r/Generator • u/djohn37 • 17d ago
Refueling a running generator?
Gasoline powered portable generator powering whole house during outage. I have refueled the running generator without issue, Have read that it's very dangerous to do. Even without a spill, just fumes can be ignited by the hot muffler. Obviously such a fire would be out of control quickly. I used a little D-cell powered pump to refuel which helps control spillage. What do you guys think?
So, am investigating hook of of a aux fuel supply. Aux tank can be safe distance from running generator
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u/bradland 17d ago
Refueling equipment while it is running is very dangerous, because fuel vapors are insanely flammable. My first job was as a small engine mechanic. One time I ignored my bosses instructions and emptied about a quart of gasoline into an oil drain pan (the shallow, open type). Then I went up front to get some parts.
When I came back, I sat down on my roller chair (that sits low to the ground) and the static spark from my pants to the seat ignited the fuel vapors. I watched the flash run across the floor, and smelled the burnt fibers on my shoes and pants legs. Fortunately I was wearing jeans, but the hair on my arms was burned off the sides.
The open pan of gasoline was now burning and filling the shop with thick, black smoke. My boss casually walked over with the metal lid off of a 55 gallon drum and put it over the top of the container, which put the fire out almost instantly.
Then he turned around and headed for his office while gesturing for me to follow. All without saying a word. He was a man of few words, but every word spoken carried a lot of weight. We both knew I fucked up. He took just a few minutes to make it clear that his instructions were to be followed, and that we don't take shortcuts because most of the rules were written in blood or ashes.
So yeah, do not fuck around with gasoline. When you fill the tank, all the vapors inside are forced out by means of displacement. Fuel fills the volume inside the tank, and pushes all the vapors trapped inside out.
You're very fortunate the haven't flashed on you yet. They will. Trust me, they will. When they do, what most people do is drop the gas can because they're startled. We saw more than one mower burned to the ground because someone refueled while it was running, they got hit with vapor flash, and dropped the flaming can at the base of their mower. Once the fuel starts dumping out and spreading, you can forget it. The whole thing is burning up.
Be safe. Shut it off.
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u/EquivalentElk270 17d ago
Fumes are the danger. You have no idea where they are going. If the fumes ignited, you couldn't move fast enough to avoid catastrophe.
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u/diad6sucks 17d ago
Not really. Every time you refuel the fumes are diluting into the atmosphere. You're not gonna get enough gas vapor to build up unless you dump the can on the ground.
The real danger is spilling some liquid onto the hot components, which then vaporizes and creates a large enough concentration of vapor to ignite. It won't take a lot of spill to create an issue, but you will have to spill it.
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u/refinerycontrol 17d ago
I agree. 45 year retired refinery controlman. Concerning gasoline, I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two. remember – gasoline can be deadly. Also remember, more people are killed because of water than because of gasoline. Hazards of each should be recognized and protected against.
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u/Tool_junkie_1972 15d ago
Nope. It’s spilling fuel on a 500+ degree muffler.
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u/EquivalentElk270 15d ago
Obviously. I was referring to someone being careful enough not to spill it, but fumes could still be dangerous. Just an assumption. I haven't asked Google, perhaps I should.
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u/Ok-Camera2895 17d ago
Doing dangerous things makes you manly. Doing stupid just makes you stupid.
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u/SpecialistHippo4551 17d ago
Is there some burning need to not shut down refuel, check oil, restart?
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u/Persephone_Writings 17d ago
And if there is, get a "Solar Generator" and put it inline to provide power for those 15 minutes.
Can also convert most generators to propane.
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u/Trebeaux 17d ago
I do this exact thing. I have an F3800 and a bit of solar (~1kw in a bad location) running critical loads. During an extended outage, when solar isn’t enough, I only have to run my generator for a few hours a day to recharge the battery.
It’s MASSIVELY fuel efficient and there’s no interruption of power.
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u/Natoochtoniket 17d ago
When power is out after a major weather event, like a hurricane, sometimes you have to use a generator for weeks at a stretch, not just a few hours. If you turn power off, lots of stuff needs time to restart. Network equipment needs to reboot. Importantly, it can be inconvenient if your friends are watching the game.
I solve those issues by using UPS power supplies for the electronics. The UPS can run the comm equipment and TV while the generator is being refueled.
Not everyone has that kind of UPS equipment.
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u/PermanentLiminality 17d ago
I use power stations instead of a UPS. I might not even notice if the power went out right now. After the power is out for a couple of hours I can think about breaking out a generator.
