Siphon Gas for Generator

[Huck]

Trying to think how to transport generator and gas can. Got me thinking, is there any reason I couldn't siphon gas from tow and eliminate the gas can? Or maybe just a 1 gallon can that I could wash out and leave empty when on the road.

Thoughts?

[WizWid]

Originally Posted by Huck

Trying to think how to transport generator and gas can. Got me thinking, is there any reason I couldn't siphon gas from tow and eliminate the gas can? Or maybe just a 1 gallon can that I could wash out and leave empty when on the road.

Thoughts?

Universal Short Over-tank Utility Platform

[KenjiFox]

If it were me, I would get the fuel directly from the vehicles fuel rail.
you could use one of these kits;
Fuel Pressure Tester
To interface with it. Be exceedingly careful if you do! Fuel systems on vehicles run at high pressure. That said, you could very easily connect one of the fittings to the rail and put the other end of the hose into your 1 gallon container. Simply cycle the key on and off a few times and bingo. No need to start the car. When you first turn the key it should run the fuel pump up to pressure for a few seconds anticipating you to start it.
At some 50 PSI the fuel will dispense fairly fast into the container. It could throw a check engine light perhaps on newer vehicles that monitor the fuel pressure, but if you don't start the engine I doubt it would stick. It would likely clear instantly when you do start it without the tube connected.

My vehicle doesn't care about it. That said it's a 93.

I don't like the idea of putting a tube into the tank to siphon from it. Too easy for it to get caught in the flip cover since tubing is soft. It would also look a bit suspect. Not that this should be much of an issue in most camping locations, but still.

[LyleB]

I keep reading not to use gasoline with ethanol in it for the generators (or other small engines). I know I've had MANY problems with using it in my snowblower and weed whackers, not so much in my lawn mowers, but the engine techs have all said that ethanol is bad for small engines.

Since most gas stations across the country use at least 10% ethanol blends, siphoning out of your vehicle gas tank may not be the best. Luckily, here in MI there are plenty of marinas which usually do sell non-ethanol gasoline, so getting it is not difficult.

Do most folks worry about this with their generators or is it more of a theoretical issue that the generators handle ok?

[Carl Pa]

I have not used my gen yet to camp. But i was thinking of carrying a small gas container and fill it up just before you get to where you want to be. Then if you do not use it all empty into your tow. That way you are never carrying a full gas can.
I think if you shut off the gas to the gens carb. and use stabil gas treatment you should be ok to use reg. gas. Carl

[mary and bob]

I have some older vehicles and equipment that was made before ethanol came in to use in gas. I was using an additive called Star Tron that is supposed to offset the effects of the ethanol. Now one local convenience store / gas station is selling 91 octane non ethanol gas so I buy that. From what I was told, ethanol affected the rubber parts in older systems, like fuel lines and carburetor parts. Newer engines use a different material that is OK with ethanol.

[LyleB]

I'm not sure I would trust the sentiment that newer engines handle the ethanol better. the snow blower that I spoke of is the newest piece of equipment I have, and has given me the most problems by far. So bad that it has soured me on John Deere for any future purchases.

In the first three years of ownership, it was in the shop for carburetor, fuel line problems probably 8 times, even after being sure to add stabilizer to it's fuel and running it dry every time before summer storage. Each time the service techs attributed it to clogged gas jets caused by the ethanol in the gasoline - said it was a major source of problems in many small engines.

That said, perhaps the engines used in the Hondas and Yamahas are better designed to minimize these problems. Here's hoping, I've yet to buy a generator, but it is on my list.

[Darral T.]

Personally, I dont like the sound OR idea of running anything off in my TOW tank when I'm traveling! I take my Scamp to a model airplane "flyin" event occasionally and use my Champion Gen (and it works VERY well btw!)

But I also fill up its tank and take along a 5 gal jug of gas with me (which I have gas left over after 3-4 days camping). I'll keep it where it can "vent" of course while traveling if it's hot weather. But mostly for me it's been 70's 80's. If I was using the gen in very hot weather, I'd put a cover over the bed of my truck to keep it and the gen in the shade.

