Community Forums

Maddawg46 · 08-02-2017, 11:57 PM

How long you think I should go before running my generator. If I'm not traveling I try to start it after a month. Think I could go two months. Don't want that ethanol gas to screw up the carberator.

MikeD1 · 08-03-2017, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddawg46

How long you think I should go before running my generator. If I'm not traveling I try to start it after a month. Think I could go two months. Don't want that ethanol gas to screw up the carberator.

Everything I've seen and read recommends 1 month max, warm up for a couple of minutes then run for an hour or so at 50% load. If you occasionally stretch that to 2 months, I don't think you're going to cause huge problems, but I try to avoid it myself.

Mike and Cha · 08-03-2017, 12:36 PM

I run mine every month, never longer than that, but if we travel it may get run more often. You don't want the carburetor to get gummed up. The newer generators have carburetors that cannot be cleaned and if they get plugged up they have to be replaced. This was supposedly done in an agreement with the EPA to avoid having to have the generators part of the smog checks.

Indy Glenn · 08-04-2017, 04:30 AM

I run mine an hour or so when parked in storage each month. (Even tho the rig is plugged into 50amp).

In the warm weather, I'll go start the genset and let it run the 2 AC units. In the Fall - - I will do the same but run the heat pumps.

When traveling - I will often run the genset when we drive, again running the 2 roof AC/HPs.

When living in the rig at our winter campsite - even though we are plugged in using all utilities - I will run the genset for that hour each month as when in storage.

And since my memory is not what it used to be - I keep a log of when and how long I ran the generator set....

Hope this helps......

g

twinboat · 08-04-2017, 05:22 AM

I store mine 10 hours, round trip, away from my winter abode, so I disconnect the gas line, into the generator fuel pump, and start it up.

It runs a minute or so before it sucks the gas out of the carb. I then hook up the line, to be ready for the next time.

When I head south, I leave a fleet of engines with carburators at my summer place, and do the same to them.

slowmachine · 08-04-2017, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

I store mine 10 hours, round trip, away from my winter abode, so I disconnect the gas line, into the generator fuel pump, and start it up.

It runs a minute or so before it sucks the gas out of the carb. I then hook up the line, to be ready for the next time.

When I head south, I leave a fleet of engines with carburators at my summer place, and do the same to them.

I do the same with all of my off-season gasoline engines. I keep a couple of 5-gallon cans of stabilized fuel for emergencies, with as little air in the jug as possible. If it weren't so inconvenient, propane would be the best fuel for infrequent use.

HWCJr · 08-06-2017, 11:32 AM

When our CS is in storage, I go over once a week, 5 miles, and fire up the generator. Like others turn on some lights and both AC/HP's. Then recline back with a good book. My plan is for an hour but a short unintended nap usually makes it longer. Once a week may be a bit much but it makes for a quiet getaway.

Harold & Becky
2017 Newmar Canyon Star 3513