Back in June we bought our first RV with a generator built in. It is a Class B so it gets used as a second car when needed which isn't often in the Winter. I winterized the rest of the B like I have done with past slide in pickup camper. We went the whole Summer not needing to use the generator but running it for 10-15 minutes every month because that's what people said to do to keep the carb from getting gummed up. Not sure if we will ever use the generator but it is nice insurance, so I don't want to haul around a dead weight that doesn't run but also don't want to run it every month all Winter. So here is what I did. I ran the gas tank down to near empty, filled with alcohol free gas and added STA-BIL gas treatment to treat the whole gas tank full (14oz) and then ran the generator for 15 minutes with a load. My plan now is to forget the generator till sometime next Summer. What is the general opinion, will this work?

“but also don't want to run it every month all Winter.“Couldn’t you run it during your weekly or monthly inspection? I exercise my generator every two weeks with the weed whacker pulling a load when not out camping.

Yes. I have done the same over the years.

I exercise my generator for at least two hours every month under load. I believe that is what Onan recommends.

I would read the owner's manual for the generator and follow their recommendations.

IB853347201 wrote:Yes. I have done the same over the years.So I assume you were successful then?I have a Honda 2000 that I use at home and I use aviation gas in that and drain the carb and store it for many months and it starts right up when needed. I have considered a modification to add a second gas tank that I can switch to with av gas that can be switched to before shutting down. I'll see how much I actually use the generator before I put a lot of time and money into making it less work to maintain.

WInterizing Generator | Good Sam Community

Trackrig
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2018
DownTheAvenue wrote:
I would read the owner's manual for the generator and follow their recommendations.

I'll bet the owner's manual says to start it every month and run it for 30 minutes or so. My manual conveniently forgets to address when you live in cold climates that trying to start a frozen generator every month will cause way more wear and tear / damage than letting it sit until it warms up again.

Bill
JimBollman
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
IB853347201 wrote:
Yes. I have done the same over the years.

So I assume you were successful then?

I have a Honda 2000 that I use at home and I use aviation gas in that and drain the carb and store it for many months and it starts right up when needed. I have considered a modification to add a second gas tank that I can switch to with av gas that can be switched to before shutting down. I'll see how much I actually use the generator before I put a lot of time and money into making it less work to maintain.
DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
I would read the owner's manual for the generator and follow their recommendations.
Son_of_Norway
Explorer
Oct 24, 2018
I exercise my generator for at least two hours every month under load. I believe that is what Onan recommends.
IB853347201
Nomad
Oct 24, 2018
Yes. I have done the same over the years.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Oct 24, 2018
“but also don't want to run it every month all Winter.“

Couldn’t you run it during your weekly or monthly inspection? I exercise my generator every two weeks with the weed whacker pulling a load when not out camping.

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