Honda Generator Question

[glock_nor_cal]

I have a Honda EU2000I that I ran for about 8 hours to power my fridge/freezer/lights etc with the recent storm/ power outage.

I have 5 Jerry cans that I fill with 87 octane and store for a year, then dump into the family cars and refill the cans- I?ve never had any issue with the fuel not performing.

My question is around what I do with the leftover gas in the generator. The fuel I used was a year old when we had the outtage. Should I turn it upside down and dump the fuel out? Is it ok to store it with no fuel in it?

[DaveInOroValley]

I would store it drained of all fuel. This was the main reason I went with a propane powered unit. Never have to worry about it and if needed can scrounge for propane tanks in the worst case.

[RickD427]

It's actually better to store a gas-powered generator without fuel, and more so if the generator uses a carburetor. Gas breaks down over time and can block passages in the fuel system.

It's more important to keep the fuel system downstream from the tank dry, than it is simply to drain the tank. Empty the tank, then run the generator until it runs dry.

[G-forceJunkie]

Dump the gas and run it till it dies.

[NATEWA]

I have three generators - one is propane only and the other two are gas or propane. I?d highly recommend getting a propane kit and some 30lb tanks. So much easier! Put my batteries for generators and a riding lawn mower on a solar powered tender. Change the oil in the fall and keep fresh oil on hand.

[NATEWA]

Don?t forget about a cover and good extension cords

https://a.co/d/bCQPmuy

[baih777]

Get a siphon hose from harbor freight. Drain the gas onto your weeds.
Then start the generator and let it run the carb dry.

Also On the eu2000.. if you take off the side cover. There is a fitting to drain the carb. Check YouTube

[baih777]

Also add Sta-bil fuel additive to your gas cans.
Don't buy the regular type. Buy the one for Ethanol treatment.
Having better luck with this version.

[glock_nor_cal]

Thanks for the feedback k. I will get a siphon and drain the tank and run it till it does. I will check draining the carb as well and I will check the oil. I?ve never checked it. I picked this generator up used a few years back and tested it once or twice and it stated right up la few weeks ago. Pretty impressed with it.

You think the fuel Stabil is necessary if I use the gas within a year?

[twinfin]

Thanks for the feedback k. I will get a siphon and drain the tank and run it till it does. I will check draining the carb as well and I will check the oil. I?ve never checked it. I picked this generator up used a few years back and tested it once or twice and it stated right up la few weeks ago. Pretty impressed with it.

You think the fuel Stabil is necessary if I use the gas within a year?

If you want to minimize fuel rotation activities or store it for a year, then I'd definitely add a stabilizer. The shop and repair center I bought my EU6500i from says never use fuel more than 30 days old due to fuel breakdown leading to machine breakdowns. I think 3 months is a bit more realistic (without stabilizer) with a high quality, metal fuel can. That's the rotation I put my non-stabilized, 5 gallon NATO Jerry cans on.

Like others have said, to prevent aging fuel from gumming up the carburetor, you need to shut off the fuel valve and run the machine until it dies then, drain the remaining fuel from the fuel bowl. Lots of YouTube videos on this. If you store your generator with fuel in it, keep the tank full to reduce the amount of air space. Air space brings humidity which in turn, absorbs into the ethanol part of the fuel and is how you get water in the fuel. I would only keep fuel in the tank for short periods of time like before a major storm and only for a month unstabilized or maybe up to three months if adding stabilizer.

As for oil changes, these generators don't use an oil filter. They "filter" the oil by having the user change it out every 50 hours. For that reason, there's nothing to gain by using premium synthetic oil as it will be due for a change before sufficient time has passed to reap any benefit from expensive synthetic oil. Just use the less expensive plain oil due to the short run times between oil changes.

[G-forceJunkie]

Most Hondas, including the OP's don't have a fuel shut off valve, hence the several "dump it out then run it dry" posts Thats the one thing that I find annoying enough about Hondas to own Yamahas instead that have a fuel valve.

Like others have said, to prevent aging fuel from gumming up the carburetor, you need to shut off the fuel valve and run the machine until it dies then, drain the remaining fuel from the fuel bowl.

[jben]

Do yourself a favor and convert your generator. Never worry about old gas again.

https://www.hutchmountain.com/products/honda-eu2200i-propane-natural-gas-gasoline-tri-fuel-conversion-kit

[glock_nor_cal]

Do yourself a favor and convert your generator. Never worry about old gas again.

https://www.hutchmountain.com/produc...conversion-kit

Is the main benefit of switching to propane longevity? I.e. propane never goes bad? I have no more room in my prep area to store anything else, so if I stored propane tanks some of the Jerry cans would have to go. Gas storage serves dual purpose: filling vehicles and running the generator. I?d be open to propane if there is additional benefit other than shelf life

[user120312]

IMO, LP is a good option for those who have centralized around it at their domiciles and have large storage for it. Forex, myself and my neighbors had 500 or 1000 gallon tanks on premises so, for some, it made sense to run gensets on propane.

However, since it was rural ag land, we also had varying levels of farm equipment, most of which ran on diesel. Myself, I centralized my mobile equipment on diesel, vehicles, tractors, generators, and had a large storage tank, 500 gallons, for that use. My neighbors, who had large parcels, had tanks in the 1000-5000 gallon range

I like diesel because it is very energy dense, historically kept very well, and a wide variety of prime movers utilized it as an energy source across uses.

That said, back to a small genset, the Honda engines I have, gas engines, on my lawn mower and pressure washer, have lasted decades and provided reliable service with minimal maintenance. The pressure washer, in particular, has seen very irregular service and both the 10hp Honda and the diesel burner for heating have been remarkably uncomplicated to maintain and very reliable. The mower I've had for nearly 40 years and the pressure washer about 20.

IMO it depends on the individual application. If I had to buy a small genset today I'd have no problem buying the 49 state Honda and servicing it just like the mower. However, I already have a tractor and a 10Kw genhead for it works just fine. Kubota diesels are used in commercial gensets and are economical and reliable. For someone shopping in the 10-50kw range, I recommend them as a power plant, similar to a Honda in the small stuff.

Good luck!

[996TT]

Most Hondas, including the OP's don't have a fuel shut off valve, hence the several "dump it out then run it dry" posts Thats the one thing that I find annoying enough about Hondas to own Yamahas instead that have a fuel valve.

The EU2200i's have a fuel shut-off switch. I have one regular and one Companion, both 2-3 years old, and both of them have the shut-off feature to run the carb dry.