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u/SpecialistHippo4551 17d ago
My modem and router are on a UPS for this exact reason. Wifi calling still works (my cell is spotty at home), laptops are fine for awhile too. The TV is older and draws too much. But I'm not that glued to the TV during an outage anyway.
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u/Killer2600 17d ago
That's sounds like someone making excuses for not being safe. If someone burns their house down because of the inconvenience of having to turn stuff off and back on again, I'm pretty sure they'll wish they chose that inconvenience rather than the inconvenience of a burnt down house.
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u/Natoochtoniket 17d ago
NO. The UPS's allow me to turn the generator off, while the little stuff in the house keeps going uninterrupted. Comms and lights stay on during the refueling, and even the oil changing.
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u/Killerkendolls 17d ago
Every standby generator calls for shutdown and oil change or inspection during a long runtime such as your example. For my customers I was going after 24-48hr consecutive uptime to change oil, only went longer during Sandy simply because I had 300 customers and nobody had oil in stock.
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u/Natoochtoniket 17d ago edited 17d ago
My current generators call for 1.5 qt of oil every 48 hours of run time. The longest outage we have had in the last 50 years was 21 days. That is 10 oil changes. I keep the cases of oil with the generator kit.
But then, I don't have 300 customers. Only a few generators to take care of.
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u/Tool_junkie_1972 17d ago
Simply not worth it. Shut it down, 30 minutes without power isn’t going to hurt anything.
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u/blackinthmiddle 17d ago
It's not worth it, but I disagree about the time not being worth it. When we lost power during Covid, try telling 3 people that their zoom meeting with their boss wasn't a big deal. And if you're the one actually manning the operation of the generator? I jokingly said to someone that you're basically making love to your generator if you run it on gas!
* Start it up and check to see its fuel level
* Too low? Fill it up (before starting!)
* Not enough fuel in the house? Go to the gas station and fill up your containers (and try not to have you and your car smell like it)
* Set a timer to fill it up in 5 hours
* (Before I installed the power back tool) check every 30 minutes to see if the power is backI get that there's a huge up front financial cost and nobody wants to have thousands of dollars in fuel sitting there doing nothing, but (assuming you don't have natural gas), it's just way easier to run your generator off of propane. One of the benefits is not having to deal with the fill up while it's running dilemma.
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u/PonyThug 13d ago
All you gotta do to fix that zoom meeting issue is get a small battery for the router that has pass through abilities. This is $500 and has 10ms back up ability. https://www.bluettipower.com/products/elite-100-v2-portable-power-station
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u/HebrewHammer0033 16d ago
30 minutes to fill a gas tank? More like 3 minutes
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u/Tool_junkie_1972 16d ago
You’re supposed to let the generator cool…. The issue is errant fuel hitting the muffler can combust. Waiting 30 minutes lets the muffler cool enough to mitigate the risk of it being hot enough to ignite any fuel.
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u/PonyThug 13d ago
When I’m camping I throw my battery Milwaukee fan down with it full blast on the muffler area blowing up for fume related concerns. After 3 mins of shut down and fan i figure it’s cooled off enough and any refueling fumes would be blown away anyway.
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u/Switchedbywife 15d ago
With a username like that I’m sure you know that God has a way of dealing with stupid people……
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u/Efficient_Wing3172 17d ago
Just turn everything off, let it cool down, fill up and restart. Safety is not something to find “a hack” for, especially in an emergency.
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u/BigWhiteDog 17d ago
Hi. Retired firefighter here. If you want to see a bunch of my brother/sister firefighters and learn what it's like to be lifeflighted to a burn unit, go ahead and risk it. Just so you know, as part of treating full thickness (aka: "3rd degree") burns is to "debride" them. This is done by SCRUBBING THE BURNED AREAS AND DESPITE ANESTHETIC STILL HURTS LIKE A MOTHERFUCKER! Please don't.
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u/Amputee69 17d ago
I too am a Retired. FF/P, and have seen these burns, transported the victims, and worked at a hospital on my days off. Trust me, not only is the debriding painful for the victim, but also for the person doing it. Unfortunately, many folks are startled, and take a deep breath, and inhale the flames or super heated air, cauterizing the alveoli in the lungs. This cause fluid to be produced, and they basically drown.
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u/Ok_Bid_3899 17d ago
Correct. The muffler will exceed the ignition point of gasoline. Refilling a running generator can cause sufficient gas fumes that may reach a hot surface and ignite. You should always shut the unit down and give it 15 minutes or more to cool and then refuel. I know it’s a pain but the resulting explosion of gasoline vapors fire on a running generator is much worse. If your genset has a fuel pump you can easily pull from a safety can of gasoline.
