Hi Readers,

I live in New York State and just bought a brand new Briggs&Stratton
5500W generator to be used in the rare event of emergency backup (i.e.
ice storm and no power for days). I've yet to add oil or gasoline,
but I have the containers ready and am comfortable doing it by
flashlight if needed. I would like to do as little maintenance as
possible on the generator (within reason) without jeapordizing it.
What's better for the engine: leave it dry and empty until needed
(maybe months or years!), or add oil and gas (and gas stabilizer) and
run every couple of months? It's kept under a tarp in the garage, but
the garage does get humid during wet weather.

All advice greatly appreciated.

Regards,
-Tony

In article .com,
wrote:

leave it dry and empty until needed (maybe months or years!), or add
oil and gas (and gas stabilizer) and run every couple of months?

Fire it up and USE IT (even if to power a dummy load right next to a working
"shore-power" outlet) a few times before the warranty expires.

Thereafter, every 4-6 months, put a quart of gas into it and run it until it
quits.

Those with ANY sense don't ignore a spare tire, simply hoping it will remain
fully inflated until needed, if ever. They CHECK it occasionally. Do the
same with your new generator.
--

JR

Jim Redelfs wrote:
In article .com,
wrote:


leave it dry and empty until needed (maybe months or years!), or add
oil and gas (and gas stabilizer) and run every couple of months?


Fire it up and USE IT (even if to power a dummy load right next to a working
"shore-power" outlet) a few times before the warranty expires.

Thereafter, every 4-6 months, put a quart of gas into it and run it until it
quits.

Those with ANY sense don't ignore a spare tire, simply hoping it will remain
fully inflated until needed, if ever. They CHECK it occasionally. Do the
same with your new generator.
Hi,
Worth remembering Mr. Murphy's law, LOL!

Jim Redelfs wrote:

In article .com,
wrote:


leave it dry and empty until needed (maybe months or years!), or add
oil and gas (and gas stabilizer) and run every couple of months?


Fire it up and USE IT (even if to power a dummy load right next to a working
"shore-power" outlet) a few times before the warranty expires.

Thereafter, every 4-6 months, put a quart of gas into it and run it until it
quits.

Those with ANY sense don't ignore a spare tire, simply hoping it will remain
fully inflated until needed, if ever. They CHECK it occasionally. Do the
same with your new generator.

We could start a pool. How long does everybody think it will last?
Will the OP get even a single "live" use out of it?

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi Readers,

I live in New York State and just bought a brand new Briggs&Stratton
5500W generator to be used in the rare event of emergency backup (i.e.
ice storm and no power for days). I've yet to add oil or gasoline,
but I have the containers ready and am comfortable doing it by
flashlight if needed. I would like to do as little maintenance as
possible on the generator (within reason) without jeapordizing it.
What's better for the engine: leave it dry and empty until needed
(maybe months or years!), or add oil and gas (and gas stabilizer) and
run every couple of months? It's kept under a tarp in the garage, but
the garage does get humid during wet weather.

I keep mine full of gas and stabilizer and run it for 10 minutes every
month. Every 6 months I change the gas. That is optional, but the longer
you keep the gas the harder it gets to start. It has seen me through 3
major outages over 6 years.

But, I also hedge. I found a nice used generator for about a third of what
it was worth, and keep that dry with oil in the cylinder. I could make a
nice little profit by selling it, but the moment I do...

Jim Redelfs wrote:
In article .com,
wrote:

leave it dry and empty until needed (maybe months or years!), or add
oil and gas (and gas stabilizer) and run every couple of months?

Fire it up and USE IT (even if to power a dummy load right next to a working
"shore-power" outlet) a few times before the warranty expires.

Thereafter, every 4-6 months, put a quart of gas into it and run it until it
quits.

Those with ANY sense don't ignore a spare tire, simply hoping it will remain
fully inflated until needed, if ever. They CHECK it occasionally. Do the
same with your new generator.
--

JR

I'll second this advice except maybe just run for a few minutes every
couple of months.
If yours is like mine, they recommend a first oil change after 5 hours
running. Also note, I believe the oil that comes with it is 30 weight
which should not be used below ~40 degrees.
You can use lighter or multigrade oil but keep a check on level.
Frank

wrote:

Hi Readers,

I live in New York State and just bought a brand new Briggs&Stratton
5500W generator to be used in the rare event of emergency backup (i.e.
ice storm and no power for days). I've yet to add oil or gasoline,
but I have the containers ready and am comfortable doing it by
flashlight if needed. I would like to do as little maintenance as
possible on the generator (within reason) without jeapordizing it.
What's better for the engine: leave it dry and empty until needed
(maybe months or years!), or add oil and gas (and gas stabilizer) and
run every couple of months? It's kept under a tarp in the garage, but
the garage does get humid during wet weather.

All advice greatly appreciated.

Regards,
-Tony

Put oil in it, preferably Mobile 1 synthetic or equiv.

Hang a tag and a pencil on a string on the generator where you can note
the fuel fill date and each test run date.

Fill the fuel tank full (minimize air space for condensation) with gas
with Sta-Bil added.

Run the generator under load (a portable 1,500W heater is sufficient)
for about 30 min each month. At the end of the 30 min unplug the load
and after a couple minutes turn off the fuel valve. Let the generator
run the remaining few minutes with no load to cool off and then run the
carb. dry so it won't gum up. Top off the fuel as needed to keep the
tank full. Note the test date on the service tag.

Every 12 months, drain the generator tank into a gas can and put the gas
in your car to use it up (the Sta-Bil insures it's perfectly fine).
Refill the generator tank with fresh gas and Sta-Bil. Note the fuel
change date on your service tag.

