The most reliable generator

If that's the case it isn't going to run for you when you need it, especially if you put ethanol pump gas in it. I use pure no-ethanol only and run mine every month or two to give it some exercise. Worse thing for any modern small engine is to sit.

BTW, this isn't a truck generator for me, I use it for camping and power outages.

 

It sits with non ethanol and seafoam.

Already learned my lesson with ethanol and stabil. Had to have the carb cleaned after 3 months.

It still starts. With a shot of ether. Every couple months. I'm not wearing out the rope without it.

I hope to start camping next year and get more use out of it.

 

Looks like you’ve got the same philosophy as me. I do the exact same with mine.

I really try and make it a point to start up all my stuff in the off-season. Mowers, chainsaws, pressure washer, all of it.

 

Yepper.

 

Most reliable generator.....hmmm.....

 

I went thru hell with a small13 hp Kohler engine with the #### ethanol gas until I found some non-ethanol. If I was king it would be outlawed. Seafoam is really good stuff. You can pull the carb off the motor and just let it soak in a bowl filled up with seafoam overnight and it will clean it up good. No need to take it apart.

 

Yeah.

I bought the generator new. With gas can. Used it once. With ethanol and stabil. Everyone talks highly of that stabil.

3 months later the can and the carb were trashed.
Lesson learned. Cost me $32 to get my new generator running again. Fuel problems aren't covered under warranty.

I fill my motorcycle up with non and seafoam for winter now. Amd generator.

 

Outside of a turbine generator, or even a dynamo for the matter, I’d always recommend a Diesel generator such as the one below. It is portable and they are very reliable. Many military units have low hours and are/were well maintained and spare parts are available. Check craigslist, eBay, local paper, etc. they are out there and could be had for a reasonable price.

 

1 gallon a night.

 

I've had two generators on my truck and they've handled pump gas with ethanol just fine. I run it almost every day while I'm out, so the gas doesn't sit for extended periods. I also shut off the fuel supply to turn it off, so it doesn't flood the carburetor while moving, but it also keeps the bowl and jet clean.

The biggest problem I have is a lack of weatherproofing. The generators will run flawlessly until the first winter, then road salts and corrosion sets in and ruins the remote electric start function. Then the pull cord will break, and it's a chore getting into the inverter style generators to repair them.

The current generator I use is a Westinghouse 4500. The previous was a Champion 3100.