While Sta-Bil had always been my go-to in my younger days, I now use a product called SeaFoam. Good for any engine, gas or diesel. I use it religiously In everything I own, chainsaws to Motorhome. At least give it a look!
During a recent feature film shoot we were using multiple small Honda generators to power cast trailers. After running fine for several days we had a few of them start mysteriously shutting down. A trip to a local Honda shop with a couple generators resulted in some information from the technician. He said fuel that was a bit old, right from the gas station, might cause this to happen. We changed locations and it made sense that at a new location we purchased fuel from a different source, a "high end" station brand, and that's when the problems started. He recommended Star Brite "Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment" as an additive. It's not a long-term storage treatment like Sta-Bil but an in-use additive. We started treating each 5-gallon can of new gasoline and had no further shutdowns thereafter. It worked well for us. - Jeff Johnston
Honda (probably most of them, my 2200 has it) have a spot to place the knob just the complete shut off spot. That will burn all the fuel in the fuel system after the tank, it will run a few minutes and die, then place the knob to full off. And in my area only Shell sells high octane gaz without Ethanol. I run all my gas devices with that fuel with Stabil.
Glad you mentioned propane fueled generators at the end of your article. I've always wondered if they needed the same "exercise" that gas powered generators needed. I've had Honda 2000s & a Westinghouse 4500 gas generators in the past, but now have a Champion 2500 dual fuel gen that I've never put gas in, & really like the ease & simplicity of running on propane. Since we have tons of solar & battery plus a dc to dc charger in our truck camper, we rarely need the generator. So, in our circumstance, propane is definitely the way to go.
I agree with using a propane fueled generator, and I am in the process of getting one now. We have a lot of solar, so our Honda eu2000i sits around most of the time, and I admit that I haven't always drained the tank and carb properly.
Mike, in today’s piece on maintaining generators, you said “adding some Sta-Bil Storage fuel treatment to the gas tank is probably a good idea if you don’t plan to run your generator every month.” Due to how it’s made modern gasoline will gum up after siting around for as little as six to eight weeks. While fuel additives like Sta-Bil will prevent this, simply running the generator doesn’t. It may use of some of the gas, but that which remains in the tank continues to degrade. Also, a partially filled gas tank allows outside air in and can, with changing temps in colder climates, cause condensation to form in the tank.
Best practice is to either completely drain the tank and run the engine until it stops or fill the tank with gas, add Sta-bil and then run the engine for a few minute to circulate the Sta-bil in the lines and carb.
That’s probably true in a generator with fuel injection, but carburetor bowls will dry out and the gasoline turns into a gummy garnish. At least that’s my experience. I generally try to run all my gas motors dry in the fall. If the have a fuel cutoff I’ll add Sta-Bil, run the a few minutes, then shut the fuel supply until they run out of gas. Unfortunately my generator’s don’t have a separate fuel cutoff since it’s combined with the ignition cutoff. So I just run the tank dry.
I have a 5500 watt Onan generator in my motor coach which shares the 80 gallon gasoline tank. I use a 100% organic and completely biodegradable fuel enhancer that also stabilizes the fuel for over five years. I still run the generator once per month...per insurance rules. I get it at https://fuelconfidence.now.site
Alot of issues with small engines come from running ethanol blended fuels in them. If non ethanol fuel is available in your area, I suggest running it in all your small engines. If possible, find a station that has a separate hose on the pump for this type of gasoline. Use Stabil for storage, and they also make Stabil Marine that is blended for ethanol fuels if you can't get non ethanol fuel. I learned the hard way and when speaking to the techs, they suggested this and most of my issues disappeared.
I agree. In fact I accidentally added gasoline with 10% ethanol to my little 2-cycle outboard motor, and a week later the rubber fuel line swelled up and starting leaking. Ugh!
I use E0 (no ethanol) gas, as well as Sta-Bil.
While Sta-Bil had always been my go-to in my younger days, I now use a product called SeaFoam. Good for any engine, gas or diesel. I use it religiously In everything I own, chainsaws to Motorhome. At least give it a look!
