Although some of us use our generators intermittently throughout the year, a majority of people have their generators only for emergencies. You never want to pull out your generator in the middle of the first snowstorm of the year when your power goes out only to find that it is not starting. This is not only annoying but as we have seen winters can be harsh and dangerously cold in the PNW.

Making sure your generator is working is best started by checking your fuel and oil levels in your generator. On average you are supposed to change the oil in your generator every 100 hours, but refer to the recommended specs on your specific make and model. This may seem like a lot but generators use very little oil and typically run for long stretches at a time without a break at a high rpm. Combine that with long periods of sitting between those intense uses and it becomes reasonable to understand the oil change needs.

Once your fluids are replenished and full, try out your generator. Follow your start up directions for the make and model you have. If your motor starts right up you are in good shape! Make sure to use the correct fuel according to the recommendations and check your oil levels regularly. When you are ready to turn your generator off with no plan to use it in the near immediate future, most people prefer to shut off the fuel supply and let the motor and carburetor burn off the rest of the available fuel. This will help to preserve your carb and fuel lines (Of course you would never want to do this with a diesel generator).

If your generator didn’t start we have some great options here at the Snohomish Co-op to get it fired right up without needing to disassemble or replace parts. First you will want to drain and dispose of the fuel in a safe manner. Old fuel can become “stale” and that alone can be enough of a problem to keep your motor from starting. There are a few recommendations to do at this point.

For small motors, it is highly recommended that you use Ethanol Free Fuel. The ethanol additive in the gasoline can gel and clog motors, cause motors to run at higher temperatures which will burn off your oil, decrease performance at times and decrease the lifespan of your carburetor. The ethanol also will corrode your rubber and plastic parts and lines over time, especially if left sitting. In Snohomish all of our gasoline at our pumps are Ethanol Free in all of the grades including regular and premium. We recommend you switch over to that if you haven’t already.

Now you can put this new ethanol Free fuel straight in the generator and see if that will start your generator now. If it either doesn't work still or you want to be more safe than sorry, we carry a fuel additive by VP called Fix-It-Fuel!

This additive is safe for two cycle and four cycle motors without adding anything. Meant as a 1-time treatment, it is formulated to fix both poor and non-running engines, including 40:1 & 50:1 mixes.

If you are choosing to go this route, the fuel tank will need to be drained, which is why I suggest doing this before putting your new fuel in. Pour ½ court of Fix-It-Fuel into the fuel tank at the most (if the tank is smaller than ½ court, pour until full). If your engine is not running then follow the proper starting procedure to disperse Fix-It-Fuel throughout the fuel system and into the carburetor. Let stand for at least 12 hours before attempting to restart.

If your generator is struggling but has started you can also use Fix-It-Fuel to improve your motor performance. Run the motor for 5 minutes with the Fix-It-Fuel to disperse throughout the fuel system and the carburetor, then let stand for at least 4 hours before restarting.

After your motor fires up make sure to only use ethanol free fuel. This can prevent problems like this in the future and extend the life of your generator.

There are other additives we want to share with you as well that can protect and maintain your motor you can pick up here while you get your ethanol free gas.

Seafoam is a hugely popular fuel additive and system cleaner.