Unless you have reliable gas sources during an outage (you'll use 3/4-1
gal per hour of run time) you should keep a couple 5 gal gas cans full
of gas with Sta-Bil as well and keep them on the same annual rotation
schedule as the generators tank.

Yes, it sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn't, and it helps
insure the generator will be ready to go when you need it.

Pete C.

wrote:
Hi Readers,

I live in New York State and just bought a brand new Briggs&Stratton
5500W generator to be used in the rare event of emergency backup (i.e.
ice storm and no power for days). I've yet to add oil or gasoline,
but I have the containers ready and am comfortable doing it by
flashlight if needed. I would like to do as little maintenance as
possible on the generator (within reason) without jeapordizing it.
What's better for the engine: leave it dry and empty until needed
(maybe months or years!), or add oil and gas (and gas stabilizer) and
run every couple of months? It's kept under a tarp in the garage, but
the garage does get humid during wet weather.

All advice greatly appreciated.

Regards,
-Tony

There is no choice in the matter! As Pete C. said, if you don't run it
occasionally _under_ load, it will eventually lose its' residual
magnetism. If that happens, when you really need the generator, it
won't put out any power (even though the engine starts and runs), then
you'll be back in here trying to find out how to flash the generator
field winding. Just starting the generator and running it without a
load it is _not_ sufficient.

What's the time factor? My generator has sit as long as two
years, and powers up just fine.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"volts500" wrote in message
ups.com...

There is no choice in the matter! As Pete C. said, if you
don't run it
occasionally _under_ load, it will eventually lose its'
residual
magnetism. If that happens, when you really need the
generator, it
won't put out any power (even though the engine starts and
runs), then
you'll be back in here trying to find out how to flash the
generator
field winding. Just starting the generator and running it
without a
load it is _not_ sufficient.

As to brands of motor oil, please don't be cheap. I like Castrol,
because with my last truck, that was the only brand that quieted
the rod knock. I was using 20-w-50, but you should use 10-w-30 in
your generator.

The others on the list have given you excellent advice about
running it every couple months. In my case, my generator sits as
long as two years between runs. I know; not good. My last run was
when a couple friends in Buffalo lost power, during the snow
storm in October. I went there to run their furnace.

In the box with the generator, I have also a quart of oil, and a
spray can of ether. Usually when I go to start the motor, it
doesn't want to start. A squirt of ether on the paper air filter
runs the motor for a second. Do this three or four times, and the
motor runs on gas. From personal experience, never take out the
spark plug and spray ether into the spark plug hole. Dries out
the cylinder wall, and then the generator is useless.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi Readers,

I live in New York State and just bought a brand new
Briggs&Stratton
5500W generator to be used in the rare event of emergency
backup (i.e.
ice storm and no power for days). I've yet to add oil or
gasoline,
but I have the containers ready and am comfortable doing it by
flashlight if needed. I would like to do as little maintenance
as
possible on the generator (within reason) without jeapordizing
it.
What's better for the engine: leave it dry and empty until
needed
(maybe months or years!), or add oil and gas (and gas
stabilizer) and
run every couple of months? It's kept under a tarp in the
garage, but
the garage does get humid during wet weather.

All advice greatly appreciated.

Regards,
-Tony

Stormin Mormon wrote:

What's the time factor? My generator has sit as long as two
years, and powers up just fine.

It's rather unpredictable and varies with the quality of the generator.
Besides the magnetic field issues, running monthly under load also helps
to drive accumulated moisture out of the generator windings, another
good thing. It also recoats the engine interior with oil as well helping
prevent rust and / or corrosion depending on the surface and preventing
the rings and valves from sticking.

Hi Pete,

Which generator did you go with? I've had several estimates that swung
at the extremes: low and high.
Pete C. wrote:
wrote:

Hi Readers,

I live in New York State and just bought a brand new Briggs&Stratton
5500W generator to be used in the rare event of emergency backup (i.e.
ice storm and no power for days). I've yet to add oil or gasoline,
but I have the containers ready and am comfortable doing it by
flashlight if needed. I would like to do as little maintenance as
possible on the generator (within reason) without jeapordizing it.
What's better for the engine: leave it dry and empty until needed
(maybe months or years!), or add oil and gas (and gas stabilizer) and
run every couple of months? It's kept under a tarp in the garage, but
the garage does get humid during wet weather.

All advice greatly appreciated.

Regards,
-Tony

Put oil in it, preferably Mobile 1 synthetic or equiv.

Hang a tag and a pencil on a string on the generator where you can note
the fuel fill date and each test run date.

Fill the fuel tank full (minimize air space for condensation) with gas
with Sta-Bil added.

Run the generator under load (a portable 1,500W heater is sufficient)
for about 30 min each month. At the end of the 30 min unplug the load
and after a couple minutes turn off the fuel valve. Let the generator
run the remaining few minutes with no load to cool off and then run the
carb. dry so it won't gum up. Top off the fuel as needed to keep the
tank full. Note the test date on the service tag.

Every 12 months, drain the generator tank into a gas can and put the gas
in your car to use it up (the Sta-Bil insures it's perfectly fine).
Refill the generator tank with fresh gas and Sta-Bil. Note the fuel
change date on your service tag.

Unless you have reliable gas sources during an outage (you'll use 3/4-1
gal per hour of run time) you should keep a couple 5 gal gas cans full
of gas with Sta-Bil as well and keep them on the same annual rotation
schedule as the generators tank.

Yes, it sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn't, and it helps
insure the generator will be ready to go when you need it.

Pete C.