Author Topic: Gasoline questions. (Read 417 times)

miko2d · « **on:** October 20, 2003, 03:00:33 PM »

I am considering buying an electrical backup generator, mostly to keep the freezer working.

I've read somewhere that gasoline cannot be stored long.
Is that true?
How long can it be stored?
What are the stabilisers, where to get them and how much do they extend the storage time?
What are the side-effects of the stabilisers?

Does the diesel fuel keep longer? Are there any generators that would work on diesel?

How about the generators that would work on propane?

Any experience with generators?

Thanks,
miko

MRPLUTO · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2003, 03:12:02 PM »

I believe that after ?? months the octane rating of gasoline begins to go down. How long I'm not sure. I don't think you want to use year-old gas.

I don't know anything about diesel fuel.

MRPLUTO

Mickey1992 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2003, 03:14:44 PM »

I can't find that thread not too long ago about how we discussed what we would do if we found that one of us was the last human on earth. I remember there was some discussion about the shelf life of gasoline.

Tarmac · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2003, 03:28:06 PM »

I know that when you winterize a boat, you put stabilizer in the fuel. When you have to summerize it again the next year, you have to run the stabilized gasoline out of the system before you get full performance again. I assume this means that there's some sort of quality compromise by using stabilized gasoline.

You also are supposed to change the fuel filter; I don't know if that's routine maintenence or if the fuel filter gets extra dirty from some sort of interaction/sediment due to the stabilizer.

My grandfather had three large gas cans, maybe 20 gallons each, and would just rotate through them. Fill the car/lawn tractor with one, then take the empty one to the station to fill up. That way, he always had 2-3 full cans of gas in the garage.

Gadfly · « **Reply #4 on:** October 20, 2003, 03:31:21 PM »

The best thing to do, and most gen-sets for the purpose have a small tank, say a 1/2 gallon, with a connection for a seperate tank(usually an outboard motor style tank. Fill it(the small one) and use it to run the gen-set when you test it monthly, and use the big tank for your mowers or boats, and keep that fuel fresh.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2003, 03:38:58 PM »

Answered in your duplicate threat in AGW.

AKWeav · « **Reply #6 on:** October 20, 2003, 03:39:09 PM »

The last step in shutting down your generator would be to shut the fuel off, and run the carb bowl as dry of gas as possible. A full tank of gas will keep for quite a while, while small amounts left in the carb can leave a residue that will eventually clog it.

I usually trot mine out every 2 months or so and give it a good run.

Also spend the couple of hundred bucks extra and get a gen-tran wired into your house. Makes the conversion easy when the power goes out, plus the linemen will love you for it.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2003, 03:59:13 PM »

you can get 'Stabil' stabiliser at any auto parts store. make sure after adding it to the tank (it's best to add it before filling as it will mix better), that you start the motor for a bit so the treated gas makes it's way into the lines. you could drain the carb as mentioned above, but I've found that I have less trouble if I don't let things sit dry for too long.

also if you are looking for a larger generator (>6000 watts) you can usually save a bit of money by buying a gas powered welder. I got mine for $1000, and it puts out 8,000 watts (72 amps of 110v power). and since I use the welder it rarely has to sit with old fuel in it.

if you are only going to use it for emergancys you might want to find a propane powered generator, propane keeps longer, is cheaper to run(all though you will pay more for the generator), safer (no pouring gasoline into a hot unit), and burns cleaner.

Habu · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2003, 04:32:53 PM »

Great idea about the welder.

I find propane burns too quickly. You need a massive tank to get a long run time. A diesel is the way to go if you want one that will run a long time. Most of the big commercial gensets are diesel.

Diesel fuel is pretty stabile. That big fuel oil tank that used to run your furnace back in the 50's and 60's contained heating oil which is just diesel more or less with another name (and cheaper too). It was normal just to fill the tank once a year so you know the fuel would stay fresh a long time.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #9 on:** October 20, 2003, 05:01:33 PM »

diesel is great for generators, they maintain a steady speed better than gas and the fuel is safer and more stable than gas.

the main drawbacks to diesel generators for home use is they put out a lot of smoke, and are a pain to start after they have run out of fuel (something that happens often when using a generator for home power).

there is very little difference between diesel and home heating oil. I've exchanged one for the other on several occasions and have had no bad effects. many houses around here still use it so it is readily available. you could burn it in a diesel generator and avoid the road tax on fuel, and if your house runs on oil you could hook the generator up to the heating oil fuel line and avoid having to keep the tank full or store a seperate source of fuel.

or if your house is heated with gas, you could even get one that runs on natural gas and avoid fuel issues that way.

midnight Target · « **Reply #10 on:** October 20, 2003, 05:42:13 PM »

We build many RV's with generators and you are correct. Gasoline will actually thicken over time to the consistency of vasoline and reek havoc on your carb and fuel lines. There are many stabilizers available that will prevent this from happening.

rpm · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2003, 09:53:05 PM »

The thickening is the parafin solidifying in the gas and it will screw up anything it comes in contact with. You don't want to burn heating oil for diesel. The flashpoints are much different and will burn a piston in your engine. If you want to save paying the Highway Tax, just register with your state to purchase Off Road fuel. It's dyed red, has more sulfur (a very good thing), and is under $1 a gallon.

capt. apathy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2003, 07:15:37 AM »

Quote

and with an alarm of some sort. A timer would do fine.

good idea, or even a simple float-switch that would kill the engine when fuel got low (that way you wouldn't have to be home to tend it, it would just shut itself off before running completely out)

about 5 years ago I traded out my welder for one that would also generate ac power so I could power the house in an outage.

mine is a very simple set up. the welder/generator is in a shed in the back yard and I have a heavy duty 220v double-male cord running from the welder to the basement.

when the power goes out I just remove the main breaker from the box (it's very important when running a generator through your house wiring to isolate your house so you don't accidentally send power back through the line and have the utility guy working on a live line he thinks is dead.), unplug the dryer and plug the cord into the 220v dryer outlet. the 60 amp breaker for the dryer is now my main.

the coolest set up (I imagine it's very spendy though) I've seen was on tv, back when everyone was preparing for y2k with generators and food stockpiles.

it had a natural-gas powered generator, and was set up so that when the system detected a power failure it would automaticly start the generator and isolate your system from the main supply. meanwhile it would continue to monitor your power from the utility, and when power is restored it shuts the generator down.

all you would have to do is keep it maintained and it would do the rest.