If you’ve been using the same generator for a few years and have been storing it in the garage, there’s a good chance that the gas has gone bad. We’ll show you how to fix a generator with old gas. We’ll also give you some tips on how to avoid this problem in the future.
If you’ve got an old generator that’s been sitting in your garage for years, it might be time to give it a little TLC and get it ready for the next power outage. Gasoline can go bad over time, so if your generator hasn’t been used in a while, you’ll need to clean out the old gas and replace it with fresh fuel. So the question is generator users is that how to fix a generator with old gas? How can I avoid this problem in the future?
If you’ve been using the same generator for a few years and have been storing it in the garage, there’s a good chance that the gas has gone bad. We’ll show you how to fix a generator with old gas. We’ll also give you some tips on how to avoid this problem in the future.
Now you don’t need to worry about old gas in the future because you can learn how to store your generator properly. You must avoid storing it in hot or humid conditions since this will cause condensation and could lead to rust inside the engine. This is also why you should avoid running a generator indoors.
How to fix a generator with the old gas?
If your generator is old, you’ll need to clean out the gas tank completely. If the gas has degraded over time, it could cause damage to your carburetor.
A)First of all, you must drain all of the gasoline from your generator’s fuel tank into a container. The fuel tank should have an air vent on the top which you can use to drain the gas. If the vent is plugged, simply siphon out what you can by sucking on a hose and directing the other end into the mouth of your generator’s fuel tank.
B)Once you’ve drained all of this gas, turn your attention to emptying and cleaning out the fuel tank itself. Use a little soap and water and scrub down any resin or sediment that has built up inside here. Once you’ve done this, it’s still not time to fill up with new gas yet; we must now remove as much rust as possible from the tank itself using lemon juice or Coca-Cola (Coke).
Pour 1/2 cup each of vinegar and Coke into the fuel tank over night. Let the Coke etch away at any rust, then flip the tank over to drain out all of this liquid. Use a towel to wipe off any remaining residue before you pour in fresh gas.
Now it’s time to fill up your generator with fresh gasoline and get it back into service!
Drain the Bad Gas & Add Fresh Gas
When you get a new generator, it’s supposed to come with fresh gas. If you’ve had your old generator for years and didn’t need it right away, the gas might be bad. This is especially true if you’ve been storing it in the garage where the fumes can build up over time, you can easily fix the generator with old gas.
The first thing that you need to do when diagnosing any problems with your generator starts by draining all of that old gas out of the tank. If there are any solids inside of the tank either from rust or clumps of dirt, these will get mixed into your fresh gas. Then once you get all of the bad gas out (or as much as possible), fill up the tank with fresh gasoline and replace the cap securely.
When you get a new generator, it’s supposed to come with fresh gas. If you’ve had your old generator for years and didn’t need it right away, the gas might be bad. This is especially true if you’ve been storing it in the garage where the fumes can build up over time.
The first thing that you need to do when diagnosing any problems with your generator starts by draining all of that old gas out of the tank. If there are any solids inside of the tank either from rust or clumps of dirt, these will get mixed into your fresh gas. Then once you get all of the bad gas out (or as much as possible), fill up the tank with fresh gasoline and replace the cap securely.
Reset the Carburetor
The carburetor needs to be reset when you put in fresh gasoline and clean out all of the old gasoline and debris from inside of the generator. By resetting the carburetor, it’s like giving your engine a fresh start after shutting it off for years or letting it sit with stale gas. Here is how to do this:
- Locate the control knob on top of the carburetor (generators built before 1996). Turn this counterclockwise until it stops (about five full turns) then wait about 10 seconds. Do not push in the knob when turning – you’ll just break something! You should hear fuel begin to flow into your generator at this point.
- Next, turn the knob clockwise until you can feel it click into place. This is usually about one full revolution from when it’s turned counterclockwise to where it was before turning counterclockwise. Do not force it as this will strip out the mechanism inside of your carburetor!
- After resetting your carburetor, start up your generator and let it run for a few minutes to make sure that everything is OK. Check for any leaks or odd sounds…if everything looks good, you should be ready to go!
- The carburetor needs to be reset when you put in fresh gasoline and clean out all of the old gasoline and debris from inside of the generator. By resetting the carburetor, it’s like giving your engine a fresh start after shutting it off for years or letting it sit with stale gas. Here is how to do this:
Conclusion:
By now your generator should be ready for years of service ahead. If you’ve been using the same generator for a few years and have been storing it in the garage, there’s a good chance that the gas has gone bad. We’ll show you how to fix a generator with old gas. We’ll also give you some tips on how to avoid this problem in the future.
FAQs:
Q 1) How to avoid getting old gas in the first place?
Don’t use your generator and leave it sitting for years at a time (less than two months should be OK). Store it outside where the fumes will dissipate.
Q 2) How do you drain gas from a generator?
There should be a cap on top of your fuel tank that is easily removable with an Allen wrench. Take this off and pour out as much as possible before adding fresh gasoline. After replacing the cap, turn on your generator for 5-10 seconds to get rid of any bad vapors. When putting fresh gas into your generator, don’t just pour it straight into the tank or you might create too much pressure or overflow when cold gasoline mixes with air bubbles inside of the tank.
Q 3) Can I start my generator with old gas in the tank?
Yes, but this will reduce the overall lifespan of your generator. It’s like running your car without oil changes for years on end – the motor will not last as long (and neither will you)! If it’s bad enough, you may have to take it into a repair shop where they can flush out all of the old gas and debris inside of the engine…but why let them do that when you can just clean everything yourself?
Q 4) How can you tell if gasoline is bad?
If it’s been sitting around for more than two months or so, don’t use it! If there are any solids mixed into the fuel after pouring it out, then it should be discarded.