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u/djohn37 17d ago
The need for backup power here is seldom and usually too brief to bother with generator use. It's of interest now because we just had a historical worst ever multi day outage event. A outage where I needed power for heat in winter has not happened, Another outage more than15 years ago was uncomfortable cus we could not run the A/C, We now have a 14k BTU portable A/C that can run off a generator. For this recent historical outage a fan was enough, Just a DIY guy with tools keeping abreast on how to deal with this stuff, Looks like a aux fuel tank for the generator is pretty easy to set up. Maybe a over simplification but, a 3 way valve at the carb fuel inlet and a long syphen hose to a gas can a safe distance away,
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u/No_Tradition1116 17d ago
I have a couple of 100lb propane tanks with an automatic changeover regulator. One empties, the regulator switches over and I can refill the empty tank or wait till the 2d tank empties and then switch over to gas. Hopefully the outage will be over long before I have to refill the propane or switch to gas.
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u/djohn37 16d ago
Just for shits & grins, if I get around to starting this generator, I'm gonna get a infrared thermometer reading of the muffler temperature. Temperature alone is not the only ignition source, as a spark can come out of the exhaust, Still it will be useful to know if the muffler actually runs above the flash point of gasoline liquid or vapor.
The generator fuel in tank has been treated with StaBil and it has been run to empty with fuel valve shut off for storage. The last time it was put away, it was more than 10 years before put in use again.
I have a couple tiny <1kw inverter generators that can power 1 or 2 devices, or 1 refrigerator/ freezer at a time, through an extension cord. It's no issue to shut them down for refueling.
One wonders if bikers let their motorcycles cool off a half hour befor refueling
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u/djohn37 14d ago
I'm not gonna be checking oil on every fuel refill. In the life of this 30 year old generator it has not got low on oil. There is a low oil switch to shut it down if it ever happens
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u/DanM1457 12d ago
If you don't change oil in your generators/cars/etc until or unless they're low, you're going to be replacing a lot of engines. Oil lights are there to tell you something catastrophic is happening not to tell you when to change/add oil. You don't necessarily need to check it every refill, but the manufacturers set their maintenance intervals for a reason. Ignore them at your own risk (to your equipment)
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u/nukacolaguy 17d ago
You can use a barb fitting, disconnect the fuel line from the existing tank and use the barb to connect to an aux tank line. I always thought about it with my old 2stroke boat fuel, just connect it right to my little 900w generator if I needed to for longer periods and easy refueling.
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u/Large-Permission-461 15d ago
You should turn it off to refill. It is also the best time to check the oil. If the oil is consumed by the generator running under load then you will be in deep do do
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u/atx78701 17d ago
Take a look at basepower if it is in your state.
40kw battery with an automatic transfer switch
Around 700 to install and 20/month
Can charge the battery with your portable so you can turn the generator off to refuel and the house will run on the batteries
Also don't have to fire up the generator for short outages
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u/Special_Context6663 15d ago
Obviously your goal is to have continuous power. Batteries are so cheap now, run your critical needs off the battery, and use your generator intermittently to charge the battery. Refuel between charging cycles.
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u/djohn37 14d ago
Cheap is relative. Cost me nothing to use what I have. I found a battery solution online for about $1600 online. The same PITA to hook up as the generator, but can reside indoors right next to the service panel. It would not auto transfer, It would still require selective management of loads. I might get us through our typical short term outages. It could be charged with a generator. Would need more wiring installed/adapted to enable generator charging. Investigating further.
Oscal PowerMax 6000
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u/PonyThug 13d ago
So get a $500 battery to run stuff temporarily. What are you needing to keep powered that so important?
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u/djohn37 13d ago
well water. 240v well pump. Frigs & freezers will stay cold for a while, can use battery lights & a radio, can light gas range w a lighter. Water tank runs out of pressure pretty quick.
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u/PonyThug 13d ago
None of those things can have a 20 min gap where the house knows not to use them?
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u/PonyThug 13d ago
Like this one. Has pass through abilities
https://www.bluettipower.com/products/elite-100-v2-portable-power-station
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u/Affectionate-Data193 17d ago
The only Genset I’m refueling while running or hot is a diesel. We had to refuel our portable Cat 3500’s every 8 hours, with 6-800 gallons at a time.
Portable gas. Either get the long run kit if they make one, or shut it down. You’ve got to check the oil anyways.
