Ok, so recently, I got the Generators running. One portable one (open frame style) 6500watts. And another quiet 'honda' style hand carry models.
But we did not need them. The power did not go out. So . . . Do I just put them away? When I got them running and good and hot, I turned off the fuel so they (hopefully) drained the carb. but should I just put stabil in and store them? Last season, I used them to power stuff in my shop till they ran out completely. OMG it took forever . . .
Just searching for some ideas of how to best do this, maybe some others are having similar questions.
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February 08, 2026, 05:31 AM
Patriot
I put stabil in fuel and fully fill.
Turn off fuel valve and run until it quits.
Store…
Drain fuel each year and replace.
My Honda is 10 years old and starts the first time.
_____________________________ Pledge allegiance or pack your bag! The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher Spread my work ethic, not my wealth
February 08, 2026, 05:32 AM
pace40
I use one of those small bulb pump siphons to empty the tank and then run them dry. Stabil will work for a couple years (the blue stuff anyway) but eventually they will gum up.
____________ Pace
February 08, 2026, 09:18 AM
nhracecraft
^^ Unless said generators have plastic/polyethylene fuel tanks, draining them dry is ill advised as the inside of the tank will rust. Metal tanks should be stored full to prevent corrosion. That said, if they do have poly tanks, then close the fuel valve, run them dry and drain the tank.
If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !! Trump 47....Making America Great Again! "May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20 Live Free or Die!
February 08, 2026, 09:42 AM
sourdough44
I don’t do the running dry like I used to, never really gets ‘dry’. The little left evaporates.
My preferred method is to run 100 LL aviation fuel into the carb. If that’s not possible, non-ethanol fuel with maybe stabil, or similar.
The next component is to start it inside a year, let it run for 15+ minutes.
February 08, 2026, 09:44 AM
ridewv
There's typically a drain screw on the bottom of the carburetor to completely drain it. Then as other's advised, fill with StaBil treated gasoline (ethanol free if possible) or if a plastic tank draining it dry is an option that I do. I keep a 5 gallon plastic gas can filled with ethanol free, treated gas on hand that's just for the generator. Once every year or two it goes in the mowers and I refill it with fresh. If the tank was filled it should be drained too and left empty (if plastic) or refilled with fresh treated gas.
No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride.
February 08, 2026, 09:49 AM
Graniteguy
Your Honda EU portable has a poly gas tank. I run my dry and store.
Your larger open frame unit most likely has a metal fuel tank. I keep my 8,000 watt unit 3/4 full with added Stabil. (run the carb dry when storing)
February 08, 2026, 10:01 AM
tatortodd
quote:
Originally posted by ridewv: There's typically a drain screw on the bottom of the carburetor to completely drain it. Then as other's advised, fill with StaBil treated gasoline (ethanol free if possible) or if a plastic tank draining it dry is an option that I do. I keep a 5 gallon plastic gas can filled with ethanol free, treated gas on hand that's just for the generator. Once every year or two it goes in the mowers and I refill it with fresh. If the tank was filled it should be drained too and left empty (if plastic) or refilled with fresh treated gas.
Back before my whole house Kohler, I had a portable B&S generator. My regimen was pretty similar to ridewv's:
shutoff fuel line valve and run generator until it dies
drain screw opened on bottom of carb.
I put STA-BIL (I'll come back to this in a minute) in my gas can prior to going to the gas station to fill up that way every drop of gas in a can was treated. At the time, didn't have any ethanol free gas stations.
STA-BIL isn't that great with ethanol and there are multiple better products. When I have to store gasoline with ethanol now I use ethanol shield.
In the last few years, a gas station chain built several stations in the Houston burbs and they have ethanol free. The nearest one is by the nearest Harbor Freight plus several other stores I like. In one trip, I can fill up the ethanol free can, stop at HF, stop at Tractor Supply, and/or stop at Home Depot all at the same freeway exit.
Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity
DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
February 08, 2026, 10:07 AM
mark60
I only run ethanol free in any small engine and never had a problem. I do put stabil in for storage because I figure its a little extra insurance and never hurt anything.
February 08, 2026, 10:22 AM
mrvmax
I no longer have a portable generator but I use ethanol free fuel and add Pri-G to it.
