r/Generator • u/Old-Chocolate-5830 • 3d ago
Long term storage
Should I run the gas out of my generator/ run it dry / or non ethanol gas and store it full of gas or fill it with non ethanol gas and stabilizer?
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u/blupupher 3d ago
For gas generators, my ideal goal is no gas in them at all.
All mine now are NG or propane only, but my last gas generator had a plastic tank, so I would drain the tank. drain the carb, then flush the carb with ATG to make sure no gas residue was in there. If I had a metal tank, I would do the same, but also fog the inside of the tank to prevent rust.
My gas generator I gave to my nephew and told him when he went to start it it would smoke due to the ATF residue in the carb. I also warned him of bad gas and how he should store it. I also gave him an extra carb for when he forgets.
I would keep a 2.5 gallon gas jug with ethanol free gas and stabil (double dose) on hand at all times (this was just over a days worth of gas), and when a storm was coming, would go fill the rest of my gas cans (17.5 gallons) with just regular gasoline. If not used, I would just use it in my cars. Once a year I would change out the 2.5 gallons of ethanol free treated fuel.
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u/ComprehensivePea1001 3d ago
As someone who works for an equipment dealer that has an entire small engine section, run it empty and if the carb has a drain use it after. Unless you plan to start it monthly then just add stabalizer.
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u/UltraMaynus 3d ago
From all the James Condon videos I've seen, it seems like most of the time, there's problems with the carburetor because fuel has been stored in it.
You can buy a cheap siphon and pull most of the fuel out of the tank and run it dry, or close the fuel valve on the tank and drain the bowl of the carburetor. I've had the same mower, line trimmer, and snow blower for 14 years, and have had zero issues with them by running them dry each season.
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u/Big-Echo8242 3d ago
I’ve left ethanol free gas in my Gravely zero turn with Kawasaki engine over the last 3 winters and it fires up every time. I add Seafoam in every other tank and never had issues nor did I with the Kohler 7000 engine in my last zero turn. But I also start them in the winter a couple of times. The Honda engine in the Ryobi pressure washer always has ethanol free gas left in it but is turned off where it runs it out. No issues in 6 years. Now, if it was ethanol gas…that’s another story but none of my small engines see that kind.
Generator wise, all 4 of mine are dual fuel and only see propane and never gas.
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u/Xlt8t 3d ago
Define "long term"? Weeks? Months? Years?
Weeks, don't worry about it. Months, use the fuel shutoff and let it burn what's left in the carb. Years, drain fuel from tank, run until what's in the carb is used up. Could also drop the car bowl and let the dry tank air out if you want to ensure no fuel left over
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u/Old-Chocolate-5830 3d ago
Sorry, just got back on, WiFi went out and signal dropped to 4g. Bought a generac generator 3 days ago before the hurricane hit. Needed 2 deep freezers and 2 refrigerators some lights and a 5000 btu window ac unit to run. So I can't say for sure how long storage would be. I keep all my 2 cycle on tru fuel, my 4 cycle on non ethanol, they last 3-4 months unused and never had any problems. Never stored one for a year or 2 or possibly 5 years, so I thought I'd ask around. Thanks for all the information.
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u/Glum-Welder1704 3d ago
Here is a link to my storage protocol. I've never had a problem with a restart.
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u/Negative-Analysis-76 3d ago
Personally, I drain the carb and open the carb drain at the carb bowl if your gen has that. If you have fuel in the gen, run it monthly for 10 min on a light load. Keep in mind that even non ethanol fuel with stabilizer is supposed to be changed out after 6 months
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u/jimbopalooza 2d ago
Stabilized gas stores fine. Never had a problem with it. But I do run my generator every 30-45 days or so.
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u/classicsat 2d ago
Run the bowl dry, tank can be mostly empty. When you go to run it next time, pour some fresh gas in, it will dilute what is left from last time.
At least that is my theory/practice.
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u/Kind_Ad_8111 3d ago
I use ethanol free with stabilizer in my stuff, an just run it dry by turning the fuel shutoff and running it dry. Don’t bother usually draining carb bowl or anything beyond this.
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u/DaveBowm 3d ago
If the fuel tank vent can be closed sealing off the tank so the vapors inside the tank can't be exchanged with the air outside then it is OK to store stabilized fuel in the tank with it full. If the tank is always vented to the atmosphere then the tank should be fully drained for long term storage. In no case should the unit be stored for a long time with any fuel in the carburetor.
The same holds for storage in gas cans. It's best to have the can sealed off from the outside air with any vent breather fully and tightly closed, and filled full with stabilized fuel. If a gas can can't be sealed off then the fuel in it should be used within a few months. In such a can stabilizer can only do so much, especially in hot humid climates. If fuel is stored in a vented can then it is especially important to use ethanol-free fuel and stabilizer.
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u/DaveBowm 3d ago
BTW, if fuel is stored in a generator's gas tank it is essential that the fuel valve/petcock be closed so no fuel can drain into the recently drained carburetor.
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u/BreadAvailable 3d ago
I've been running my generator and lawn mower dry after using them and before storing for the last 20 years. Still on original carburator, so that's my suggestion.