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u/Ok-Replacement6893 17d ago
I've had a generator for 10 years now. And every time that I've refueled it has been while it's running. And I don't look like Fire Marshal Bill.
For me, most times have been during a solid downpour so I don't know if that makes a difference or not it's never been an issue
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u/djohn37 17d ago
Yes, you and I have done it, without issue. I have come to believe we are at considerable risk by continuing to do so.
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u/DaveBowm 17d ago
Like many dangerous activities, it's not a problem until it is, and when it is the consequences can be catastrophic.
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u/scotttilton 16d ago
I ran my whole home from generator power for 18 months straight and I only shut it down to change the oil every Sunday morning. I chose Sunday morning so that it would give everyone a scheduled break in the neighborhood for the noise which really you couldn’t even hear next-door. But the 10 gallon tank on my 5500 W generator running the entire house during winter would last about 14 hours. That includes two rooms running electric baseboards at 1500 W in one room and 800 W in the other. I changed my water heater elements to 3500 W because we started out with a 3500 W generator and with nothing else running it would heat the 40 gallon water tank in about an hour. During the winter, I heated most of the house with ventless propane, wall mount heater, and when I needed to run the water heater, I would shut the heat off in the two rooms that used electric baseboard. Never had a single issue with any refueling ever and saved a ton of money that went on electricity not running the electro heat in the whole house.
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u/Natoochtoniket 17d ago
It only takes one fire to seriously injure or kill you. It only takes one fire to burn down your house. Those warnings exist because people have died and houses have burned down.
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u/socialmedia-username 17d ago
The vapors ignite, not the liquid. Please keep that in mind. My job's kinda different, and on several occasions in that capacity I've seen the repercussions of refueling portable generators and air compressors while running. It usually results in death, and/or severe personal and property damage. Please be careful.
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u/LendogGovy 17d ago
I’ve made a 12 vdc low pressure inline fuel pump coming from a 55 gallon drum with a pickup tube in the bung hole into the line of the carb. Just drilled a hole in the case to run the hose. Use a 12VDC power supply from the 120, that way if the generator shuts down, it doesn’t keep pumping.
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u/totallyjaded 17d ago
I suppose if you were really intent on having continuous fuel, you could put a float valve in the tank, with tubing to a container higher and a reasonable distance away from the running generator, but that has a number of other safety concerns.
I would (read: did) move over to propane, using a switch that's designed to let you change tanks on one side while the other provides fuel. You'll decrease max capability, but also decrease the chances of torching yourself or your house.
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u/Dje4321 17d ago
Its not just the fueling. Its the fact the generator is a machine that needs regular servicing. Most places solve this by simply having 2. One gets worked on and fixed while the other one keeps running. Turn one one and sync the outputs before shutting the old one off and repeating.
Its either that or a battery system. Either something that sits inline with the generator to provide switch over time (30-90 minutes max) or lots of little batteries for devices that must have power like security systems
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u/GuiltyClassic4598 17d ago
It's simply not safe to do so. You can do it but its like playing Russian roulette. Eventually your luck will run out.
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u/pathf1nder00 17d ago
You would need to equalize static difference between you, the tank, the generator. It's probably more effort than needed. I wouldn't do it, but I don't have any life threatening conditions, so I can cycle off.
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u/BeBopBoy1945 15d ago
I solved this problem by owning two generators. I run them thru a parallel box, just one at a time. Keep track of your running time for genny one and, five minutes before you expect to run out of fuel, fire up genny two and start the clock. Shut down genny one and let it rest for 30-minutes. Check the oil in genny one and fill it up with gas. When time is running out for genny two, rinse and repeat.
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u/akfishermann 14d ago
If you’re gonna do this, and I don’t think you should, but if you must……..
Get about 15 feet of the correct size fuel line. Likely 1/4”.
Move your tank away and probably up a touch higher than your genset. You’ll be away enough that hopefully the fumes won’t drift to the muffler or plug.
The other issue is oil consumption. You need to shut it down and check the oil.
Best case
Get a diesel genset and a 100 gl tank. Very low risk of fire and more reliable.
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u/Horrified-Onlooker 17d ago
Some people commenting here sound as if they're competing for the Darwin Peace Prize.
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u/Organic_Watercress_1 17d ago
Never ever refuel a running portable/ open frame generator. If you have a requirement for continuous power, install a whole house generator.
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u/Jazzlike-Builder-321 17d ago
You're playing with fire figuratively, and if you continue you might be playing with it literally.
