Winterizing our generator

[Uncle_Dan]

I will be leaving my Tioga in Michigan this winter and will not have anyone to run my generator for 5 months. How can I best winterize my generator which runs on the motorhomes regular gas.

[jerseyjim]

RAMBLEOnNW: I accessed that link. Thanks. And....what was there? Some said add the Sta-bil first, then fill the tank. Others...add the stabil after the tank is full. Still others said it doesn't matter...the sta-bil will get mixed no matter what.
I use a full bottle into my 75 gallon FULL gas tank. Drive 18 miles to the house. It mixes. Has to. It don't float.

Thanks for an interesting coupla' minits.

jimmy

[RambleOnNW]

jerseyjim wrote:
RAMBLEOnNW : Where did you get that tidbit of information from? You're saying that Sta-bil, for instance, floats on top of the gas? How does it not mix?

Interesting.

JerseyJim: How is the small quantity of Stabil or Seafoam going to diffuse into the much larger quantity of gas otherwise and how long will it take such that the treated gas will get into the gen carb? In my case I use 22 oz of Stabil for 55 gallons of gas. That is 22 oz in ~7000 oz of gas or a 320:1 volume difference.

I generally keep the gas treated such that each time I run the gen it gets treated gas unless we are on a trip and running multiple tanks of gas. In that case I'll add the 22 oz of Stabil when we get back.

Other folks generally agree.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3231892/Fuel_stabilizer_before_or_afte

[jerseyjim]

RAMBLEOnNW : Where did you get that tidbit of information from? You're saying that Sta-bil, for instance, floats on top of the gas? How does it not mix?

Interesting.

[Matt_Colie]

Dan,

You don't say where in Michigan, but have you noticed a few boats? Take a hint there.

Fog the engines. This will coat the corrosion prone surfaces with oil. The main engine is electronic fuel injection, but it will still benefit from Sta-Bil or Seafoam in the fuel. When you get it put to bed, then fog the generator. When you choke it with fog or shut it down, then look for a fastener in the bottom of the carburetor and loosen that. let it drip until it stops and then take it back tight. That should adequately drain the carburetor for the winter.

Have the fuel tanks as full as is practical to minimize the tank "breathing" that will invite moist air into the tanks.

Matt

[RambleOnNW]

Add the Seafoam or Stabil to the tank, then fill with gas, then run the generator.

It does no good to add the fuel treatment to the top of a filled tank, it will not be mixed into the gas.

[Uncle_Dan]

Thanks to all of you for your advice. Appreciated.

[gbopp]

In addition to the above recommendations, I would also change the oil and filter.

[jerseyjim]

When returning from our final trip before winter, (we don't snowbird every year) I fill the gas tank,("regular" grade, as usual) then add an entire bottle of "Sta-bil". Start the motor, start the generator, and drive the 18 miles from the gas station to the house. That gives the "Sta-bil" time to get to everywhere in the fuel system including the generator. Easy.

Having no one to start the motorhome or the generator during the winter, I would suggest you remove the batteries. They might get damaged (or damage the motorhome battery trays)...and most likely would need replacement in the spring. Just my 2 cents.

[Strabo]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

Fill with premium gas, use the rv and generator, fill again with premium gas. Add sea foam. Run generator. fill to the brim with premium gas.

Yes sir, that's it.

[AJBert]

Or........

After treating the tank with SeaFoam/Sta-Bil/your choice of stabilizer, run through the genny for a little while and then cut off the fuel and let the genny run until it dies. This will get the fuel out of the carb, thus preventing any varnish build up. After cool down, pull the spark plug(s) and spray with fogging oil.

Very common practice with outboard motors.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Fill with premium gas, use the rv and generator, fill again with premium gas. Add sea foam. Run generator. fill to the brim with premium gas.

[rskrbina]

Have fresh gas in the tank and add "Seafoam" to the tank. Run the generator with 1/2 load for two hours.