Small engine storage
 

Okay, now that the power is back, I won't need my new generator for, oh, a decade maybe.

So how do I store it? Gas with a stabilizer? No gas? What about oil, drain it? Or drain and fill with new?

Whadda think?

I have no idea my man. :confused::)

Pour the proper amount of stabil in there, run for about ten minutes and shut it down. Should be fine.

Thats why I love my PTO driven generator, no additional engines to maintain.

I've heard good things about gas stabilizers but I've always just run the engine completely out of gas - its worked without exception for me over the years.

Me too!

For my own stuff I use Startron on the last tank of the season and run them dry before putting them away. We've got a generator at work that gets used once or twice a year when we lose power (no power = no phones) and it always has some Startron treated gas in it and we never run it dry.

I don't know what the "correct" way is, but both ways have worked for me.

I run my own gasoline powered equipment dry too but he may not want to burn the fuel just for that purpose. I use Stabil on equipment that I may only run once every six months or so.

I haven't done anything and my seldomly used equipment starts easily. My generator fired up after 2 pulls last week after sitting almost a year.

same with my pressure washer. sat 2 years. Drained the bowl and it fired up 2nd pull which is rare for it

There must be other factors involved. None of my seldomly used equipment fails to start easily. When it doesn't start, it's almost always due to a clogged internal carb part.

Dont know. It was in a sheltered area not exposed to water. I cant explain it, but I wont complain aboot it either

Thanks for the input folks.

A friend used it most recently, he ran it out of fuel, changed the oil and boxed it back up, so I don't have to do anything.

Not sure when it will see action again.

I wouldnt take the oil out... It protects the engine since the assembly lube isnt there anymore

There is now new oil in it.

My yard equipment either came with fuel shut-off valves or I added them. So far, it's been OK with those engines that may sit over the winter, to shut the valves and run until the carb is dry. On the generators, which may possibly sit for two or more years until their next run, I also drain the tanks.
Only issue with one of the generators was some very minor seepage from one of the fuel-valves when first used after sitting a few years. Must have had a seal dry-up. Seepage stopped after a few hours and no problems since. Haven't tried Stabil yet.

Happy Motoring, Mark