Generator Exercise

[ronsii]

Fortunately I can still buy (and do) ethanol free gas... can get 87 or 92... I just stick with the 87octane.. pretty much run the little service truck on it most of the time and there IS a big difference in performance and milage!!! also fill up my big genny in the truck with it and extra gas cans now and then for the small motors.. both the card lock fuel suppliers we use carry it in several locations as well as red for the machines and I have seen I think a shell station at one of the indian casinos that sells eth free... although they have a high price on theirs

[CAVEMANN]

Interesting. We used to have ethanol free gas in the summer but I guess by now they figure most of the old cars that were prone to vapor lock are gone now and we now get it year round with ethanol. I did buy a quart of the stuff you described at Ace once for a gas blower but it was so expensive it would be cheaper to replace or rebuild the carb.

You're right! I bought a tune-up package for my earthquake auger for 13 bucks it had a spark plug, carburetor, new fuel line and tank grommets, There may have been another piece or 2, I don't remember.

[arcflash]

Here in Minnesota non oxygenated gas is available as premium octane for off road and collector vehicles. If I was buying a small standby generator it would be a lp or natural gas to avoid fuel problems

I had problems with my outboards every year before switching to nonox. Burned up my 028 super with ethanol fuel, that was expensive. Now I only buy nonox and stabilize the hell out of it. Have used 2 year old gas without missing a beat. I bring down multiple containers of fuel in the fall for my small engines as I have not found a supply in Texas.

[shortfuse]

There is a guy on youtube who is a guru for quick and inexpensive fixes for carbs, fuel, ignition etc. problems on small engines such as mowers, blowers, generators, weed whackers, power washers etc. He's got some really easy fixes for carbs that are plugged up in particular. Check him out..."Steve's Small Engine Saloon".

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpq...YDN-BIHUQ2TfAA

[ronsii]

Well if you can't get the ethanol free stuff where you live consider making your own... really!!!! it's pretty simple you don't even need a bunch of specialized equipment either. Simple process -: All you need is a gas container with a tap in the bottom of it and a small valve on that.

1. Fill a container with gasoline that has ethanol mixed with it.

2. Dump some water in the same container you put the gas in.

3. Shake/mix it up.

4. Let it sit a little while.

5. Draw the water/ethanol off the bottom of the container.

6. Ethanol free gas is what's left in the container


Fortunately we can still buy it here... or at least it says it's eth-free but seriously it is a VERY noticeable difference in how the motors run when using it.
Filled up yesterday


If the liberal leftist politicians do outlaw selling it here I WILL process it myself... in bulk

[CAVEMANN]

Well if you can't get the ethanol free stuff where you live consider making your own... really!!!! it's pretty simple you don't even need a bunch of specialized equipment either. Simple process -: All you need is a gas container with a tap in the bottom of it and a small valve on that.

1. Fill a container with gasoline that has ethanol mixed with it.

2. Dump some water in the same container you put the gas in.

3. Shake/mix it up.

4. Let it sit a little while.

5. Draw the water/ethanol off the bottom of the container.

6. Ethanol free gas is what's left in the container


Fortunately we can still buy it here... or at least it says it's eth-free but seriously it is a VERY noticeable difference in how the motors run when using it.
Filled up yesterday


If the liberal leftist politicians do outlaw selling it here I WILL process it myself... in bulk

I wonder if the non-ethanol is more readily available in the northwest because of the logging industry?

[ronsii]

I wonder if the non-ethanol is more readily available in the northwest because of the logging industry?

I really don't know... kinda doubt it if by that you mean gas for chainsaws??? most of the real logging is mechanized with 600+HP fellers while we sthil use 2stroke saws and lots of other little guys do it really doesn't use all that much gas to fell,limb and buck logs by hand... I would guess there are more people running way more gallons per month in recreation type things... boats, skidoos, atvs, motos, sleds, aircraft, etc... lots of water around here so lots of boats



But seriously... back to the make it yourself eth-free gas.... There are plenty of DIY sites on how to do it and videos!!! very easy to do safely and cheaply although given the current state of censoring going on you can bet that a lot of this info will be disappearing soon if it gets more 'light' shone on it because they wouldn't want you making a non-clean fuel as it's probably already against federal law to 'modify' fuel

[LanceR]

There are ethanol specific fuel stabilizers that work pretty well although if I buy a few cans of ethanol gas expecting to use it soon I pour it into a vehicle after a few months to keep it reasonably fresh.

And I add a shot of Lucas injector/carb cleaner and before filling the cans or the tank of seldom used equipment, regardless of gas type or whether it's diesel, and that goes a long way to keeping occasional use carbs/injectors clean.

Be very careful flashing a generator field as they all may have different needs. Using 12 volts on a some engine drive welders will ruin circuit boards (some Rangers, if memory serves, only use 2.5 volts). It's best to use an actual factory service/repair manual.

Yes, from long military experience supervising nearly 70 mechanics maintaining wheeled and tracked vehicles, generators, water and bulk fuel pumps, construction equipment etc that often sat for too long, seals and gaskets often need to be exercised to keep their resiliency. Seal life is often drastically shortened when dis-used. And over time literally all the lube would run off bearings and you'd be starting dry bearings with all the bad things that implies. In fact after a specified number of days without operating some vehicles and equipment with separate starter and fuel switches had starting procedures that recommended cranking the engine without fuel for XX seconds before turning the fuel on to allow for pressure lubing the engine prior to starting.

And if you do run things for exercise it needs to be for long enough and at a high enough load to dry all condensation out of the exhaust and crankcase and to get things hot enough prevent new condensation from forming when you shut down. Many engines, particularly diesels will not get hot enough to really seat the piston rings without a load and will have excessive "blow-by" of incomplete burnt fuel, which is now acidic, pass the rings and wind up in the crankcase where the oil system bathes the parts in newly acidic oil. Hence the need to run long and hot enough to dry out the condensation that was there and to prevent new condensation. Exhaust systems are particularly prone to corrosion when not heated high and long enough which is why some welders have weep holes in the bottom of elbows and muffler cans.

Now please excuse me while I put this soapbox away and go make my wife breakfast.

Best regards to all,

[CAVEMANN]

I really don't know... kinda doubt it if by that you mean gas for chainsaws??? most of the real logging is mechanized with 600+HP fellers while we sthil use 2stroke saws and lots of other little guys do it really doesn't use all that much gas to fell,limb and buck logs by hand... I would guess there are more people running way more gallons per month in recreation type things... boats, skidoos, atvs, motos, sleds, aircraft, etc... lots of water around here so lots of boats



But seriously... back to the make it yourself eth-free gas.... There are plenty of DIY sites on how to do it and videos!!! very easy to do safely and cheaply although given the current state of censoring going on you can bet that a lot of this info will be disappearing soon if it gets more 'light' shone on it because they wouldn't want you making a non-clean fuel as it's probably already against federal law to 'modify' fuel

I didn't stop to think about the fellers, I just know that the average person can't afford to buy it in 1 quart cans at the big box stores or farm & ranch stores. I guess they're counting on folks not knowing they can make their own.

[12V71]

I didn't stop to think about the fellers, I just know that the average person can't afford to buy it in 1 quart cans at the big box stores or farm & ranch stores. I guess they're counting on folks not knowing they can make their own.

Yeah, we have it here at the pumps in some stations, runs about $3.85 a gallon. But that's all I put in the welders and all the other small engines, Compressors, pumps, and generators.
Just got a new Dual fuel gen for the motorhome... It's going to stay on propane.