Helpful Tips & Suggestions; Storing Your Engine - Honda GC160 Owner's Manual

HELPFUL TIPS & SUGGESTIONS

STORING YOUR ENGINE

Storage Preparation
Proper storage preparation is essential for keeping your engine
trouble-free and looking good. The following steps will help to keep
rust and corrosion from impairing your engine's function and
appearance, and will make the engine easier to start when you use it
again.
Cleaning
If the engine has been running, allow it to cool for at least half an hour
before cleaning. Clean all exterior surfaces, touch up any damaged
paint, and coat other areas that may rust with a light film of oil.
NOTICE
Using a garden hose or pressure washing equipment can force water
into the air cleaner or muffler opening. Water in the air cleaner will
soak the air filter, and water that passes through the air filter or muffler
can enter the cylinder, causing damage.
Fuel
Gasoline will oxidize and deteriorate in storage. Deteriorated gasoline
will cause hard starting, and it leaves gum deposits that clog the fuel
system. If the gasoline in your engine deteriorates during storage, you
may need to have the carburetor, and other fuel system components,
serviced or replaced.
The length of time that gasoline can be left in your fuel tank and
carburetor without causing functional problems will vary with such
factors as gasoline blend, your storage temperatures, and whether the
fuel tank is partially or completely filled. The air in a partially filled fuel
tank promotes fuel deterioration. Very warm storage temperatures
accelerate fuel deterioration. Fuel problems may occur within a few
months, or even less if the gasoline was not fresh when you filled the
fuel tank.
Fuel system damage or engine performance problems resulting from
neglected storage preparation are not covered under the Distributor's
Limited Warranty (see page 11).
You can extend fuel storage life by adding a gasoline stabilizer that is
formulated for that purpose, or you can avoid fuel deterioration
problems by draining the fuel tank and carburetor.
ADDING A GASOLINE STABILIZER TO EXTEND FUEL
STORAGE LIFE
When adding a gasoline stabilizer, fill the fuel tank with fresh gasoline.
If only partially filled, air in the tank will promote fuel deterioration
during storage. If you keep a container of gasoline for refueling, be
sure that it contains only fresh gasoline.
1. Add gasoline stabilizer following the manufacturer's instructions.
2. After adding a gasoline stabilizer, run the engine outdoors for 10
minutes to be sure that treated gasoline has replaced the untreated
gasoline in the carburetor.
3. Stop the engine.
DRAINING THE FUEL TANK AND CARBURETOR
 WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive, and you can
be burned or seriously injured when handling fuel.
• Stop engine and keep heat, sparks, and flame away.
• Refuel only outdoors.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
1. Use a siphon pump (commercially available) and siphon the fuel
out of the fuel tank into an approved gasoline container.
2. Place an approved gasoline container below the carburetor, and
use a funnel to avoid spilling fuel.
3. Loosen the carburetor drain screw. and drain the carburetor into an
approved gasoline container. After draining is completed, tighten
the carburetor drain screw.
SIPHON PUMP
(COMMERCIALLY
AVAILABLE)
Engine Oil
1. Change the engine oil (see
page 5).
2. Remove the spark plug (see
page 6).
3. Pour a tablespoon (5 - 10 cc)
of clean engine oil into the
cylinder.
4. Pull the recoil starter several
times to distribute the oil.
5. Reinstall the spark plug.
7
FLOAT BOWL
DRAIN SCREW