Saw the post below about being prepared for bad weather with a generator, and it brought up a couple questions. I live in town and I don't expect to use my generator very often, but with severe storms in the spring and ice in the winter, I have one on hand. It has a little 13 HP Honda engine. My question is in regards to having fuel on hand. I usually keep a 5 gallon can full and just dump it in my truck about once a month and refill it. 5 gallons isn't going to last all that long in a major power outage (in which the gas station would probably be without power as well), but having a bunch of fuel sitting around to keep fresh seems like quite a hassle. I found some propane and natural gas conversion kits for Honda engines. I was thinking propane would be easy to store and after the initial investment in some extra tanks, wouldn't cost a whole bunch to run. Has anyone ever converted a little engine like this to run on propane? Do they work well? Are they reliable? Does it hurt the engine?
- Thread starter JDNewbie
- Start date
propane is a clean burning fuel and they work well on it, BUT, consider this,propane in small bottles generally is way over priced,and especially so if you trade them out at say walmart or somewhere.its best if you have a larger storage tank and fill your own smaller bottles.its less effeciant than gas,but like you say easier to store.if you ran out,again that walmart or where you trade would likely be shut down also for lack of power.if you had a place that uses propane for heat,it may be worth the time and effort to convert,but then again consider the amount of time you will be running,one day two days?at this rate and for the savings versus cash outlay, your grandkids would probably still be paying for the conversion kit.I would think you would need to look at the normal power outages for you area,to see if it would be worth it.MY opinion for what its worth ,if I had a STANDBY GENERATOR yes it would be worth it,If I had a EMEGENCY GENERATOR ,no, it would be ran a few hours daily only and not continuously.
Pete in MD
Well-known Member
- Location
- Central Maryland
It would be a lot easier and cheaper to buy some more 5 gallon cans and dump them in your cars/trucks as often you feel the need to avoid having stale gas. You could also treat the gas with a fuel stabilizer like Stabil to avoid all the dumping/refilling.
gene bender
Well-known Member
Dont know where you live but here in IOWA we have been using 10% blend for 30 pluss yrs and dont have a storge problem and never have had one. Living out in the country just makes good sense to always have gas on hand.
Depending on what size town you live and where, it may be fine just to stick to gasoline. If you are in a good size city, subject to smaller storms, tornados and/or an occaisional blizzard, you would probably be able to drive to the other side of town and get gas from a place that still has power. If you live someplace like New Orleans where a Hurricane can knock out power across most of the state you might have enough justification to convert.
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
I certainly do not think it is worth the bother
to switch it to propane or NG. We have a small
generator that we use occasionally, (once or twice
a year) and we don't have a problem. A Honda would
probably start and run fine on year old gas if it
wasn't left in the carb. I install shut off valves
on most of our small engines and run the carburetors empty when we are done using them for
the last time. It also depends on where you live,
if you live in a very hot climate gas will not
keep as well, we don't have that problem in MN!
to switch it to propane or NG. We have a small
generator that we use occasionally, (once or twice
a year) and we don't have a problem. A Honda would
probably start and run fine on year old gas if it
wasn't left in the carb. I install shut off valves
on most of our small engines and run the carburetors empty when we are done using them for
the last time. It also depends on where you live,
if you live in a very hot climate gas will not
keep as well, we don't have that problem in MN!
Geo-TH,In
Well-known Member
You are right, gas won't last long and the stations won't have electricity either.
In 1957 we had a large chrysler engine on a pump. It was LP. I remember my dad having problems getting it started on LP. He would start it on gas and then switch it over to LP.
Don't know if my dad didn't know what he was doing. Perhaps others can tell how difficult it is to start an enging on LP, especially when it is cold.
As for generators, they sold out really fast in my town.
I went to the store and bought a lot of lunch meat, snacks and bread. I also filled my tub with water so I can at least flush the toilet.
Let's pray the storm isn't as bad as predicted.
In 1957 we had a large chrysler engine on a pump. It was LP. I remember my dad having problems getting it started on LP. He would start it on gas and then switch it over to LP.
Don't know if my dad didn't know what he was doing. Perhaps others can tell how difficult it is to start an enging on LP, especially when it is cold.
As for generators, they sold out really fast in my town.
I went to the store and bought a lot of lunch meat, snacks and bread. I also filled my tub with water so I can at least flush the toilet.
Let's pray the storm isn't as bad as predicted.
They say this ethanol blended gas is no good after some ridiculously short period like a week...
I usually fill up all my cans at the beginning of spring, and that's enough to run everything for the year. No stabil, no nothing.
To this day, I have yet to encounter any gas that has gone bad...
I usually fill up all my cans at the beginning of spring, and that's enough to run everything for the year. No stabil, no nothing.
To this day, I have yet to encounter any gas that has gone bad...
You guys are right propane is harder to start in
winter, If your compression ratio is high enough
it will start anyway, but is real easy to flood.
Had a 4010 JD LP had to run it out of gas, before
you shut it off. Then squirt gasoline in the
intake till it started then turn on the vapor just
a little. A pain in the A$$. The reason they don't
make them anymore. I just filled a 5 gallon can
with gas for the generator. 5000 w when it starts
can pump gas from 500 gal storage tank. I drained
Carb and the tank. Vic
winter, If your compression ratio is high enough
it will start anyway, but is real easy to flood.
