Gas for generator - storage use

I've had my generator (homelite with a Subaru engine) since 2012-2013 (?) and have never drained the gas out. It's sat for close to a year before and fired off with the same gas it was put away with in the tank. Took a few extra pulls on the rope, but ran fine after firing off.

Usually run ethanol free but it has had both in it at various times.

Ethanol-free gas goes bad just a quickly as ethanol gas.

I have a riding mower, so I go through a fair amount of gas during the year, and in the winter I use the mower to haul wood from the wood pile to the porch, so my gas gets used up within a couple months. Don't try to stock up on huge amounts of gas because you can't use it fast enough.

Stabil prolongs gas' shelf life, but not by a huge amount. I don't use it, because it's easier and cheaper to just use the gas quickly.

kennythewelder said:

It won't hurt anything to run premium gas, mid grade gas, or regular gas, in your generator. The trick is to drain all of the gas dry, before you put it away, for storage.

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Absolutely this.

EJ1948 said:

Hello
For long term storage I use rec fuel Cost more but worth it. No alcohol in it. I also use sea foam. Stabil also works well

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Seafoam is mostly alcohol, I've recently heard. I don't recall if it's ethanol or ispropranol, Though. I think it was on one of Lakespeed Jr's videos, this was stated.

454cid said:

Seafoam is mostly alcohol, I've recently heard. I don't recall if it's ethanol or ispropranol, Though. I think it was on one of Lakespeed Jr's videos, this was stated.

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If that's true, it would seem that Heet is a cheaper alternative.

Pretty irresponsible of me but I've always put e free in the generator and never thought about draining it. Only use it every couple of years or more during hurricanes when power goes out and it's fired right up every time...Probably jinxed myself but later I'll go test fire it up... Probably has 5 gallons in it now sitting since Ian... whenever that was....

scott2093 said:

Pretty irresponsible of me but I've always put e free in the generator and never thought about draining it. Only use it every couple of years or more during hurricanes when power goes out and it's fired right up every time...Probably jinxed myself but later I'll go test fire it up... Probably has 5 gallons in it now sitting since Ian... whenever that was....

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Just dump some fuel system cleaner in it, run a tank through, and pat yourself on the back.

As mentioned I'm storing it but with the intent of cycling "old" gas out over time since it can be run in the dually. We've been through enough extended power outages here that my ass still hurts from kicking myself for not having bought a generator sooner; I don't need it also hurting from failing to have enough gas on hand that it becomes a scavenger hunt through a city full of flooded (or iced-over) streets for a station that is open and pumping. No idea how long 20 gallons is going to last but I think it's a reasonable amount to start with.

Richard

someotherguy said:

I don't need it also hurting from failing to have enough gas on hand that it becomes a scavenger hunt through a city full of flooded (or iced-over) streets for a station that is open and pumping.

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That is the beauty of e free. For the most part, people are afraid to use it because they don't know what it is. Can't count how many times I'd go to a station with no gas but efree during a mad storm rush...it's surreal...lol
But it's catching on more...

someotherguy said:

As mentioned I'm storing it but with the intent of cycling "old" gas out over time since it can be run in the dually. We've been through enough extended power outages here that my ass still hurts from kicking myself for not having bought a generator sooner; I don't need it also hurting from failing to have enough gas on hand that it becomes a scavenger hunt through a city full of flooded (or iced-over) streets for a station that is open and pumping. No idea how long 20 gallons is going to last but I think it's a reasonable amount to start with.

Richard

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My generator, is a 7500 KW, with a 13 H P Honda engine on it. 7500 KW, is a little small, but good for emergency use. My house is 1800 SQR feet, central air and heat. So what I do, is close off the 3 bed rooms, and the wife and I, move into the living room. The generator, will power everything in my house, except for the AC unit, so I have a Simi large window unit, that we put in the living room window, and cool off half of the house. I have a welding machine in my small shop, that has a 50 AMP breaker, so I kill the main power breaker, in the house, to isolate the input from the city fed lines. Then I have a pig tail that I use to back feed the house, from my shop, where the welding machine plugs in. When the city power is restored, I kill the generator, unplug it, then last of all, put the main breaker, back on. This works grate, but you do have to be sure, to never back feed the power supply lines, to your house. By turning off the main breaker, this insures that you are not back feeding anything. If you back feed the power lines, it can kill anyone trying to repair the power lines, down the line, BC you generator, will back feed, your transformer, and this will step up the power, to the main supply line. By back feeding my house, with the mine breaker off, all of the plugs, and light switches work. The refrigerator works, as does anything else that normally has power. This is simply what I do, and ONLY recommend back feeding you house, ONLY if you have some experience wiring houses, and breaker panels.

I haven't installed the generator socket or breaker yet but I've got the interlock kit so the main breaker and generator breaker can't be on at the same time. @kennythewelder you and I might remember to flip the breakers correctly but I wouldn't depend on my wife or someone else to do so.

Richard