Champion 3100 Inverter Generator

[Kountryguy]

I have one of these units, and I love it. My question is, when not in use, should I run the carb dry? I always use fuel stabilizer when running. Thanks for your advice.

[SidecarFlip]

bartlettj wrote:

2oldman wrote:
I think I'd check the owner's manual. There's no drain screw?

I have one.

There is a drain screw, as well as a hose, but if you drain it you'll probably spill fuel inside the case and stink up the generator. The owner's manual states to turn off the fuel valve and run it dry if you aren't going to restart it in the same day. It also says for storage, if you aren't going to run it every 30 days, after running it dry put the choke on and pull the starter rope twice to clear the jets, then remove the spark plug and put a bit of oil in the cylinder.

The float bowl on the carb is pretty small, mine will shut down within a minute or two of closing the valve if there's a decent load on the generator.

What I do with mine is I shut off the fuel and run it until it starts to sputter (like it's going to die) and I pull the choke out to get every last drop of fuel from the bowl

Don,t think I've ever put oil in the cylinder however.

[starcraft69]

Sandia Man wrote:
If I don't plan on using it for awhile I will run our Champion 3100 dry, this time of year I am out pretty often where I don't bother. We just use the same cheap gas we put in all our vehicles but I always add a bit of Seafoam every time I fill our Champion 3100.

+1

[bartlettj]

2oldman wrote:
I think I'd check the owner's manual. There's no drain screw?

I have one.

There is a drain screw, as well as a hose, but if you drain it you'll probably spill fuel inside the case and stink up the generator. The owner's manual states to turn off the fuel valve and run it dry if you aren't going to restart it in the same day. It also says for storage, if you aren't going to run it every 30 days, after running it dry put the choke on and pull the starter rope twice to clear the jets, then remove the spark plug and put a bit of oil in the cylinder.

The float bowl on the carb is pretty small, mine will shut down within a minute or two of closing the valve if there's a decent load on the generator.

[Ron3rd]

I run a little Seafoam in my Honda and never drain it or run it dry, going on 14 years now

[ulvik]

I store mine in the winter by draining the tank to get the most out I can then run it till it dies. Then I open the screw at the bottom of the carburetor bowl to drain the remaining fuel out of the bowl. Done this the last 3 years and absolutely no issues.

[SidecarFlip]

Marine Stabil (blue), not the red, stinky stuff.

[RSD559]

I also siphon out the tank, before running it dry. I don't turn the fuel off, just let it drain the rest of the tank. Wish there was a drain screw and hose. I've seen too many fuel systems gummed up by modern gas. I use stabilizer in the gas I use for all of my portable gas engines.

[Sandia_Man]

If I don't plan on using it for awhile I will run our Champion 3100 dry, this time of year I am out pretty often where I don't bother. We just use the same cheap gas we put in all our vehicles but I always add a bit of Seafoam every time I fill our Champion 3100. Do the same with our Onan except I add Stabil as well since it is fed by a 30 gallon tank where the gas is never emptied.

Our Champion has no issues running our rig's AC unit, ever since we purchased it a couple of seasons ago our 10 year old onboard genny rarely sees action. Already have over 150 hours on our second season of RVing with our Champion 3100, it is a surprisingly hardy unit and with wireless remote start it's even easier to fire up than our Onan.

[DiskDoctr]

IIRC, while running, turn off the fuel and run until it dies.

Reminds me, I need to add stabilizer and run it dry 😉

[2oldman]

I think I'd check the owner's manual. There's no drain screw?

[aguablanco]

I have the same unit and I always run mine dry. Still starts on the 1st or 2nd pull every time.
RichH