Home Generator
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Home Generator
Question: can I continue running the generator or drain the tank and add standard Ca. toxic ethanol fuel?
Recently purchased a Honda EM6500SX and I believe made the mistake of adding 2 stroke ethanol free fuel (at $30/gal) to the 4 stroke generator. I added 5 gals to the generator and there is approximately 2.5 gals remaining and not sure if I should continue to run the engine on the ethanol free 2 stroke fuel or drain the tank and add the standard ethanol gasoline, believe the ethanol content is around 10%? .
Comments/Suggestions appreciated!!
Recently purchased a Honda EM6500SX and I believe made the mistake of adding 2 stroke ethanol free fuel (at $30/gal) to the 4 stroke generator. I added 5 gals to the generator and there is approximately 2.5 gals remaining and not sure if I should continue to run the engine on the ethanol free 2 stroke fuel or drain the tank and add the standard ethanol gasoline, believe the ethanol content is around 10%? .
Comments/Suggestions appreciated!!
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Thank you for the feed back!!.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 103
From: Staten Island, NY
Given the cost of Honda generators (I have 2) I wouldn't continue to run it on the wrong fuel. Drain it, fill it with either mid grade 89 octane or premium 93 octane gas and use marine grade Sta-Bil (the blue stuff) in the gas.There's no need to spend the extra money on ethanol free gas. Every time you run the generator, shut it down by closing the fuel valve and letting it run dry.
My first Honda generator is over 15 years old and it still runs like new since I've been following this procedure.
My first Honda generator is over 15 years old and it still runs like new since I've been following this procedure.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 7,128
Likes: 1,945
From: Sportsman's Paradise
The oil in the fuel is so dilute it won't harm anything. Worst case scenario it might foul the spark plug but that's a long shot in itself. Just top off the tank with what ever fuel you normally use and worry not.
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Checked and there is little over 1 gal in the tank, intend adding 4 gals of non-toxic 4 stroke fuel to the tank. The generator has approx. 24 hours so bout time to change the oil and check spark arrester and plug.
Considering buying a hourly timer but appears independent of the engine requiring manual setting when the generator is running??
Appreciate the comments/suggestions!!.
Considering buying a hourly timer but appears independent of the engine requiring manual setting when the generator is running??
Appreciate the comments/suggestions!!.
Trending Topics
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,445
Likes: 5,517
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
for a unit that gets a lot of low hour run time, a hour meter is a good investment.
my 2,400watt Kawasaki inverter is 6 years old and has 54 hours on it. i change the oil once a year, or every 10 hours run time.
my 2,400watt Kawasaki inverter is 6 years old and has 54 hours on it. i change the oil once a year, or every 10 hours run time.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
FWIW Honda generators can be converted to run on propane by using an adapter kit made by these folks: Honda Generator Propane Conversions
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
FWIW Honda generators can be converted to run on propane by using an adapter kit made by these folks: Honda Generator Propane Conversions
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 7,128
Likes: 1,945
From: Sportsman's Paradise
If you wish to run propane or natural gas you'll want a motor snorkel. I put them on my last 2 portable gens. They work great and allow you to still use the built in gas tank so you have a tri fuel generator.
Motor snorkel
Living in hurricane alley has given me a lot of experience with how to do what with a generator to keep the lights on lol.
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
They make an hour meter that auto runs when the engine does as you wrap it's wire around a spark plug wire. It gets it's feed from that. I put one on my last generator. Simple to install and no maintenance.
Hour meter
If you wish to run propane or natural gas you'll want a motor snorkel. I put them on my last 2 portable gens. They work great and allow you to still use the built in gas tank so you have a tri fuel generator.
Motor snorkel
Living in hurricane alley has given me a lot of experience with how to do what with a generator to keep the lights on lol.
Hour meter
If you wish to run propane or natural gas you'll want a motor snorkel. I put them on my last 2 portable gens. They work great and allow you to still use the built in gas tank so you have a tri fuel generator.
Motor snorkel
Living in hurricane alley has given me a lot of experience with how to do what with a generator to keep the lights on lol.
I thank you for the link, Motor Snorkel definitely appears to be a viable option particularly since Ca. just passed a low that by 2024 gasoline power equipment will be banned, what a joke!!
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 7,128
Likes: 1,945
From: Sportsman's Paradise
Just have to take the NG line loose from the big one and connect it to the little one.
Thread Starter
|
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 6,305
Likes: 18
From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Update: Picked-up the hour meter and questioned the mechanic whether adding 2 stroke 50-1 ethanol free fuel would present a problem if mixed with the 4 stroke fuel who stated it would not pose a problem as long as ethanol free fuel was used. I purchased couple gal cans of the 4 stroke ethanol free gasoline, then drained the generator and added the fuel at $30/gal. Interesting, friends who reside in the great state of Arizona attached a photo of the price they are charged at the local gas pump for ethanol free gasoline, $3.69 per, go figure.
Anyhow, generator is ready to go so when the utility co. declares a ' safety power outage' I be ready??
Anyhow, generator is ready to go so when the utility co. declares a ' safety power outage' I be ready??
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
52' fordnut
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
1
Mar 8, 2016 04:20 PM
DougJ_1997PSD
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
6
Jun 11, 2014 05:31 PM
emilbanks
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
10
Jan 11, 2004 03:51 PM