[War Eagle]

A few suggestions/observations from my experience/point of view. Many long-haul truckers have multiple fuel tanks with inline fuel-line selection valves (mechanical and electric) to switch from one fuel tank to another. I think a good-sized truck shop could help you install a valve and outlet tube that would allow you to use the gas tank's fuel pump to pump fuel out an outlet tube into a gas can. What that does to your tow vehicle's warranty, your insurance coverage and any travelling companion's comfort level riding with you is for you to decide, but ask a truck shop what options they might suggest. Regarding ethanol in gas, my understanding is that, over time, it makes older formula plastic tubing and other internal plastic parts brittle, they crack, and then fuel leaks out or air leaks in - either way, messing up the performance of the engine. You can buy newer formula plastic gas line tubing at most any auto parts store that fixes the most common problems. I've never known ethanol itself to contribute to "crud" clogging carburetor jets, etc. However, I did have a problem with a small engine repair shop putting cruddy gas in our garden tiller when they had it to replace a leaking gearbox oil seal. The engine ran fine for years before I took it to them. But it suddenly had engine problems immediately after getting it back from them. It had no in-line fuel filter (fuel lines won't accommodate one), so I had to clean out the carburetor's settling bowl 5 or 6 times before I finally got all the crud from their dirty gas out. I had a sneaky suspicion that they might have done it on purpose hoping to get me to bring it back to them for more work they could charge me for. I did not go back to them, and I'm not ever going to. Just saying....

[Chris Z]

How long do you expect to need to run the generator? Mine runs about 8 hours or so and my 2 gallon gas can seldom gets used but it is there. When I fill my tow, I can always refill generator.
guess it depends on how long you intend to be in one place though.

[Dudley]

Before blaming the fuel causing problems on the snow blowers and lawn mowers, blame California. Those darn CARB rated carburators are set way too lean. Here in Edmonton we are at 2100 ft and they run like .... My snowblower, with a brand new motor, was running terrible and no way to adjust the mix. My neighbor is a mechanic with the army and fixes small engines and everything they through at him. He came over , pulled the brand new main jet and used a welding tip cleaner to open the jet a small amount and it now runs great. I have done it to a couple of other motors and same results. Yes, I know that small motors cause a lot of pollution but if they can't run well, what good are they.

For chain saws, weedeaters and such, yes run premium gas with as little alcohol as possible. The walboro carbs have same one way flapper valves that distort when exposed to alcohol. There are some carb kits available that use different material for those gasket/flappers.

[Uplander]

I camp...have a gas powered generator...my solution:

First I installed an insulated cooler on the tounge of my travel trailer.
I use this to store small gasoline containers...insulated and air tight.
The solution for burning 10% ethanol gasoline is to add "Stabil" (available at Walmart or auto parts stores) designed to deal with the ethanol problem.
My 3100 watt generator (Champion) runs forever on a gallon of gas. I only use it two or three hours a day as most state park campgrounds restrict generator use to 2 hours in AM and 2 hours in PM. This is enough time to cook in my microwave at both breakfast and dinner and recharge my battery on a daily basis. When it is hot I also run my A/C on max-high to cool down my trailer in the afternoon. My 32" Sony HDTV only requires 57 watts of power so I use that off an inverter if I decide to watch television...but...we don't go camping to watch television.

[getaway1]

Hi Most newer vehicles won't allow you to siphon fuel from the tank as there are baffles built in to the filler neck, you just can;t push a line in there.
Siphoning fuel is dangerous to your health as well. Better to get a small approved fuel container and transport it externally. never carry fuel in an enclosed area. Fumes will collect and as soon as any spark occurs an explosion may follow. Be safe !

[WizWid]

Here is how one customer carries gas on our shelf..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/104805...57660420431348

Jim

[LindaandPat]

Originally Posted by LyleB

I keep reading not to use gasoline with ethanol in it for the generators (or other small engines). I know I've had MANY problems with using it in my snowblower and weed whackers, not so much in my lawn mowers, but the engine techs have all said that ethanol is bad for small engines.

Since most gas stations across the country use at least 10% ethanol blends, siphoning out of your vehicle gas tank may not be the best. Luckily, here in MI there are plenty of marinas which usually do sell non-ethanol gasoline, so getting it is not difficult.

Do most folks worry about this with their generators or is it more of a theoretical issue that the generators handle ok?

I have a older Honda 1000 and they said to just use premium fuel in my generator also use the stabilizer and they have fuel additive you could put in fuel . One is called 103 +at auto parts store . I recently starting using my Honda again and they still said premium fuel . Pat

[KenjiFox]

I do not worry about the alchohol in the fuel.
I do always add a little sea foam to my spare fuel cans though. Ever since doing that I have not had to clean a single carburetor on anything. From my motocross bike to a weed wacker and everything in-between.

I do buy ethanol free fuel when I am out west as my vehicle gets better MPG with it. That makes sense of course as there is more energy in a mol of gasoline than there is in ethanol.