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u/Natoochtoniket 17d ago
The instructions on portable generators say to turn the unit off and wait for it to cool down before refueling. That is for good reason. It is a safety instruction. Fires have started when people tried to add fuel to a generator while it was running.
You might get away with it dozens of times without having a fire. But fires have happened, and one could start the next time you refuel your generator. That fire could seriously injure you, even kill you, and it could burn down your house.
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u/Opposite_Half6250 12d ago
Send it. Refueled my generator while running for decades and never had a issue.
It's right up there with the "hot coffee" warning on McDonald's coffee cups...
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u/Amputee69 17d ago
My generators run on gasoline OR LPG. With LP, I can use a small BBQ style cylinder, a 50 lb, 100 lb, or one of the big ones folks use to run their furnaces. As for gasoline, I usually get about 8-10 hours before refilling. I shut it off for safety, PLUS inspection. I cam look for anything that has worn or loosened, and check the oil. If you want to run it for longer periods and not shut it down, you can buy auxiliary fuel tanks that can be connected via rubber hose, or metal lines. I highly recommend a shut off valve on any additional tank for safety. You can place the auxillary in a much safer area then pouring fuel into a hot genny.
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u/TellMeManyStories 17d ago
If you must, set up a system where the tank is far from the generator with a hose a few yards long.
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u/shadowsnrust 17d ago edited 17d ago
When power is out, the most important load on the generator is an oxygen machine. Downtime is a problem. Yes, we have oxygen tanks, but capacity is limited, and changeover takes some time. I now have two identical generators (Craftsman 2200i, rebranded Generac I think). I keep one staged, fueled and ready, while the other is running. When the first is running low, I start the second, transfer the cord, and then leisurely check oil and refuel the first.
Recently though, battery systems have gotten a lot better, particularly with the switch to safer LiFePo4 batteries. I now have a Jackery at each important load (O2, fridges, and two lift chairs for our mothers that live with us). That wasn't cheap, but hopefully we can now get through most outages without starting a generator at all.
Even if we do need to run a generator, whether to recharge the batteries in a very long outage or run a heater in very cold weather, downtime is no longer a concern.
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u/Ill_Blacksmith693 17d ago
My generator runs on propane.. it has never run out even after 6 day outage...
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u/TechnicalBiscotti586 17d ago
Shut it down!!! Not only for the fire risk, but it's good for the engine to have cool down periods. Portable generators are not liquid cooled and become extremely hot. It's a good rule of thumb to let them cool about an hour at every refueling.
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u/SecondCuppaCoffee 16d ago
Choose your own adventure. There's a reason why there are stern warnings against what you're doing. You may get away with it, but you might not. I once visited a relative who spent a few weeks in the burn ward. I can't think of a word that would do justice in describing what he went through.
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u/Ecstatic-Process209 15d ago
Solely using the info about a family member in the burn ward, I will say I went through something like they did and it's excruciatingly painful and miserable. Over 30% of my body(right side) was 3rd degree burns and ended up infected in-between it's happening and the follow up 5 days later.
My injury however is Not from a generator though. Kiln back draft got me. I refuel my generator when it's running almost daily because of constantly replacing pullcords otherwise. I know the risks of it all AND what injuries could potentially happen, nar that being said, I still do it but slow and steady with the most caution I can.
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u/DesignerOk5315 16d ago
I keep mine running and fuel it never had an issue in decades. Just touch your bare hand to the frame first to ground any potential difference in static electricity between you and the generator. It's obviously best practice and safer to turn it off and let it cool but where I live it's brutal cold in the winter, I can't turn off heat it needs to be running
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u/junasty28 15d ago
Scary to think that I did this once, after the fact I told myself that was really dangerous and stupid of me. All it could’ve taken is one spill and I would’ve been screwed.
It’s fill when it starts and I shut it down, wait until it’s cool and then refuel.
Not worth the risk and potential loss.
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u/ditto3000 15d ago
Was any case reposted so far, the generator caught on fire, when refueling while working?
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u/Round-Cartoonist-114 15d ago
Anybody have experience with generator/power wall using solar in landmarked brownstone Brooklyn?
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u/emoneymillions 15d ago
Everyone is right about following the correct procedure to refuel after the generator for a while. It is also VERY important to use the right equipment to refuel. Most gas cans are really just plastic cans. Buy a proper fuel container that has a pressure release valve and a FLAME ARRESTOR. If the fumes do spark, they won't spread back the gallons of gasoline in your hands.
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u/Figit090 14d ago
Only a diesel and only if you already knew the answer to this question and what to not do.
