Ethanol Fuels Question
Guess youve never had a small engine to worry about. Store your generator/mower/chainsaw without draining the carburetor (draining gets every drop as opposed to running engine until it stalls) of e-gas and youll be doing a carburetor cleaning or rebuild eventually
🥴
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,681
Likes: 2,084
From: Massachusetts
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 2,893
Likes: 3,072
From: South of Boston, MA
My generator is EFI, no carb to worry about
My 2 small chain saws I went to electric
Big saw (24 & 28" blades) hasn't been drained every year & still going after 8+ years
Lawnmower (my entire life) , snowblower, weedwacker, brush hog have also never been drained
My 2 small chain saws I went to electric
Big saw (24 & 28" blades) hasn't been drained every year & still going after 8+ years
Lawnmower (my entire life) , snowblower, weedwacker, brush hog have also never been drained
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,590
Likes: 8,418
From: Inland NW
Luckily, I have a non-eth pump near me now for my gas cans.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,675
Likes: 11,463
From: State of Confusion
my motorcycles have never sat idle long enough to require winterizing.... but STABIL all the way for small engines being put away ... I got lazy a couple years ago during COVID and neglected fresh fuel and stabilizer in the lawnmower and generator and both failed on us requiring additional cost and maintenance. Every Winter I have used fresh ethanol free and stabilizer they worked fired right up next time I needed them ... last year I just ran them dry and put new fuel in Spring and that is a great option too ....
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 543
From: MN
Running dry is hard on the seals and gaskets. They dry out, crack, leak.
Best to store with full gas tank, non ethanol gas, stabil additives. Gas lasts up to 2 years stored this way, according to Stabil.
I've never had any issue with my dozen engines winterized like this. From chainsaws to motohome.
Best to store with full gas tank, non ethanol gas, stabil additives. Gas lasts up to 2 years stored this way, according to Stabil.
I've never had any issue with my dozen engines winterized like this. From chainsaws to motohome.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,675
Likes: 11,463
From: State of Confusion
Running dry is hard on the seals and gaskets. They dry out, crack, leak.
Best to store with full gas tank, non ethanol gas, stabil additives. Gas lasts up to 2 years stored this way, according to Stabil.
I've never had any issue with my dozen engines winterized like this. From chainsaws to motohome.
Best to store with full gas tank, non ethanol gas, stabil additives. Gas lasts up to 2 years stored this way, according to Stabil.
I've never had any issue with my dozen engines winterized like this. From chainsaws to motohome.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 1,541
Likes: 543
From: MN
it's not ideal, which is why I always used stabilizer and fresh non ethanol on small engines, my outboard motors, muscle cars, etc. but I didn't care too much about my 8 year old $250 lawnmower which I have since replaced with a lithium battery powered Stihl, along with chainsaw and edger trimmer..I'm about done with ICE '8 Track players' these days for those tools