profdant139 wrote:
Yes, if I could find non-ethanol gas in California, I would use it. I think that there is non-ethanol aviation gas, but I don't think that it is available to the general non-flying public.
Stabil helps, but I used to get "GCS" (gummy-carb-syndrome) even with Stabil, until I learned how to drain the carb after every use. You know you have GCS (which is an acronym I have just invented -- you're welcome!) when your generator starts to idle very rough, surging and "loping."
So far, I am not hearing anyone say that I need to first exercise the generator monthly and then drain the carb?? Is there a consensus?
I don't "exercise" my gens monthly, but I DO drain the carb of fuel.
I cannot buy Ethanol free gas either, not Av or Racing gas, Av gas requires having a legit and current FAA issued Tail number, racing fuel requires a valid race track driver pass for that day of purchase.
I have found that E10 actually stores well for a long time provided the container is WELL SEALED. That rules out leaving fuel sit in the carb bowl.
Generally my gens spend 2-3 months at a time sitting and not being run, I close the tank valve and let it run out of fuel or shut of the fuel and gen then remove the little drain plug in the carb until no more fuel runs out. been doing this for 30+ yrs with all of my small engine equipment and only have had to clean the smaller 4Kw gen carb jet once.. My tractors, pushmowers gens, weed trimmer, chainsaws all have worked very well just by removing fuel from the carb before storing (storing is more than 1-3 months of no operation to me).
The exercise to "heat up" the windings is more of a CYA thing by the manufacturers..
As I explained in an different post, the windings are dipped in a varnish coating which is baked on.. Just like most good quality AC motors.. Surely you don't run around your house turning on all of your AC motor drive items just to "heat up the windings to drive out moisture"..
A generator power head IS the same thing as a AC induction motor, no need to treat a gen power head any different from a AC induction motor.. Just don't submerge into a lake and expect it to work by "drying it out" though without some problems.
