Fueling station/Generator Gas Tanks/Filling Question

Just a data point, but the gasoline that's in my tank now is about 2 years old and I just started and ran the generator the other day. It started up easily and ran okay. I rarely use the generator so the tank is never full, which is not a good idea, but I just can't see hauling a full tank of gas when I may use it every two or three trips. Usually about a half-tank or less. I always drain the carb after every use so that may help.

I'm seriously leaning toward changing it over to propane to avoid problems with gasoline. I use it so infrequently that a 30# tank would last me forever, and probably a 20# tank would be all I would need.

As far as the green balls in the filler tube, I also lean towards the anti-spill/slosh devices.

allcool wrote:

drmopar wrote:
I think the balls are a "ROLL OVER" valve to shut fuel off on vehicle roll over. Hope this helps.

Hmmm,interesting,Is this some new regulation..?
I've taken apart many fuel cells/tanks, fill tubes, and never seen this on any modern fuel tank. Have seen anti-siphon valves in tank fill tube/cap assembly. Modern tank caps are not vented so can't understand why a roll over shut off valve in fill tube would be useful..?

Its a 2016, and still under warranty ? I'd bring it back.

If not and you want to fix it yourself...
Have seen debris from installation floating around in new tanks. Cutouts that were not cleaned out after holes were cut, chunks of tubing, hose, etc...
Have also seen many fill tubes kinked so as to cause very slow fill ups. Also have seen vent lines kinked. Some California compliant tanks have evaporative emission systems in their vent lines.

If it were mine, and warranty can't take care of the problem, I'd drop the tanks and clean them out, and remove any obstructions. Can't see how little green balls in your fuel tanks could help you out at all. Can tell you with certainty, my tanks have no little green balls in the fill pipe. My tanks fill up fast, just like a car fuel tank.

jmo

I'm going to call the manufacturer and dealership today to get clarification on this but it's not a random green ball that got stuck in the fill neck. This is in both of them and apparently designed to be there, I'm just not sure the exact reason. What I do know is that it makes filling difficult because you have to pump super slow and I can't stick a hose down in to the tank to drain them.

The more I think about just using Sta-bil, which would work to solve one of my concerns, the other reason for draining is because it's extra weight to carry around that I don't need when I tow. 90% of the time I won't use the generator so there's no need to have fuel in the tank. The times I use the other tank for fueling of my RZR, I can just pump out when I get home and not have it in the tank on trips I don't need to carry gas if it's not a riding trip.

I'll post what Jayco says about it in case anyone in the future has the same curiosity as me :)

drmopar wrote:
I think the balls are a "ROLL OVER" valve to shut fuel off on vehicle roll over. Hope this helps.

Hmmm,interesting,Is this some new regulation..?
I've taken apart many fuel cells/tanks, fill tubes, and never seen this on any modern fuel tank. Have seen anti-siphon valves in tank fill tube/cap assembly. Modern tank caps are not vented so can't understand why a roll over shut off valve in fill tube would be useful..?

Its a 2016, and still under warranty ? I'd bring it back.

If not and you want to fix it yourself...
Have seen debris from installation floating around in new tanks. Cutouts that were not cleaned out after holes were cut, chunks of tubing, hose, etc...
Have also seen many fill tubes kinked so as to cause very slow fill ups. Also have seen vent lines kinked. Some California compliant tanks have evaporative emission systems in their vent lines.

If it were mine, and warranty can't take care of the problem, I'd drop the tanks and clean them out, and remove any obstructions. Can't see how little green balls in your fuel tanks could help you out at all. Can tell you with certainty, my tanks have no little green balls in the fill pipe. My tanks fill up fast, just like a car fuel tank.

jmo

Make sure you run your generator at least once a month for 30 min or more. Don't let that gas sit in the carb, because it will gum up.

momentum rv wrote:

MMayleben wrote:
Thanks for the feedback!

The little bit that I've been able to find, that ball is spring loaded (I think). It's hard to tell in that picture but it looks like a green ball.

It does keep me from putting the vacuum hose into the tank to drain the tank, so that's the problem that caused me to notice all this. Also it makes for super slow fill ups.

Should I just not be concerned about gas staying in the tank for a few months or more? I was just worried about it going bad and gumming things up or causing build up.

Put Sta-bil in it and don't worry about it. Has worked for me the last 6 years.

Awesome, I'm glad I asked you guys :)

MMayleben wrote:
Thanks for the feedback!

The little bit that I've been able to find, that ball is spring loaded (I think). It's hard to tell in that picture but it looks like a green ball.

It does keep me from putting the vacuum hose into the tank to drain the tank, so that's the problem that caused me to notice all this. Also it makes for super slow fill ups.

Should I just not be concerned about gas staying in the tank for a few months or more? I was just worried about it going bad and gumming things up or causing build up.

Put Sta-bil in it and don't worry about it. Has worked for me the last 6 years.

Thanks for the feedback!

The little bit that I've been able to find, that ball is spring loaded (I think). It's hard to tell in that picture but it looks like a green ball.

It does keep me from putting the vacuum hose into the tank to drain the tank, so that's the problem that caused me to notice all this. Also it makes for super slow fill ups.

Should I just not be concerned about gas staying in the tank for a few months or more? I was just worried about it going bad and gumming things up or causing build up.

I think the balls are a "ROLL OVER" valve to shut fuel off on vehicle roll over. Hope this helps.

I can't tell you what that is - I haven't had any issues on ours.

I will make two recommendations on fuel.

1> Ethanol-free fuel (pure-gas.org and others can tell you where to get it)
2> SeaFoam

The combination will give you extended storage and reduce the **** (insert preferred term here) that shows up with Ethanol-added fuel.