Had a 4010 JD LP had to run it out of gas, before
you shut it off. Then squirt gasoline in the
intake till it started then turn on the vapor just
a little. A pain in the A$$. The reason they don't
make them anymore. I just filled a 5 gallon can
with gas for the generator. 5000 w when it starts
can pump gas from 500 gal storage tank. I drained
Carb and the tank. Vic
I started my Yamaha generator on Sunday with year old gas in it - granted it had a fair amount of Stabil and Seafoam in it. It wasn't running the greatest so I drained it out and refilled with fresh gas and another generous amount of Seafoam - about 5 minutes later it was running great.
Dumped the old gas (about 4 gallon) into the IH 350.
Dumped the old gas (about 4 gallon) into the IH 350.
regularguy
Member
I have had the same issues trying to keep gas fresh and an old timer told me to use avation gas as it doesn't get stale like regular gas. I don't use my generator very often, but I haven't tried it either.
I put stabil in the gas and run the carb dry and don't seem to have any problems. It may set for 6 months without starting it. I brought the generator at Builders Square in the early eighties. It is just a cheap 4000 watt with a briggs.engine. You guys got me thinking though, I should go out and fire it up just in case. I do have a backup 2000 watt honda I keep in my truck that I use at least once a month. I keep stabil in that too and have no problems.
cadet trooper
Well-known Member
Geez George I forgot about the bathtub to flush the toilet I was bringing in 5 gallon buckets getting ready to fill them to do that! Last time I had a weather issue of this kind we had an outhouse! Thanks for the idea! CT
I think old stale gas will still ignite and fire. Gas in an unsealed can will let off vapor which I think is the stuff that makes it fire better.
The main problem and rub is that old gas sits in the carb and turns to varnish which plugs up the little passages. I think Stabil does more to keep gas for turning to varnish than it does to preserve the gas so it will ignite. The other rub on the ethonal gas is that the alcohol tends to make rubber orings, diaphrams, and fuel lines get hard and corrode. Stabil may help with that as well.
I wonder if a guy could take a gas regulator, valve, and outlet setup off of an old propane gas grill and tie it into a small engine intake with some type of hose big enough to let air in as well. If you can run an engine off of a spray can of starting fluid, then you should be able to do the same with propane. If someone has done this or tried this then start a thread on it.
The main problem and rub is that old gas sits in the carb and turns to varnish which plugs up the little passages. I think Stabil does more to keep gas for turning to varnish than it does to preserve the gas so it will ignite. The other rub on the ethonal gas is that the alcohol tends to make rubber orings, diaphrams, and fuel lines get hard and corrode. Stabil may help with that as well.
I wonder if a guy could take a gas regulator, valve, and outlet setup off of an old propane gas grill and tie it into a small engine intake with some type of hose big enough to let air in as well. If you can run an engine off of a spray can of starting fluid, then you should be able to do the same with propane. If someone has done this or tried this then start a thread on it.
You dont run emergency generators full time.You run the loads it can handle like a freezer for a couple of hours .run the oil furnace, water pump as needed.You can run the washer and watch a little tv.Friend tried to run a generator for 24 hours. Didnt check the oil and threw a rod.Brand new.Stale gas is a problem.Gas that has been setting for 6 months wont start a lawn mower.I helped my father in law in his mower shop .Saw him put fresh gas in a mower that wouldnt start.He put the old gas in his truck.I have a 13 hp Honda on my sawmill, its easy on gas.
Fred Martin
Member
Talk about burning clean, I've owned propane fork lifts that you could run for a year and then pull out the dipstick and it would look as clean as the day you put it in there. ohfred
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
If you don't already use propane or natural gas, I wouldn't recommend a conversion. The most important thing is to always run the carburetor dry before storing the engine. You should also pull the starter cord until the engine is on its compression stroke to ensure that the valves are closed.
BC I posted that Ive seen 6 month old gas fail to fire in lawn mowers, yet you think old gas will fire in a small engine.Ive posted that prolonged idling will foul spark plugs,still another fellow said is this true.I was talking with a friend who said that his tractor started easy in cold weather but it took a lot of choking just to keep it running.My tractor acts the same way under 30 degrees.I have been using tractors since the 1950s and ran many cars with hand chokes.Unleaded gas is not the same as the gas we used to get.Note that spark plug heat range has been increased in all tractors.
I have used backup portable gensets for years when storms take down trees in waterfront community in Maryland. Got house wired a couple years ago for manual transfer and bought new 5600 Sears manual start gen set. Never had a problem using stable in gas that lasts a year...use it up in summer in lawn mower and other equipment renew in Fall. But am looking at Propane conversions...under $200 and easy to install to allow multi fuel for all the above reasons. Takes only simple conversion kit and then can run on gas or propane/NG at flip of valve. Only con is I shoul have gotten an electric start Gen of about 7500 0r 10000 . Still cheaper than whole house auto backup...around $3-10000 around here right now...looking into Propane/elec duel heat furnace to replace all electric heat pumps also.
buickanddeere
Well-known Member
We run 100LL in all the small seasonal equipment such as saws, weed eaters, roto-tiller, tractor starting engines etc.
Last tank of fuel for the season in the lawn tractors and snowmobile is also 100LL.
Last tank of fuel for the season in the lawn tractors and snowmobile is also 100LL.
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