Winterizing Portable Generators (And Other Small Engine Equipment)

[busterbrown]

I thought Project Farm did a good job visualizing the effects of poor fuel choices for our inverter generators (or any small gas engine)...especially in longterm storage. Non-ethanol fuel for the win...even against stabilizer additives.

https://youtu.be/UvS_D4_lF5U

[wobly]

Great video! I'm fighting with a generator now that had a bunch of old fuel varnish in it. Time to find non-ethanol fuel!

[flybouy]

Wouldn't it be easier to just drain the fuel over the extended downtime?

[wobly]

Originally Posted by flybouy

Wouldn't it be easier to just drain the fuel over the extended downtime?

Always. But it is good to see what can happen if you don't.

[flybouy]

Agreed, any fuel left long enough will end up as foul smelling jelly.

[JRTJH]

Around here, all of the Marathon stations sell "Rec Fuel". It's 90 octane alcohol free gas. Cost is comparable to premium gas. It's the ONLY fuel I'll burn in my small power equipment or my boat motors. In 10+ years of using it, I've never had a "small engine carburetor problem". In fact, the $89 lawn mower I bought in 2008 on clearance at WalMart is still my "go to trim mower". I don't use fuel stabilizer during the summer, but about this time of year, I drain the boat, add Stabil Marine Stabilizer to what I drain out and those two or three "5 gallon red cans" will fuel my snow blower and garden tractor through the winter. Generators stay "full of fuel, ready to go" and always start on the second or third pull.

An old "Shindaiwa" string trimmer that I bought in 2003 and both my Stihl chain saws (all 2 cycle oil/gas mix) are still running with no carburetor problems "ever"....

I'm a firm believer in alcohol free gas for small engines and won't put anything but "Rec Fuel" from Marathon in them. If you can't find alcohol free gas, then as a matter of "filling the gas can" I'd strongly urge adding Stabil Marine Stabilizer (the gray container). The "extra cost for alcohol free gas or fuel stabilizer will definitely pay for itself in carburetor repair costs. You're "gonna pay" one way or the other, might as well save the man hours in changing carburators.....

As for winter storage, in the fall, change the oil, fill the gas tanks, turn off the fuel valve and run the engine until the fuel line/carburetor are empty and let them cool, then put on covers and store them inside the pole barn or some other "dry, rodent free" place until they're needed again.

[flybouy]

Unfortunately in my neck of the woods "real" gas can not be found. I use premium for the octane rating the marine Stabile. Has worked for me for many years.