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rbp111's avatar
rbp111
Explorer
Jul 30, 2013

question on two Honda 2000is

I have a question/problem with the one of the two Honda 2000i (one of them a Companion) generators. I exercise them on a regular basis. I put the same fuel in them both, with Stabill. The fuel is never over 2-3 months old.

Yet recently I started both of them, and the 2000i (the regular model, not the Companion), had a significant surging problem. It went away in about three hours running Seafoam through it. Why did one act differently than the other generator? Thanks Seafoam for working, but why did one act up and the other did not? Will it happen again?
  • Did you have the vent on the cap open all the way.

    Did you have the choke open completely.

    Only time I get surging is the above or it's running out of fuel.
  • Dump the Stabil(junk) and your problems will go away. Since I quit using Stabil and went to Seafoam, all of my carb or injector problems have gone away. Always had problem with any engine stored over 3-4 months using Stabil, now I have gone as long as 16 months with Seafoam and had NO problems.

    When ever I know I will not be using an engine for more than 3-4 weeks, I mix the correct concentration of Seafoam with the fuel and let it run until I am sure it is throughout the fuel system then shut er down and not worry about it. This applies to all my gas engines, from the small ice auger to the car and truck.
  • rbp111 wrote:
    I have a question/problem with the one of the two Honda 2000i (one of them a Companion) generators. I exercise them on a regular basis. I put the same fuel in them both, with Stabill. The fuel is never over 2-3 months old.
    I have a Honda 2000 for my TC, and a Yamaha 6000 for my house. I do run the Honda monthly, but have left the Yamaha for almost a year at a time. I too use Stabill in both. I seldom use the Yamaha, but it still has no issues with starting with old gas. The Yamaha is over twenty years old. I start the Honda every one or two months. It will have fuel issues on occasion, requiring cleaning of the fuel system.

    rbp111 wrote:
    Yet recently I started both of them, and the 2000i (the regular model, not the Companion), had a significant surging problem. It went away in about three hours running Seafoam through it.

    When I have that problem with my Honda, the only way I can stop the surging is by cleaning the carburetor.

    rbp111 wrote:
    Why did one act differently than the other generator? Thanks Seafoam for working, but why did one act up and the other did not?
    Lots of possibilities. Could be a very small piece of trash in the float bowel. Could be the surging Honda could have got the fuel from the bottom of your fuel can, which often has water from condensation, or simply water drawn into the fuel can by the ethanol in the gas. This can also happen when the fuel is in the Honda fuel tank. If one generator was shaded, it would be less likely for the ethanol or condensation issues to take place.

    rbp111 wrote:
    Will it happen again?
    Probably.


    Do you run Stabil and Seafoam both in your Hondas?


    I have had my Honda 2000 for about eight years. The only issue I have ever had with it is fuel. I have cleaned water out of it several times. I have cleaned what looks like syrup out of it. My Honda is stored (back of my TC) in the sun, as is the fuel can. It helps when I keep the fuel can and Honda full of gas, it definitely reduces condensation. I have not yet identified the syrup substance, but I do think it is related to the ethanol. I am still searching for a solution. I have modified my fuel system by adding a separate fuel filter to made it easier to clean. The filter also works as a water trap, and can be disassembled for cleaning.

    I do use Stabil. The last time I cleaned the fuel system, I had some syrup in the tubing, water in the tubing and filter, and what looked like algae (green color) in the filter. I had nothing in the carb bowel.

  • I had the surging issue and called my local Honda service shop. The recommendation that they made was to add Sea Foam and run the tank dry. They also recommended using non-oxygenated fuel. I followed the directions and the problem resolved itself. I always add the prescribed (or a little extra) and I have never had a problem since. My generator is now 6 years old and runs like new.

    By the way, I have since used the same mixture in ALL my small engines (mower, chainsaw, string trimmer, etc. and they all run better.
  • I drain my float bowls of fuel if they are going to sit unused for more than a week. Never any carb/running problems. Chino
  • And after getting my units to run smoothly with the help of seafoam, I now use only NO ETHONAL gas. Cost a dime a gallon more. big deal.
  • aruba5er wrote:
    And after getting my units to run smoothly with the help of seafoam, I now use only NO ETHONAL gas. Cost a dime a gallon more. big deal.
    That would be my preference if I had a choice. I have not found a station around me that has no ETHANOL gas. I am not sure there is any ETHANOL free gas sold in California.

    It is a little pricy, but I think if I were fulltiming, I would convert my Honda to propane. I definitely look into it.

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