Generator maintenance questions

wa8yxm wrote:
Check a marina.. Some of them may still sell real Gasoline.. (I do not know)

I knwo here in GA "Marine gas" is booze free and costs much more.

NOTE: the use of Alcohol in Gasoine is a political issue and thus I will not post my opinion of it here.

Thanks wa8yxm...in CA, I don't think I can get ethanol free gas even at our Marinas!!

Check a marina.. Some of them may still sell real Gasoline.. (I do not know)

I knwo here in GA "Marine gas" is booze free and costs much more.

NOTE: the use of Alcohol in Gasoine is a political issue and thus I will not post my opinion of it here.

best thing for the motor is to change the oil at 20 hours. I would try to run the generator 30 minutes at a time, so it gets fully warmed up.

I'd suggest to mix the Yamaha fuel additive in your gas can and then use Stabil or Seafoam in the future. Any light oil will work on the foam filter. I don't worry about 10% ethanol, I use it in everything, have done so for many years. I don't store gasoline for over a month except for snow blower fuel. That seems to run with fuel stabilizer or without.

I have used Seafoam and Marvel Mystery oil in all my small engine gas for several years now and had no fuel related issues.
Most of the time its just a dose of Mystery oil, but I do buy a can of Seafoam every year and dose my gas cans until it is used up.
A gallon of Marvel Mystery oil is about $10 at Walmart and it really seems to help lubricate and prevent corrosion in the fuel system.

csamayfield55 wrote:
The easy answer is read your manual and see what is says.

Personally if my equipment is going to sit for any more than a month I either put in Sta-Bil or Seafoam. Both seem to be good. Does the Yamaha have an oiled filter or paper?? I thought paper but I was just assuming. It should tell you what to use in the manual

Chris

Thank you, Chris. I will read through the manual when I receive it, before doing anything. I just wanted to have my supplies ready so I can prep it when it arrives.

This generator has an oiled foam filter.

TucsonJim wrote:
I have had the same Honda generator for 11 years now. Here are some things I do.

-Change the oil every year.
-Change the spark plug every other year.
-Clean the air filter every second time I fill the fuel tank.
- Add StaBil fuel conditioner to the fuel each and every time I fill it up. This is probably overkill, but it's easy to put the generator away and forget to treat the fuel which will eventually go bad. Stabil will protect your fuel for a year or more.
-Shut off the fuel lever and run the generator out of fuel if it won't be used for more than a month. This will run the carburetor out of fuel and prevent gum-up. This is really important if you don't use a fuel conditioner like Stabil.

Jim

That is very helpful...thank you! I will try this routine. I guess my biggest question is should I use the YAMAHA FUEL MED RX (which Yamaha says to use the Fuel Med RX for in-use fuel that will remain in for 60 days or less. Or will that not be adequate.

I had planned to use AC power at home for the battery charger, but maybe it makes more sense to use the generator so that I can cycle through fuel a little faster.

Thanks!
-David

Here is a list of Pure Gas locations in California.

18 Pure Gas Stations in California
print all RSS feed for California
City Brand Octane Name Phone Street Address Last Updated
Anaheim GULF 100 110 116 Benton Performance 714-630-5025 1275 N Lance Ln 2016-04-13 Google Earth Google Map details
Bradley UNBRANDED 89 Lake Nacimiento Marina 805-238-1056 10625 Nacimiento Lk Dr 2016-04-27 Google Earth Google Map details
Cloverdale UNBRANDED 91 92 Renner Petroleum 707-894-0776 70 Commerce Ln # K 2016-01-14 Google Earth Google Map details
Corning UNBRANDED 93 Northern Lights Energy 530-824-3204 1819 Solano St 2015-10-27 Google Earth Google Map details
Covelo UNION 76 100 Covelo Airport 707-463-4363 1 Airport Rd 2016-06-04 Google Earth Google Map details
Downey GULF 100 116 Socal Nitrous & Race Fuels 562-862-9122 9723 Washburn Rd 2015-11-25 Google Earth Google Map details
Eureka UNBRANDED 91 92 Renner Petroleum 707-443-1645 1100 W 14th St 2014-12-08 Google Earth Google Map details
Fortuna UNBRANDED 91 Renner Petroleum 707-725-2364 2435 Newburg Rd 2013-11-20 Google Earth Google Map details
Garberville UNBRANDED 91 Renner Petroleum 707-923-3380 76 Bear Canyon Rd 2015-02-28 Google Earth Google Map details
Orange PIT STOP 110 Mitchell's Auto Services 714-532-5900 700 W Chapman Ave 2015-08-16 Google Earth Google Map details
Oxnard GULF 100 Granatelli Motor Sports 805-486-6644 1000 Yarnell Place 2014-11-05 Google Earth Google Map details
Redding UNBRANDED 93 102 110 Northern Lights Energy 530-241-2196 2340 Wyndham Ln 2015-10-27 Google Earth Google Map details
Redwood Valley UNBRANDED 92 Redwood Valley 707-485-5821 8551 East Rd 2015-05-28 Google Earth Google Map details
San Diego VP RACING 100 Crown Point Auto Center 858-866-0230 3804 Ingraham St 2014-07-08 Google Earth Google Map details
Ukiah UNBRANDED 92 Rainbow Ag 707-462-2404 235 E Perkins St 2015-05-30 Google Earth Google Map details
Ukiah VP RACING 92 100 110 Redwood Coast Fuels 707-463-3100 50 W Lk Mendocino Dr 2016-06-04 Google Earth Google Map details
Ukiah UNBRANDED 100 Ukiah Airport 707-463-6200 300 Seminary Ave 2016-06-04 Google Map details
Willits UNION 76 100 Ellis Field 707-841-6252 1320 Poppy Dr 2015-11-04 Google Earth Google Map details

I have found marinas have pure gas everywhere!
Good luck on your search.

I'd start with the manual, then take with a grain of salt what you read here.

I have had the same Honda generator for 11 years now. Here are some things I do.

-Change the oil every year.
-Change the spark plug every other year.
-Clean the air filter every second time I fill the fuel tank.
- Add StaBil fuel conditioner to the fuel each and every time I fill it up. This is probably overkill, but it's easy to put the generator away and forget to treat the fuel which will eventually go bad. Stabil will protect your fuel for a year or more.
-Shut off the fuel lever and run the generator out of fuel if it won't be used for more than a month. This will run the carburetor out of fuel and prevent gum-up. This is really important if you don't use a fuel conditioner like Stabil.

Jim

The easy answer is read your manual and see what is says.

Personally if my equipment is going to sit for any more than a month I either put in Sta-Bil or Seafoam. Both seem to be good. Does the Yamaha have an oiled filter or paper?? I thought paper but I was just assuming. It should tell you what to use in the manual

Chris