MULTIQUIP GA-Series Service Manual page 31

Every year during hurricane season we hear the same story. "It ran good last year". If you take the gas
cap off and the odor almost knocks you off your feet. What has happened is the small amount of
gasoline in the tank and carburetor has gone bad and in many cases turned into a varnish. This
varnish clogs the fuel metering ports and causes the engine to run erratic or not at all. What's the best
thing to do to prevent this from happening? Run the tank dry before putting it away? No! Not a good
idea, the small amount of fuel left in the system can turn to varnish as it dries up. Here's what is
recommended:
1. Treat the last tank of fuel with a gasoline stabilizer.
2. Always put the engine in storage with at least a half tank of fresh treated fuel in it.
3. Run the engine for 10 minutes after treating the fuel, so that the stabilizer gets into the entire
fuel system.
4. Start the unit up every month or two to keep fresh fuel in the carburetor during the season.
Fuel does evaporate from the carburetor.
The important thing to understand is that gasoline does not do well when stored in small quantities or
open sunlight. If you don't use much fuel during the season, then try to keep what you have fresh and
in a cool shaded area. Most small engine shops sell gasoline stabilizer, as do hardware stores, etc.
Fuel stabilizer will keep fuel fresh for two years.
If you already have the stale fuel problem, then start by cleaning as much of the old fuel out as
possible, then with fresh fuel in the tank, try starting it. If it won't start or runs erratic, it's a trip to the
repair shop. So, let's keep that fuel fresh!
S T A L E
S T A L E
Multiquip Inc. ◦ GA Series Generators ◦ Manual No. GAGENSM
F U E L
F U E L