The one benifit of ethanol is that it allows water and gasoline to mix. That's also a bad thing as it is hydroscopic and absorbs moisture at all times. If you want to make your own ethanol free fuel to save a huge amount of money over buying it special that way, just pour water into your gasoline and shake the crap out of it. What will happen is the alchohol and water will mix until the water dilutes the alchohol so much it can no longer mix with the gas. They will then separate as normal. The gasloline will float on top of the water ready to be separated however you wish. You can do this an ounce at a time in a flask to find how much ethanol is in your particular fuel.

My generator calls for ethanol free premium fuel according to who branded it here in the USA. However they based this on a misconception that it seems most Americans have; that "premium" fuel means better. It is not a quality grade, but a measurment and catagory based on octane content.

The compression ratio of your engine is the only thing that determines if you need higher octane or not. Octane is a retardant that raises the flash point of the fuel to slow ts burn and prevent detonation and pinging. If your vehicle or engine is running nice without pinging knocking or otherwise detonating, you do NOT need "premium" fuel. If your engine is not pinging on 87 octane standard fuel and you switch to higher octane fuel anyway you will actually lose power and MPG by essentially retarding the timing of your engine.

The people who branded my generator also say to over fill the crank case with oil. Not in words of course but they tell you to fill it with 350ml even though it is overfilled at 300. *face palm* Their obvious idea is to avoid damage and return claims by overdoing it in the instructions. In both cases they are wrong.

My 800 watt max 750 watt continuous generator holds a solid 800 watt output for as long as I want on regular fuel. Even e15. This means that if I listened to the suggestion to use premium I would very likely NOT be able to do that as it really couldn't run better than it does now.

A lot of people report only getting about 730 watts constant from theirs. I bet they put "premium" in it.

[whip2001]

I've mentioned this before. we rig our TV engine as our generator. it is quieter less pollution and recharges our battery faster since it pumps more amps. no need to carry a generator or extra gas.
just a thought.

[LindaandPat]

Originally Posted by KenjiFox

I do not worry about the alchohol in the fuel.
I do always add a little sea foam to my spare fuel cans though. Ever since doing that I have not had to clean a single carburetor on anything. From my motocross bike to a weed wacker and everything in-between.

I do buy ethanol free fuel when I am out west as my vehicle gets better MPG with it. That makes sense of course as there is more energy in a mol of gasoline than there is in ethanol.

The one benifit of ethanol is that it allows water and gasoline to mix. That's also a bad thing as it is hydroscopic and absorbs moisture at all times. If you want to make your own ethanol free fuel to save a huge amount of money over buying it special that way, just pour water into your gasoline and shake the crap out of it. What will happen is the alchohol and water will mix until the water dilutes the alchohol so much it can no longer mix with the gas. They will then separate as normal. The gasloline will float on top of the water ready to be separated however you wish. You can do this an ounce at a time in a flask to find how much ethanol is in your particular fuel.

My generator calls for ethanol free premium fuel according to who branded it here in the USA. However they based this on a misconception that it seems most Americans have; that "premium" fuel means better. It is not a quality grade, but a measurment and catagory based on octane content.

The compression ratio of your engine is the only thing that determines if you need higher octane or not. Octane is a retardant that raises the flash point of the fuel to slow ts burn and prevent detonation and pinging. If your vehicle or engine is running nice without pinging knocking or otherwise detonating, you do NOT need "premium" fuel. If your engine is not pinging on 87 octane standard fuel and you switch to higher octane fuel anyway you will actually lose power and MPG by essentially retarding the timing of your engine.

The people who branded my generator also say to over fill the crank case with oil. Not in words of course but they tell you to fill it with 350ml even though it is overfilled at 300. *face palm* Their obvious idea is to avoid damage and return claims by overdoing it in the instructions. In both cases they are wrong.

My 800 watt max 750 watt continuous generator holds a solid 800 watt output for as long as I want on regular fuel. Even e15. This means that if I listened to the suggestion to use premium I would very likely NOT be able to do that as it really couldn't run better than it does now.

A lot of people report only getting about 730 watts constant from theirs. I bet they put "premium" in it.

My Honda is a from the 90's not inverter like now . In fact it has a metal case not plastic . So would that still apply for me ? Should I get some Seafoam and just use regular . Give me the recipe . Pat

[DanielAG]

Bought a quiet 2000 watt propane generator at HD for $230.00 and connect it to my propane tank. Don't worry about old gasoline.

[cmartin748]

I use a very good quality plastic container made for gasoline and transport in in the shower on the floor with the window slightly opened but it never leaks.