Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Quaffer]

I only use non-ethanol fuel treated with Stabil in anything less than vehicle size. Too many past problems from not doing that.

 

[3930dave]

These conversations are reminding me..... I need to have a chat with an old-timer @ work, before he retires....

He used to fly a lot, light-planes.... I need to find out what the setup is locally (small airports) and if I can fill cans there with LL, before it gets disappeared too. If I can, that should be cheaper than VP Racing....

Unfortunately, everything anywhere near me is now E-tainted @ the normal retail pumps....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I've noticed many times those quoting how they use E fuel in this or that old engine and never have problems. I've experienced this with OLD engines too, and I think it's because those old engines aren't jetted so lean, and pass "junk" that would stop up one of the LEAN jetted newer engines. (read Honda)

SR

Another vote here, for the big-bore jets in the olde stuff If they are sort of gucked up, you could often trickle enough cleaner through while running to side-step a tear-down.

Nice of the local util to help you with you with a MTCE run, but 5 or so hours isn't too bad.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

You mean Sta-Bil 360 which is the one to use for ethanol containing fuel treatment.

I have used it for several years in small engine fuel and it works as advertised !

360 was originally heavily marketed as protecting the top of the fuel tank from corrosion.

It's what I use in my small engine metal tanks, esp. @ end of season here. That "above the fuel line" claim has been dropped from their ads.

Haven't checked with their tech support - I'm hoping the formulation hasn't changed, and it's maybe just an edict issue by Corp Legal/Accounting to quit marketing it that way.

Could be nothing more than nuisance claims from people with gas tanks that rusted-out years ago.... or possibly some new enviro restriction kicked-in.

Rgds, D.

 

[Robin Veerman]

I only use non-ethanol fuel treated with Stabil in anything less than vehicle size. Too many past problems from not doing that.

Consider yourself privileged. Because for many of us the option of no-E gas has disappeared…

 

[bdhsfz6]

Before non ethanol gas was available around here, I used engineered fuel in my small engines:

Engineered Fuel & Oil | Ready to Use, Pre-Mixed Ethanol-Free Fuel

TRUFUEL is engineered premixed fuel with synthetic lubricants and stabilizers that are specially made for your 2-cycle & 4-cycle outdoor power equipment.

trufuel50.com

Due to the cost, it isn't practical for large gas generators though.

 

[WinterDeere]

Before non ethanol gas was available around here, I used engineered fuel in my small engines:

Engineered Fuel & Oil | Ready to Use, Pre-Mixed Ethanol-Free Fuel

TRUFUEL is engineered premixed fuel with synthetic lubricants and stabilizers that are specially made for your 2-cycle & 4-cycle outdoor power equipment.

trufuel50.com

Due to the cost, it isn't practical for large gas generators though.

My saw shop had a recommendation I liked, which was to use regular e-gas when running the machine, but then engineered or canned fuel for storage. This was more in reference to OPE that's used seasonally, essentially draining the e-gas and running some canned fuel through it before storage, but there's no reason the same couldn't be done for a generator. Doing this, one of those expensive gallon cans can last a long time, or serve several machines.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

Over 5000 hours on my Honda and it gets the same gas my truck and side by side and garden tractor get.

 

[ultrarunner]

I thin

Over 5000 hours on my Honda and it gets the same gas my truck and side by side and garden tractor get.

Regular use replenishing fuel seems ok... plus keeping in a lower humidity constant temp storage can't hurt.

It's when put up for storage or seasonal the mower shop says I'd problematic for the small carbs... nothing noted with the FI generators.

I use my Honda mowers year round without issue...

Got a free $1000 Honda mower because the owner couldn't get it started after a year away... The carb was crusty and I replaced and now ok.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Over 5000 hours on my Honda and it gets the same gas my truck and side by side and garden tractor get.

Those hours are what most of off grid systems are getting with there honda and yamaha inverter generators. Its good to see it reported by others every now and then! Regular maintenence, oil change intervals and spark plugs.
Most off gridders use thier generators enough in the winter that they use the cheaper e-gas. Its hasn't been a problem with continous use.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

I wonder what other people do to get the noise level down. My gen is LOUD. Tried adding an automotive muffler, but that didn't really work. And tried running the exhaust under water. That also didn't work. Figured out if I set it up to reflect noise away from the house, it is much better. The noise is in the single piston engine design. Even outside on the ground, we can feel the vibrations inside, panting the windows.

Exhaust noise can be difficult to control with universal parts. Manufacturers spend a lot design of dollars getting this right (or wrong, remember every GM product in the early 90s). You do want to be careful adding restriction to the exhaust as this will drastically increase cylinder temperatures and can cause piston and ring damage.

You didn’t say what size generator you have but one very effective way to reduce noise is put your generator in a hole deep enough to block any line of sight to your house. Much of the primary sound travels mainly in a line of sight path until it bounces off something.
Make sure the hole is wide enough to allow full ventilation and access to the unit (don’t cover the hole). This doesn’t work everywhere, in particular you need to be sure you don’t flood your unit if it rains.

Without knowing the size of your generator it’s hard to know how much vibration it is creating, the obvious solution is to move it further away but depending on the soil type, digging a hole may also help if you get below the soft spongy soil onto rock or clay that is more solid. Other than that, experiment with soft or springy materials under the unit. On large units, spring isolators are used however they cost more than most small generators.

Sometimes the cheapest and simplest fix is the most effective.

 

[3930dave]

Those hours are what most of off grid systems are getting with there honda and yamaha inverter generators. Its good to see it reported by others every now and then! Regular maintenence, oil change intervals and spark plugs.
Most off gridders use thier generators enough in the winter that they use the cheaper e-gas. Its hasn't been a problem with continous use.

2024.... we are now @ the point where leaving a quiet gen running in Eco Throttle mode leads to better outcomes than shutting it Off and storing it.......

Notable.... how many times in practice, Saving The Planet looks more surreal than Alice in Wonderland....

Rgds, D.

 

[grsthegreat]

I enjoy the noise a generator makes. Its when they dont make any noise my phone rings………


I repair generators.

 

[ultrarunner]

I enjoy the noise a generator makes. Its when they dont make any noise my phone rings………


I repair generators.

Or stolen…

 

[grsthegreat]

Or stolen…

Well now…that WOULD suck.

 

[WinterDeere]

I enjoy the noise a generator makes. Its when they dont make any noise my phone rings………


I repair generators.

Reminds me of the "smells like money" phrase used by many guys in the septic system repair trade.

 

[Robin Veerman]

Fired up my Reds for their half hour of exercise. I set the small heater to 750 watts (sometimes 1500 for a few minutes) for the eu2200 and I just purchased a used 4800 watt 240v heater which gives the em6500 a good workout. Can someone confirm if I’m balancing the load properly by running this heater at the 4 prong L14-30 plug ?

 

[grsthegreat]

If there 240 v loads, its balanced

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Construction heaters make great loadbanks. Used to have a bunch of outlets on a board to connect 9 heaters up either single phase or 3 phase to test gensets on mountain tops. A bunch of heaters are a lot easier to load into a helicopter than one big loadbank.

 

[3930dave]

Construction heaters make great loadbanks. Used to have a bunch of outlets on a board to connect 9 heaters up either single phase or 3 phase to test gensets on mountain tops. A bunch of heaters are a lot easier to load into a helicopter than one big loadbank.

Let me get this straight.....

You get paid to play with Big Generators AND Helicopters !

I sure did sign-up with the wrong recruiter, all those years ago !

Rgds, D.