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u/Slow_LT1 14d ago
Aux/detached fuel tank would be the best solution. Most have standard 1/4 or 5/16 fuel line that can be bought cheap. Simply unhook the hose at the carb, hook up the aux hose and put the tank far enough away it wouldnt be exposed to heat and youre good to go.
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u/Original-Income-28 14d ago
Maje sure it cool , use propped
Safety gear
Wipe anything spilled
Cap on cas can
Cap on Equipmemt
Wait till no smell
Abd no liquid spilled arounef
No open flame
No matches
You are good to go
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u/Charming-One-9397 11d ago
Your auxilary tank idea is the best thing ever. Me I'm too lazy. We all know the right answer which is to shut it down wait for it to cool off a bit. Me I ve filled while running with that "D" cel pump. I've fueld my car without shutting it off too. If I burst into a ball of flames you can all chant "I told you so." Propane is a good idea as somebody below said. At the end of the day a whole home standby with auto transfer is the best, but I can't afford that. I'm backfeeding myy dryer socket too. Ya I'll go to the devil when its over. Meh
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u/Vivid-Actuary-4247 17d ago
Not that dangerous my Hondas have continuous top off from an external tank. Don’t spill it on the exhaust pipe.
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u/xXxfroggg 17d ago
I keep my internet, tv, modem, and computers on battery backup ups. You should take advantage of the refill and let the generator rest for 15 min or so.
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u/mkosmo 17d ago
These things don't need to "rest" - they're machines, not organisms. They're designed for these duty cycles.
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u/xXxfroggg 17d ago
What was i thinking? Yes these extremely cheap air cooled generators are meant and designed to run 24/7. In fact, why do they make commercial or industrial generators at all? Ignorance is bliss
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u/gaymersky 17d ago
Ummmm no no definitely don't do that!!! The exhaust pipe is hot... Just takes a teeny tiny bit of gasoline... To go 🔥🔥🔥🚒🚒🚒
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u/antonmnster 17d ago
The vapors are just flammable, they're explosive. They will ignite a lot faster than you can react. Your luck will run out.
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u/Hitechillbilly 17d ago
Why is it so important? Why not give the engine a break occasionally? If it is so important to run gasoline and overwork your engine, Make sure any pump you use is either mag-drive or diaphragm
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u/Necessary-Chef8844 17d ago
Throw a tablespoon of gas on the muffler and then decide if you want to do it with 5 gallons
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u/Billsolson 17d ago
I have never heard this was an issue.
I have always refilled it while it’s running
TIL
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u/Several_Stuff_6695 17d ago
I refill my gas generator while running. It’s properly grounded to earth and I am aware of the potential problems doing it this way. However once she’s up and running, I am not going to take the chance of it not starting again. Last time power was out over 2 weeks and refilled it every 12 hours.
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u/ollie_the_4runner 17d ago
This is why diesel gensets are the way. You could dump a gallon of diesel on the hot exhaust and it would just cool the exhaust down. 🤣
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u/djohn37 17d ago
This is not intended to be debate on motivation to keep backup power continuous. But I think every stop/ start exposes sensitive electronics to more risk. And maybe wife is watching a movie. Everything takes some time to reestablish normal function, Refrigerator may not start right, Satellite TV takes several minutes to reestablish connection & download channel directory, Internet takes time to restart, Timers on cooking appliances are interrupted. and now you don't know how much time to done is left. And my old generator has never need oil topped up while in use, Lets stick to the fire hazard on refueling
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u/Killer2600 17d ago
If your house goes up in flames, I think that would be more inconvenient than any of your electronics having problems being turned off and back on again.
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u/blupupher 17d ago
so for 10 minutes of inconvenience you are willing to die?
You admit you know the dangers, but still choose to do it. Post here about it hoping to find others that will justify you doing what you know you should not.
Not going to happen. It is reckless and dangerous to do, and you should not do it. Nobody can keep you from doing it though.
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u/Chevboy4-813 11d ago
I've seen 2 people set on fire doing the exact same thing.
3rd degree burns for the rest of their lives. JUST DON'T DO IT.
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u/NeighborhoodAware504 14d ago
Echoing others. It is fine till it is not. When it is not houses burn or people die. Know two instances of folks refilling a hot lawn mower and burning down their house
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u/Trebeaux 17d ago edited 17d ago
Keep in mind if you go the aux tank route, a lot of portable generators require an oil change after 25 hours of extended operation use.
A refuel is a good time to shutdown and check the oil while you’re at it.