This stuff Stabil Fast Fix works great!
https://www.amazon.com/STA-BIL-22304-Engine-System-Cleaner/dp/B00NEG3K5O/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2R545FSXOZGFK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.VF2LvAEO1_lM217WMeWEBhxJCwD03TVuQDISicxcU2sDH5ZxWeWR0dbvce55JTFgI6CuHfDDSdaM2PYx-sP-05Zgn33eeQwyWHdNbtuc4ofG79-gXGbOwwrK-tBHCkubTV5XY2b2f6mn3JsFHE9Pfklfpnc_tsZ-zznEhUo90GFSa-E_hNP4xg_Tt1iK2EWd6lTJFQhFDReZUTPCX7VEg2SCDgRKTHOyzZHlwSoKCcvv4IbTn5LMljgnGvr9AKH44XXf6Q9iQQCplsOBMK7Eg2zvyJH1Hij4aUgnCQcOT3U.DpqSib5UJBlH1OaPgFUSNI0Q_4cE14_BUQJ_m7uHC5c&dib_tag=se&keywords=stabil%2Btune%2Bup&qid=1720194552&sprefix=stabil%2Btune%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-4&th=1
During a recent feature film shoot we were using multiple small Honda generators to power cast trailers. After running fine for several days we had a few of them start mysteriously shutting down. A trip to a local Honda shop with a couple generators resulted in some information from the technician. He said fuel that was a bit old, right from the gas station, might cause this to happen. We changed locations and it made sense that at a new location we purchased fuel from a different source, a "high end" station brand, and that's when the problems started. He recommended Star Brite "Star Tron Enzyme Fuel Treatment" as an additive. It's not a long-term storage treatment like Sta-Bil but an in-use additive. We started treating each 5-gallon can of new gasoline and had no further shutdowns thereafter. It worked well for us. - Jeff Johnston
Honda (probably most of them, my 2200 has it) have a spot to place the knob just the complete shut off spot. That will burn all the fuel in the fuel system after the tank, it will run a few minutes and die, then place the knob to full off. And in my area only Shell sells high octane gaz without Ethanol. I run all my gas devices with that fuel with Stabil.
I assume that draining the carb fuel bowl using the drain screw is just as good, if not better, than running it dry. Confirm?
I would think so. But there’s still fuel in the feed lines, so Sta-Bil would help.
Glad you mentioned propane fueled generators at the end of your article. I've always wondered if they needed the same "exercise" that gas powered generators needed. I've had Honda 2000s & a Westinghouse 4500 gas generators in the past, but now have a Champion 2500 dual fuel gen that I've never put gas in, & really like the ease & simplicity of running on propane. Since we have tons of solar & battery plus a dc to dc charger in our truck camper, we rarely need the generator. So, in our circumstance, propane is definitely the way to go.
I agree with using a propane fueled generator, and I am in the process of getting one now. We have a lot of solar, so our Honda eu2000i sits around most of the time, and I admit that I haven't always drained the tank and carb properly.
Mike, in today’s piece on maintaining generators, you said “adding some Sta-Bil Storage fuel treatment to the gas tank is probably a good idea if you don’t plan to run your generator every month.” Due to how it’s made modern gasoline will gum up after siting around for as little as six to eight weeks. While fuel additives like Sta-Bil will prevent this, simply running the generator doesn’t. It may use of some of the gas, but that which remains in the tank continues to degrade. Also, a partially filled gas tank allows outside air in and can, with changing temps in colder climates, cause condensation to form in the tank.
Best practice is to either completely drain the tank and run the engine until it stops or fill the tank with gas, add Sta-bil and then run the engine for a few minute to circulate the Sta-bil in the lines and carb.
People need to exercise, generators really don’t.
That’s probably true in a generator with fuel injection, but carburetor bowls will dry out and the gasoline turns into a gummy garnish. At least that’s my experience. I generally try to run all my gas motors dry in the fall. If the have a fuel cutoff I’ll add Sta-Bil, run the a few minutes, then shut the fuel supply until they run out of gas. Unfortunately my generator’s don’t have a separate fuel cutoff since it’s combined with the ignition cutoff. So I just run the tank dry.
I have a 5500 watt Onan generator in my motor coach which shares the 80 gallon gasoline tank. I use a 100% organic and completely biodegradable fuel enhancer that also stabilizes the fuel for over five years. I still run the generator once per month...per insurance rules. I get it at https://fuelconfidence.now.site
Alot of issues with small engines come from running ethanol blended fuels in them. If non ethanol fuel is available in your area, I suggest running it in all your small engines. If possible, find a station that has a separate hose on the pump for this type of gasoline. Use Stabil for storage, and they also make Stabil Marine that is blended for ethanol fuels if you can't get non ethanol fuel. I learned the hard way and when speaking to the techs, they suggested this and most of my issues disappeared.
I agree. In fact I accidentally added gasoline with 10% ethanol to my little 2-cycle outboard motor, and a week later the rubber fuel line swelled up and starting leaking. Ugh!