I run all of my OPE and generators at least every 4-5 weeks . It doesn't matter what kind of gas I use. This way I know everything will be good to go when I need it .
February 08, 2026, 10:57 AM
PeteF
quote:
Originally posted by sourdough44: I don’t do the running dry like I used to, never really gets ‘dry’. The little left evaporates.
Don't do this. When gas evaporates it leaves a coating. This coating is what gums up carbs. Its a PITA to clean.
February 08, 2026, 12:03 PM
jed7s9b
I see talk of gummed up carburetors all the time. I have worked on more carbs than I can possibly image and I’ve never seen anything but powdery corrosion that often plugs up the passages and jets. I’ve never seen a carb for a mixed gas 2 cycle engine with this corrosion. This makes me consider running a little 2 cycle mix gas for the last few minutes of operation.
“That’s what.” - She
February 08, 2026, 12:53 PM
gjgalligan
I have slowly converted to the idea of removing/running out any ethanol gas and running a bit of ethanol free then shutting down when putting any small engine into to storage for more then a few weeks.
Integrity is doing the right thing, even when nobody is looking.
February 08, 2026, 01:28 PM
nhracecraft
quote:
Originally posted by PeteF:
quote:
Originally posted by sourdough44: I don’t do the running dry like I used to, never really gets ‘dry’. The little left evaporates.
Don't do this. When gas evaporates it leaves a coating. This coating is what gums up carbs. Its a PITA to clean.
I'm gonna fervently disagree here. The extremely small amount of fuel that evaporates leaves an infinitesimally small amount of 'coating' (if any!), which is removed by the detergents in quality gasoline through normal use of the engine. What IS a problem, is NOT closing the fuel shutoff valve, which then results in continuous evaporation over time as the tank is constantly feeding fuel into the float bowl of the carb. In this scenario, varnish will build up over time and become a problem, requiring the carb to be disassembled/cleaned in order to restore proper performance. Running it dry is the best thing you can do with a small engine that is run infrequently!
If Some is Good, and More is Better.....then Too Much, is Just Enough !! Trump 47....Making America Great Again! "May Almighty God bless the United States of America" - parabellum 7/26/20 Live Free or Die!
February 08, 2026, 01:34 PM
PeteF
quote:
Originally posted by nhracecraft:
quote:
Originally posted by PeteF:
quote:
Originally posted by sourdough44: I don’t do the running dry like I used to, never really gets ‘dry’. The little left evaporates.
Don't do this. When gas evaporates it leaves a coating. This coating is what gums up carbs. Its a PITA to clean.
I'm gonna fervently disagree here. The extremely small amount of fuel that evaporates leaves an infinitesimally small amount of 'coating' (if any!), which is removed by the detergents in quality gasoline through normal use of the engine. What IS a problem, is NOT closing the fuel shutoff valve, which then results in continuous evaporation over time as the tank is constantly feeding fuel into the float bowl of the carb. In this scenario, varnish will build up over time and become a problem, requiring the carb to be disassembled/cleaned in order to restore proper performance. Running it dry is thew best thing you can do with a small engine that is run infrequently!
100% agree
February 08, 2026, 02:08 PM
trapper189
^^^Same.
February 08, 2026, 02:34 PM
architect
The day after they are "stored" and no longer easily brought back into service, some random drunk driver will knock down the power pole that feeds your house. This could be well after winter weather is long gone.
February 08, 2026, 03:07 PM
Georgeair
I'm in the camp of assuming I'm going to need mine any random day. Both fueled with stabilized premium gas, run at first of each month for a few minutes, every 3rd or so time put something on it to pull some meaningful load.
Every 3-4 years drain tank if not used, replace fuel, lather rinse repeat.
Classic car storage folks have changed the narrative on this drain and put away method decades ago.
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
February 08, 2026, 03:41 PM
229DAK
quote:
Originally posted by mark60: I only run ethanol free in any small engine and never had a problem.
^^^^^ This!!!
_________________________________________________________________________ “A man’s treatment of a dog is no indication of the man’s nature, but his treatment of a cat is. It is the crucial test. None but the humane treat a cat well.” -- Mark Twain, 1902