Is my generator big enough?

jungleexplorer wrote:
Every small engine mechanic I have talked to confirms that ethanol is destructive to most small engine for one reason or another

You'd have to define "destructive" for me to believe that.

Think about this for a moment. If the amount of water in a fuel tank is that great that water would be separated and introduced into the engine, the engine wouldn't run. If it's a partial mix of water and fuel, steam is created and should exit the exhaust with each combustion stroke. If water retention is that great an issue, every Briggs and Stratton engine with a vented fuel cap that was left outside for storage would have failed due to the water that enters the cap and resides in the tank. There are millions of small engines operated daily that are using ethanol blended gas, along with cars and trucks, that suffer no ill effects.

FWIW, at one time, I serviced a fleet of different small engines (125 or so). During winter storage every fuel system was topped off with ethanol blended fuel and a stabilizer was added. 4- 5 months later, the equipment was brought back into service and every engine started with no ill effects except for 10 engines, all 6 hp. Kawasaki's. All of those engines had a clogged primary jet. I maintained this fleet for 5 years and the procedures remained the same except for the Kawasaki's, which we drained and fogged. Sometimes, it's about the design of the fuel system and not about the fuel.