Operating Precautions; Short-Term Storage - Honda EU 2000i Maintenance Manual

Brief summary.
a. High quality oil is inexpensive insurance for long life. Change the oil as
recommended or more frequently. If the generator was stored for long periods
(1 year or more), play it safe and change the oil before using.
b. When changing the oil, first run the generator for a few minutes to warm it up and
'mix' and sediments so that they are removed.
c. Use clean fresh fuel.
d. Do NOT allow any fuel to dry up in the gas tank or carburetor.
e. Clean and maintain the air filter.
f. Clean the spark arrester.
g. Save the box. Store the generator in the box.
h. Join the Yahoo group listed below. A good source of good information.
i. As the saying goes, "if everything else fails, read the book".

Operating Precautions

Be sure your fuel (fresh or stabilized) is clean. Use of an outboard fuel filter with fine
mesh and large surface area will reduce the chance of clogging the generator's small
internal fuel strainer. Don't run the generator on a dirty or dusty surface; place it on a
piece of plywood or other clean, level surface. Check the oil level before starting; the
EU2000i's low-oil cutoff switch will prevent starting if the oil level is low. It is good
practice to always have some oil handy while the generator is in use. From my
experience, this generator does not burn/use up any of the oil in the crankcase between
oil changes, but have some handy.

Short-Term Storage

WARNING: Gasoline vapors are highly flammable and explosive. Make sure to
work in an open area and keep away from heat, sparks and flames.
All gasoline degrades over time, and gasoline may contain ethanol, causing it to
degrade even more quickly. If the generator will not be used for several months, drain
the gasoline (see the Owner's manual) and run the engine under light load (50 to 100
Watts is adequate) until the fuel system is completely and the generator stops. This
ensures that all the gasoline was consumed. Failure to do so will eventually clog the
carburetor jets (varnish build up) which is expensive to fix. Consider adding a stabilizer,
such as Sta-Bil, to any fuel that sits either in the generator or in a storage container for
more than a few months. It is best to use fresh fuel after any storage.
If the drained gasoline is clean, transfer it to your car. The quantity is small and not
likely to have any adverse effects. If you are not sure about the cleanliness of the
gasoline, play it safe, pour it slowly through a few coffee filters.
2