Not RV, but we haven't had a good generator bashing lately.

[okhmbldr]

OK, not about RVing, but maybe has some application.
Generac 6725/5500 contractor grade generator. I've had it about 8 years, and only used it once for about 3 hours a few years ago. In the beginning with the first tank of gas (about six gallons) I added Stabil. I was pretty good about starting and running about every 90 days. I would hook it up to a portable A/C 12,000 btu unit and run for about 15 minutes. One thing I always did was to run the carburetor dry before putting it away.
Well, as time passed the occasional start and run process seemed to get farther away and frankly I can't remember the last time I started the thing, maybe 9 months to a year.
The fuel in the tank was never changed, just added fresh to top off about once a year after exercising. I know, I'm a really bad generator owner.
That brings us to this past weekend in OKC. Late Saturday night storms with winds up to 100mph blew through town. 60,000 people without power in the metro area. I was one of the luck ones. It was almost midnight so we just went to bed, thinking power would be restored before Sunday morning.
Sunday morning, no power, check with utility and they can't give an estimated time for restoration.
So I pulled out the Generac, two pulls and it started.
Hooked up three heavy duty extension cords and powered both refrigerators, got the internet up, one TV and my office.
Also hooked up the portable A/C unit because it got to 98 Sunday.
I ran the generator from 8am Sunday morning until 8pm Sunday evening (didn't want the noise to bother the neighbors after dark). I refilled with fuel, it took five gallons, and put it back in the garage for use in the morning if needed.
Well, 11:45 Sunday night the power came back.
I guess my story is really that sometimes you get lucky with old gas in a generator. Maybe the Stabil really helped. I don't know. But I'm glad the generator worked well even with my neglect.
It now has fresh fuel, Stabil added, and the carb is dry. Waiting for the next episode.

[BarabooBob]

I have 2 generators in the garage. The 2000 watt Champion gets used a lot. The 6850 watt (6000 continuous) gets used when we set up a construction site every 2 or 3 years. The Champion has a setting on the control dial to turn off the fuel. That is how I turn it off, I unhook any electrical load and let the unit run out of gas. My construction gen has a petcock to turn off the fuel and after it runs the gas out of the carb, I drain the fuel tank and then leave the cap off for a couple of days to let it air out. It fires up on about the 2nd or 3rd pull every time when needed.

[kellem]

Lynnmor wrote:

ZINGERLITE wrote:


Ethanol should only be for your daily driver!

Ethanol should not exist for a motor fuel.

I agree as my little shop got swamped with chainsaws and weed eaters all with pitted carburetors shortly after corn fuel was introduced.....from sitting.

[Lynnmor]

ZINGERLITE wrote:


Ethanol should only be for your daily driver!

Ethanol should not exist for a motor fuel.

[ZINGERLITE]

kellem wrote:
I know, many do but using non ethanol fuel is the ticket if your gonna let the engine sit.

Ethanol should only be for your daily driver!


I always laugh a little inside a the neighbors. the power goes out and 20 minutes later i can hear 5 different generators. by the time they get set up the power comes back on. Seems like wasted effort. Grab a book or a magazine and wait it out!

[JIMNLIN]

I bought a new Generac 5500 Power Boss (8500 surge-5500 continuous) 10 hp Briggs in 2001. It sits in the garage when not used for months at a time. We had a storm roll through about 7 pm 6-11-'20. Temps were 94-96 before the storm. Electric went out and after about 2 hours the house was getting warm inside. Got the Generac out and as always its starts the first or 2nd pull....got the ceiling fans going.
I've changed gas in the 5 gal tank twice a year since '01 and then run it 5 min or so. I also use Sta-bil.... even with 100 percent gas. The carb has never been ran dry.
Its used maybe twice a year around my place running 110 power tools or 110 water pumps during drought seasons. Best 695 bucks I've spent.

[kellem]

As a retired " partime " small engine repair man, I've never let a carburetor run dry.

I know, many do but using non ethanol fuel is the ticket if your gonna let the engine sit.

I've been known to squirt a little oil back in the spark plug hole too to help piston from seizing due to sedation.

[Etstorm]

Also starbrite fuel tank cleaner works great

[theoldwizard1]

okhmbldr wrote:
I guess my story is really that sometimes you get lucky with old gas in a generator. Maybe the Stabil really helped. I don't know. But I'm glad the generator worked well even with my neglect.

Similar "bad owner" story. Craftsman (built by ?) 5000w with 10HP Briggs. I tried to "exercise" it every 3 months which slipped to 6 which slipped to maybe once a year.

Last year I dragged it out and it fired on the second pull like always. Ran for a good 15 minutes with a 240V load. When I shut it down I open the fuel tank and thought I saw something. Got a flashlight. NOT GOOD ! Drain the tank, rinsed it a couple of times. Made sure there was nothing floating after I refilled it.

Besides running the carburetor dry, even with Stabil, you should probably drain the tank every couple of years !

[time2roll]

Yes reduce the maintenance starts to once a year from last use. OK to go a bit more if you are busy.

[valhalla360]

Adding fuel stabalizer is good but running the carb dry is really the bigger thing.

If you lay it up properly, really no need to start it every 90 days. Had a 30yr old boat that sat 7-9 months per year and always started up fine and ran strong. Couldn't drain the tank as is was 220gal and buried in the hull.

Ideally, I would run it empty and then keep a 5 gal jug of fuel next to it...and every month or so, dump the 5 gal jug in the truck and refill the jug with fresh.

[Lynnmor]

Since you run the carb dry not much bad can happen. The exercising routine is way overrated.

[stickdog]

Lucky you. Maybe change the oil.