Fuel Stabilizer

[BodybyFisher]

Where I live on Long Island, the power lines are located behind the homes in a right of way. Built in 1960, at that time, it was a good idea, now the right of way is over grown with old trees are are vulnerable to high winds and they often snap and take down the power line. During the hurricane about 10 trees fell and damaged the power line. Just the other day, we had high winds and a tree took out the power line for 2 hours.

That said, I have a 6500 watt generator that gets use when this happens. It has a 5 gallon fuel tank. I filled it the other day and I want it to be ready for the next outage, so I done need to fill it, etc. Even more importantly, I dont want to drain the tank at this time.

I have read a lot about fuel stabilizer on this site used by members who store their car over the winter.

Can i use the fuel stabilizer in my Honda 4 stroke generator? Where do I buy it?

Thanks

[JimD]

You are looking for STA-BIL Mike.

Should be available at auto parts stores, or Home Depot (in the lawn & garden dept.) or any shop that specializes in small engine repair or where you bought the generator.

[Texas Jim]

I agree with JimD... STA-BIL...

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_Fuel-Stabilizer-%2810-oz-%29-Sta-Bil_7080047-P_N3233_T|GRP2030C_____

[BodybyFisher]

Thanks Guys thats great, I found the Sta-Bil at a local NAPA and will run it through the generator engine. When I lose power, time is of the essence because we have a high water table and water can flood our basement very quickly, so I dont want to fill the generator to save time, that is why I want to leave the fuel in... Thanks

One a separate issue:

My neighbor owns a landscaping company, she has a bunch of gas powered equipment. I said she could/should use Sta-Bil in her equipment. She called the shop that repairs her equipment to inquire about it and they said no, to drain the tanks.... I said besides draining the tanks you need to run the engine till it dies to clear the lines and the fuel bowl. A hassle if you ask me compared to using Sta-Bil in the tanks and running the machine to distribute the Sta-Bil.

Does that sound right to you guys?, she will use the equipment again in the spring... is her repair shop being overly safe?

[JimD]

I always run the fuel system dry on my yard equipment.

[Cadillac Jim]

If the gas tank is pressurized like most modern cars and some motorcycles, you shouldn't need to use STA-BIL. If the gas tank is vented, you definitely need STA-BIL.

With or without STA-BIL, running the engine until it dies with the fuel cut off to empty the carburetor (or fuel injection) is a good idea, particularly with carburetors. If you can't do that, run the vehicle about a mile with STA-BIL in the gas to make sure that STA-BIL is throughout the system.

STA-BIL can do only so much. If you store the vehicle or equipment longer than six months or so you should drain the tank and empty the carburetor or FI. Read the STA-BIL literature as the definitive instructions.

[Ranger]

you can probably make an argument either way and I have heard both. I use STA-BIL in my snowmobile when I put it away on the last trip of the year.

I too have a generator for such power outages and use STA-BIL when I store it. It is tucked in the corner of the garage and thus out of sight and out of mind. A few years ago I thought about it and decided it needed to be started. It hadn't been run in AT LEAST 10 years. 5 pulls and she lit right up. Even I was rather shocked as I had anticipated a hard time with starting fluid and such. So, is STA-BIL that good? Would it have started that easy without it after 10 years? I don't know, but why mess with success. I'm gonna keep using it.

[BodybyFisher]

Thank guys for the info.

When the hurricane struck, we lost power and within 30 minutes my neighbor and I had 6 to 12 inches of water in our basements.

The generator had not been used in 3 years and the fuel was 3 years old, it would not start

I quickly took apart the carburator and float/fuel bowl and the fuel had turned into jelly. I cleaned everything out, drained the fuel, cleaned the plug, shot a couple of shots of oil in the cylinder and it started right up and it ran for the next week till we got power again.

When the power goes out around here, its important to get the sump pumps running asap, i really dont want to refuel the generator.

Thanks for the Sta-Bil info, Mike

[KHE]

Thank guys for the info.

When the hurricane struck, we lost power and within 30 minutes my neighbor and I had 6 to 12 inches of water in our basements.

The generator had not been used in 3 years and the fuel was 3 years old, it would not start

I quickly took apart the carburator and float/fuel bowl and the fuel had turned into jelly. I cleaned everything out, drained the fuel, cleaned the plug, shot a couple of shots of oil in the cylinder and it started right up and it ran for the next week till we got power again.

When the power goes out around here, its important to get the sump pumps running asap, i really dont want to refuel the generator.

Thanks for the Sta-Bil info, Mike

I think I would keep a spare sump pump on hand also.

The stabil slows the rate the fuel sours but if it could be three years between uses, I would still use stabil but drain the fuel and run it dry.

[BodybyFisher]

I just replaced the sump pump, was 6 years old, a Little Giant pump. It stopped starting on its own, you needed to bang it with a broom stick and it would start, I was thinking of disassembling it and seeing what was wrong, maybe brushes.

