- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Generator - Should I Run It or Leave in Box?
Posted on 8/21/16 at 6:51 am
Posted on 8/21/16 at 6:51 am
I bought a 3000 watt gasoline generator about 8 months ago. I bought it strictly to run a few things when the power goes out. Thankfully I have not needed to run it yet. I never took it out of the box. My thinking is that if I've never run it that there is no maintenance involved. Is this a good way to look at things? Is there harm in not going ahead and running it? Thanks for any insight you can provide.
11
Posted on 8/21/16 at 6:53 am to brickyard
Run it before the gas expires.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 6:56 am to brickyard
I would service it first, like adding the oil to the motor. 
Then get some staybil gas treatment and mix it with gas, fill it up and run it to make sure it works.
The fuel treatment will keep gas fresh up to two years.
If you don't treat the gas, you are looking at trouble.
Always keep a couple Qt's of oil on hand. Read the service manual. They will tell you how often to change oil from running time. A lot of people don't think of that.
Then get some staybil gas treatment and mix it with gas, fill it up and run it to make sure it works. The fuel treatment will keep gas fresh up to two years.
If you don't treat the gas, you are looking at trouble. Always keep a couple Qt's of oil on hand. Read the service manual. They will tell you how often to change oil from running time. A lot of people don't think of that.
This post was edited on 8/21/16 at 7:00 am
Posted on 8/21/16 at 7:01 am to brickyard
I'd leave it in box for sure. It doesn't have gas in it now so its like she has already been put up for long term storage. Of course it may not be a bad idea to make sure the damn thing works for when that 'cain comes knocking.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 7:05 am to Chuker
quote:
Of course it may not be a bad idea to make sure the damn thing works for when that 'cain comes knocking.
That is my thinking.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 7:08 am to Chuker
Yeah, that's the bad thing with my approach.....I don't even know for sure that the darn thing works, lol.
As far as general maintenance, what's better - to add staybil, leave gas in the tank and run it every so often or add gas, run it until it burns all of the fuel up, and run it every so often?
As far as general maintenance, what's better - to add staybil, leave gas in the tank and run it every so often or add gas, run it until it burns all of the fuel up, and run it every so often?
Posted on 8/21/16 at 7:23 am to brickyard
I'd take it out of the box, check the oil, add gas and see if it works. if it works add some stabilizer and then start it every now and then just to make sure you have a reliable piece of equipment.
Is it a good one or is it from harbor freight?
Is it a good one or is it from harbor freight?
Posted on 8/21/16 at 7:26 am to brickyard
Use 100% gasoline instead of ethenol blended gas.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 7:34 am to brickyard
quote:
Yeah, that's the bad thing with my approach.....I don't even know for sure that the darn thing works, lol.
As far as general maintenance, what's better - to add staybil, leave gas in the tank and run it every so often or add gas, run it until it burns all of the fuel up, and run it every so often?
This. I let mine sit for too long and then I had to have the carb cleaned because it had gummed up. Repair guy said that you should always burn all the fuel in the tank before storing for any length of time and run a gallon through it monthly if you want it ready for hurricane season.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 7:47 am to brickyard
Definitely make sure it works and just do normal maintenance. I bought a Samsung window Ac for hurricanes and didn't pull it out of box until after Gustav. It was missing a support piece so I had to rig it up and Samsung wouldn't even send me the correct piece for free because it was outside of the 1 year warranty period. Will never buy Samsung ever again.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 7:49 am to brickyard
Run it with Sta-bil in the gas, then run it completely out.
Then store it until needed.
Always start with fresh fuel.
Then store it until needed.
Always start with fresh fuel.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 8:06 am to brickyard
quote:
.
As far as general maintenance, what's better - to add staybil, leave gas in the tank and run it every so
Just use ethanol free gas in all your small engines. It is expensive, but you're only looking at a few gallons anyway.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 8:09 am to Tiger in NY
I bought one right after Hurrican Isaac and left it in the box till this flood. Opened the box last week, added oil and gas and it started right up. I'd just leave it as its already set up for long term storage.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 8:37 am to brickyard
Run it to make sure it works???
Posted on 8/21/16 at 9:16 am to brickyard
Either leave it in the box till needed as we did or you can test it and just run all the fuel out.
We left our old one in a box for 3 years till needed. Pulled it out filled with oil and gas and she started after a few cranks.
Now we just put a few gallons in a month or so before hurricane season and run it with a load till it runs outta gas rhen pick it up till needed or til the next season. Never have any problems
We left our old one in a box for 3 years till needed. Pulled it out filled with oil and gas and she started after a few cranks.
Now we just put a few gallons in a month or so before hurricane season and run it with a load till it runs outta gas rhen pick it up till needed or til the next season. Never have any problems
Posted on 8/21/16 at 9:23 am to brickyard
It could be broken or missing parts. Better to run it now and store it properly. Try and run it every six months for 20 minutes with a load on it
Posted on 8/21/16 at 9:38 am to mtcheral
Won't buy Samsung because you didn't open the box for over a year?
Lots of products are missing parts in the box and it was stupid of you to not check it.
Lots of products are missing parts in the box and it was stupid of you to not check it.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 9:42 am to brickyard
whatever you do just make sure it has oil in it
Posted on 8/21/16 at 9:49 am to brickyard
I'd read on here in the past to buy an electric weedeater and use the generator to run it once a month while you do yard work.
That made sense to me.
Also have a log for the run times and oil changes. You're probably looking at changing the oil every day and a half to two days with continuous use. It's easy to get off track.
That made sense to me.
Also have a log for the run times and oil changes. You're probably looking at changing the oil every day and a half to two days with continuous use. It's easy to get off track.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 9:52 am to LSU1NSEC
Never put ethanol gas in it.
Add stabil to it.
Make sure it has oil.
Run it every 3 or 4 months. Make sure you plug something into it and actually use the generator part, not just the motor.
When shutting it off, cut the fuel line and let it stop itself by running out of gas. Keeps the fuel out of the carburetor for long term storage.
Add stabil to it.
Make sure it has oil.
Run it every 3 or 4 months. Make sure you plug something into it and actually use the generator part, not just the motor.
When shutting it off, cut the fuel line and let it stop itself by running out of gas. Keeps the fuel out of the carburetor for long term storage.
Page 1 of 2
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News