Gen octane recommend

87 since new.
1400hrs on it.

theoldwizard1 wrote:

MFL wrote:
Adding ethanol, will cause a more lean condition, and can cause more heat, under load.

Any decent quality brand generator has bee tested on E10.

Don;t store any generator with ANY FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR for more than about a week ! If your generator does NOT have a fuel shutoff valve, you can add one for $10-$15.

I have to disagree. I also should have mentioned that Seafoam is added to every drop that goes into it. It is a good stabilizer, and cleaner. For the amount I use my generators anymore, the cost of premium is insignificant. I never drain the carb, but I do run them monthly. I also have an issue with running them dry versus draining the carb. If you add a shutoff there is still gas in the carb that can and will varnish over time, it just isn't enough gas to run the engine anymore.

Actually, yesterday my DW asked when the last time we used either of the Hondas for camping was, and it was over 10 months ago. They both start just fine. I am loving the solar!

Edit: I do not disagree with your comment about the generators being tested with E10. I should have made that more clear. :)

MFL wrote:
Adding ethanol, will cause a more lean condition, and can cause more heat, under load.

Any decent quality brand generator has bee tested on E10.

Don;t store any generator with ANY FUEL IN THE CARBURETOR for more than about a week ! If your generator does NOT have a fuel shutoff valve, you can add one for $10-$15.

dieseltruckdriver wrote:
I only use 91 ethanol free in both of mine, and have never had a problem.

Ouch ! Pricey !! $$$

We run 91 ethanol free and learned this from our previous toy hauler after destroying the carb with regular ethanol fuel. Our new toy hauler only has one fuel tank so we fill our ATVs and run the gen on the same fuel. No problems with our on board Onan nor the portable Honda.

My Honda 2000 uses 87 octane. Started (before I sold it to upgrade) on first or second pull for 20 years. Why waste money on premium fuel?

Ethanol free only in my generators and all power equipment and motorcycles, which is Premium (91 octane)

dieseltruckdriver wrote:
I only use 91 ethanol free in both of mine, and have never had a problem.

This is the best choice, if available!

Adding ethanol, will cause a more lean condition, and can cause more heat, under load. The OP may have used a higher octane 89 fuel, that contained more ethanol, and caused over heating, of his small gen engine, while under max load?

Jerry

I run 87 octane non ethanol as recommended. I do add SeaFoam regularly and Stabil when I fill up in colder temps. Worked well for 7 years and starts and runs well every time.

sin cal hd wrote:

dedmiston wrote:
I run exclusively 89 in ours, because our bikes and SxS require 89 and I don't want to deal with two grades of fuel.

No problems with ours.

That's what I do as well. It just crossed my mind that maybe the higher octane was causing issues

I meant to say 91. I drive a diesel, so the choices at the gas pump are foreign to me. :B

Premium.