Generator manufacturers recommend 87 octane gasoline fuels with no more than 10% ethanol added for your generator. Using mixtures above 10% ethanol will cause future fuel system issues including corroded carburetors that will lead to “hard to start” and “no start” conditions.
Storing units with ethanol in the fuel system for more than 30 days will usually lead to phase separation of the remaining fuel left in the float bowl of the carburetor. Phase separation is caused by the ethanol being hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere through the carburetor vent lines which results in a n acidic mixture accumulating over time in the carburetor float bowl.
This acidic mixture then begins to attach the softer metals in the carburetor leaving flakes of metal in the carburetor float bowl. This is also known as galvanic corrosion. When you try to start the generator after storing it with fuel in it, you will inadvertently introduce these small metal particles into the smallest passageways of the carburetor fuel jets causing the carburetor to become incapable of supplying the correct amount of fuel/air mixture to the engine as required.
* Please note, corroded carburetors caused by fuel left in them are not considered a defect and are not under warranty. That is why it’s important to educate yourself on proper storage techniques to help keep your future repair costs low.
Adding a fuel stabilizer to ensure that the quality of the fuel will endure for a short period of time is recommended. Manufacturers d not recommend storing any gasoline fuel in the unit for more than 30 days. This is recommended for fuel containers as well.
When storing the generator, you need to run the generator under ½ the rated load for 30 minutes every 30 days. This will ensure the internal engine components are properly lubricated and the sensitive electrical components are maintained.