Besides the new Little Giant ($180 at Grainger), I have two pumps that I can hook up in an emergency. When we get extended rain for days and days, I have to drop a second sump pump into the sump as the water over runs the Little Giant and even with it running constantly it can't keep up with the water rise...

We have underground streams around here, and when you dig a hole you can see running water. I installed a new fence over the summer and it took 2 weeks to fill in the post holes as the water kept washing away the dirt and I couldnt fill the holes... needless to say with all of this water, mosquitoes are a big problem

Give me Scottsdale Arizona

[cdgrinci]

Another advocate (here) for Stabil; I use the Marine Formula and use it routinely for my cars, boat and small (garden) engines. The storage ratio is twice the dosage for the running ratio, and at a running ratio of one ounce per 10 gallons gasoline, is fairly economical. On a sporadic running engine (your generator), I still think the most prudent thing would be to run it dry after use if not anticipating running it again within a year. The Stabil will help with 'varnish' when the gasoline/ethanol evaporates (and it will evaporate with a carbureted engine due to the openness to the atmosphere in which it exists).

[BodybyFisher]

Thanks C&C, how does it sound if I use Sta-Bil now and then if I don't use the generator for 6 months, drain it then?

[cdgrinci]

That sounds 'sound', and not to bore you with my application, but my yard tools (since I use them throughout the year, though a lot less in the winter months) I keep fueled with the Stabil in force but for my lesser used garden tools (chainsaw and hedge trimmer) I drain and run out the fuel still left in the carb/fuel lines till dry. With your generator I would drain the fuel tank, then run till empty to use up the fuel in the carburetor bowl and (might even spray a little WD-40 in the carb opening when it is just about ready to stall (and maybe even a spritz down the spark plug hole).

[BodybyFisher]

I hear ya, but its a PITA to drain this monster, I need to remove the air filter assembly, and I don't think that i have enough storage space for the fuel, when I filled the generator tank, we filled the 5 gallon gas container.

Given how vulnerable the electric service is here to the weather, I am going to drain it in 6 months if I don't use it by then. Heck, it had fuel for 3 years and the worst that happened was I needed to clean the carburator. I think the Sta-Bil will help a lot.

[JimD]

Mike:

How far are you above mean sea level?

My guess would be you are less than 100 feet above MSL which might explain why your power/landline/cable sources are all vulnerable to falling trees.

[BodybyFisher]

According to www.mysealevel.com I am 65.6 feet above sea level.

The electric mains and transformer boarder the back yards. There is a 10 foot right of way that is not maintained and there are tons of old trees that come down with wind. We also have a very high water table here on Long Island, especially my town. The name of my town means UNDERGROUND STREAM in Indian.

I would have thought I would have been less than 65 feet.

[KHE]

Seems like it would be to the power company's advantage to remove any tree limbs that may damage the power lines. They do that where I live and the service is very reliable.

[JimD]

Seems like it would be to the power company's advantage to remove any tree limbs that may damage the power lines. They do that where I live and the service is very reliable.

Likewise where I am. The overhead utility suppliers share the cost of retaining Asplundh to trim tree growth. I rarely lose electricity service and if/when I do, service is restored/repaired within hours.

Also, my local suppliers stay on top of threatening weather conditions and have repair crews ready to respond as soon as conditions permit.

Yes, the cost is buried in what I pay. And worth every penny.

[BodybyFisher]

They do go through the right of way every couple of years and clear branches, but high winds have been knocking trees over altogether ripping the roots right out of the ground. The hurricane created big problems. Our electric company has been mismanaged for years however.

[Texas Jim]

I tried to get some limbs cut from trees behind my house...

When we would get high winds... power would flicker and sometimes go off for a few seconds.

I kept getting the royal run around until I told them ...

"OK.. don't worry about it. I have a real long aluminum ladder and a chain saw... I will cut them down this weekend."

Asplunch was out right after daylight the next morning and trimmed them up real nice... :D

[BodybyFisher]

Funny Jim, I have to try that. During the hurricane, a power line was pushed up against a tree by a fallen tree, and it grounded out, causing a fire on the ground because of falling embers. The high voltage line is 14000 volts. We constantly have flickers in wind and rain storms.

[Ranger]

Asplundh doesn't "trim" trees. They butcher them.

[BodybyFisher]

Asplundh doesn't "trim" trees. They butcher them.

They do the tree work here in the right of way also

[JimD]

Here are the choices when dealing with hardwood growth overhanging utility lines:

1) Remove the overhanging limbs (the remainder of the tree will survive).

2) Remove the entire tree.

The rules change for (Southern) pine trees. The solution here is -- push that piece of trash to the ground with a Bobcat.

[BodybyFisher]