzIFNhZmVndWFyZCBFdGhhbm9sIEZ1ZWwgQ29uZGl0aW9uZXIgd2l0aCBTdGFiaWxpemVycykgdG8gZGV0ZXJtaW5lIGlmIGZ1ZWwgc3RhYmlsaXplciBwcmV2ZW50cyBjb3Jyb3Npb24gYW5kIGtlZXBzIGdhc29saW5lIGZyb20gYmVjb21pbmcgc3RhbGUuIFByb2R1Y3RzIFRlc3RlZCBpbiBUaGlzIFZpZGVvOiBMdWNhcyBPaWwgU2FmZWd1YXJkIEV0aGFub2wgRnVlbCBDb25kaXRpb25lcjogaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXpuLnRvIC4uLg%3D%3D&shhk=qfeek4WHsLDJiw%2BbQQCKq%2Bj4oXS2MQHIb%2FtEV3uz8bA%3D&form=VDSHOT&shth=OVP.Ylv8bJRqnRzVIOze_vGhTgHgFo

Take home message, ethanol in gas that sits for long periods of time is awful for your engine, even with a stabilizer. Ethanol-free is the way to go for engines that use gas infrequently.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Is there a fuel shutoff?

Dump some stabilizer in the tank and run it for ~10 minutes to get the stabilized gas into the carb. Then shut the shutoff and let it run dry.

This what I do, and have had good luck.

My brand new Cub Cadet snow blower, however, has no shutoff. I'm hoping Stabil in the tank will work.

 

[sz0k30]

I guess it depends on the generator. I have a shutoff valve in line between the tank & carb. When shutting off the generator, I just turn off the valve and let it use up the gas left in the line. Never have to drain the tank.

 

[nateo]

This what I do, and have had good luck.

My brand new Cub Cadet snow blower, however, has no shutoff. I'm hoping Stabil in the tank will work.

That's what I do with the snowblower too, but man the first start in winter is a pain in the ****. I have to pull the cord like 50 times before I realise that I shut the fuel off last spring. After that she fires right up!

 

[Gastrap]

I leave all my small engines with full tanks and wet carbs. 1 oz per gallon of Seafoam with ethanol free fuel. I pulled the bowl off my 23 year old Honda powered generator when I retired it just to look, and it was as clean as new inside.

Just bought an EU7000 Honda (injected), and it will be stored full, run every 2 months, and fuel rotated yearly as always.

 

[smackey05]

I end up running it every month and use Stabil if I think there is a period of 3 or more months where I might not run it.

I shut off the fuel to the carb and let it run dry every time I shut down.

 

[onkyo]

I go to our local air port and purchase 100ll, and fill the tank up, then run my eu2200 for a bit shut the vents and that is it.

 

[tdkkart]

I'll be that guy, I don't drain or run the gas out of any of my small engine equipment, I leave them with their gas in the tank and the fuel valves left on so that any fuel that evaporates from the carb gets replace by fuel from the tank, the carbs stay wet. The most likely time to use my generator is during an ice storm, but occasionally during warm weather like after the dereacho of Aug 10th 2020. I've had more issues with rodents chewing the spark plug wires off than I have with carbs and ethanol gas. If I have fair warning I'll start the generator before an imminent disaster just to make sure it's gonna go.

 

[nadogail]

I go to our local air port and purchase 100ll, and fill the tank up, then run my eu2200 for a bit shut the vents and that is it.

I called my local general aviation airport and the fuel guy who answered the phone told me that they would not pump gas into anything but an aircraft.

 

[65ranchero]

Stabil added to the fuel containers before filling them up with e=free premium( only thing available)
Snow blower sits all summer without draining just shut off fuel supply. Cub Cadet GT sits all winter kept on a trickle charge and do start it every 6 weeks or so let it run for 15 - 20 min.
The one year I did not start it and had no fuel stabilizer in it it was the worst, very difficult in the spring and ran crappy through a tank of gas ( 2.5 gals.)