How often do you start your portable standby generators?

[TBone]

I moved to the Alabama Gulf Coast in 2015. My son had lived down here for about 8 years and although they didn't have any severe hurricanes, they got a couple that caused a few days of power outages. I had a 6000 KW Craftsman portable genny left over from Katrina where we lost power for 7 days up north of the coast about 100 miles. Anyway, I bought two more portables (Champion 3500 KW invertors) and can now run my whole house on the two smaller ones and if necessary can run my central A/C on the 6000. I got all three out and started them with a small amount of non-ethanol fuel in 2016. They all ran fine and I ran the gas out and put them away again.

My question is: How often do you start yours and what, if anything, do you do in preparation to put them away for future use? We've been fortunate here for 3 years. No major hurricanes have come our way and power outages were few and far between. I'm sure if we stay long enough that will change.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

 

[Ritothebull]

I have several generators and some other gas-powered equipment and try to run the ones I haven't used at least every 60 days or so, the engines with fuel pumps can go a lot longer. I put a stabilizer in the ones I don't use often and get non-ethanol gas when I can. A friend of mine put in a fancy whole house generator after Katrina, she didn't test run it for about a year and she couldnt get it started last september when we were without power for 5 days. It took 3 days for the service guy to get to her and finally get her going and that was a propane unit.

 

[JimRB]

I turn the fuel shut off closed and let the engine die. My generator has sat for 6 months to a few years with old gas, Started right up. I do prefer to use premium gas which may have less ethanol. I probably should do fuel stabilizer.

 

[oosik]

I have a Honda 3500 watt unit. There is no such thing as non-ethanol gas in this neck of the woods. I run Stabil in the gas and try to remember to run it for about half an hour every month or so. Thirty six plus years out here and never even once needed a standby generator. Its been considerably more than ten years since I've had any kind of power outage.

I take the little Honda out on the property so I can use my 120 volt tools for most projects. I will use a rechargeable tool if its just a small job.

 

[ericm979]

We bought a 5k watt Honda when we moved here 20 years ago. I knew there were a lot of power outages. We can't get non ethanol gas here. I use stabil and always close the gas tap and run the carb dry when I shut it off. Our outages are mostly in the winter though we had one the other week when some kids ran their car into a power pole and knocked it down (they survived). Usually it sits for 6-7 months over the summer. It starts right up when I need it.

 

[TractorGuy]

My generator is not a portable and runs on diesel. I still run it monthly for 2 hours unless I've had a recent outage and had to use it which has been frequent lately. I try to keep a hundred gallons of fuel on hand but as it gets used in the tractors it isn't always possible. So far my fuel supplier has been good about getting me filled up the next day after I call even with a storm pending.

If I had a gas unit I would find some way to use and rotate the fuel.

 

[Jstpssng]

I used to change the gas and run it for a bit every fall, usually while running my skilsaw to create a load. Then I would shut the fuel off and run the carburetor dry.
I've been here since 2003 and the power has only been out for more than a couple of hours once; so I've gotten a little complacent. Last fall I pulled the starter rope out of one of them and haven't fixed it yet; the other, my father's old Lincoln 135 I run occasionally for the welding function,

 

[Clint S]

I use mine to run the welder. Whenever I need to weld the genny runs. Once a month easily. Usually run it dry but often forget. Starts on the first or second pull every time

 

[fried1765]

I have a Honda 3500 watt unit. There is no such thing as non-ethanol gas in this neck of the woods. I run Stabil in the gas and try to remember to run it for about half an hour every month or so. Thirty six plus years out here and never even once needed a standby generator. Its been considerably more than ten years since I've had any kind of power outage.

I take the little Honda out on the property so I can use my 120 volt tools for most projects. I will use a rechargeable tool if its just a small job.

Actually there IS non ethanol gas in your "neck of the woods".
You can go to your any FBO (fixed base operator) at any airport, and buy 100LL gas.
This is low lead gasoline that does not contain ANY ethanol.
I use it in my three generators, all my other small engines, and in my two pre 1970 gas tractors.
100LL also has a MUCH longer shelf life than automotive ethanol gasoline.

 

[Alien]

I suppose I should start mine up again one day... Only needed it twice since the floods in 2011. It really is mainly used for a backup for the bore pump because if the elec goes down we have no water.