wcbcruzer

What do you guys use to prevent deposits from forming in the fuel system of your lawnmowers, etc. after sitting for a long time? I always use some of that STP Gas Saver, but I'm not sure if it's 100% effective. Let me know. Thanks!

chromegrill

Lots of guys use Sta-bil, and I have heard a few that had issues with it. I have used it and never had a problem. Lots of the snowmobile guys use Seafoam, they swear by it. If you are useing it in a two stroke that is premix, lots of 2 stroke oils have additives in them to stabilize gas.

wcbcruzer

Seafoam eh? Seems like everyone swears by it. On the Honda forums, people inject it directly into their intake manifold and then drive around while smoking like a freight train. Not sure if the smoke is just the Seafoam burning, or if it's really cleaning carbon deposits.

Thanks for the info. I'll get one or the other. Reason I ask is because I just picked up a new generator and I want to treat it right from the start.

EDIT: So what to use once carbon deposits have already built?

chromegrill

take the carb off and rebuild it...

6cylinders

Stabil or however it's spelled, I started using it about 5 years ago
and haven't had any problems with it. What got me started is I borrowed
a cement mixer that had a big briggs&stratton on it, it had sat for almost 3 years with stabil treated gas. I drained the old gas out of the tank but not the carb and refilled with fresh and it started right up. I would have bet money I was going to have to take that carb apart.
Motorcycle carbs are what I used to have the most trouble with, just from sitting over the winter, stabil seems to have cured that.

MikeyB

Been using Stabil for twenty five plus years now. Never an issue with mowers, ATVs, motorcycles, etc.
I would always have issues with the carbs on my Kawasakis and Hondas when parked for the winter until I started using a gas stabilizer.

MikeyB

Common

Actually, they add the Seafoam to their brake booster line...

RickG

Only one acceptable answer on this site - get a diesel ! http://fiser.com/tractor/lawn/zd18.shtml

scoggins

Seafoam or Marvell Myster Oil,

wcbcruzer

I've been using this Stabil since I posted this. Is it just me or does it seem like it's just diluted transmission fluid? Smokes and smells bad too. I think I'm going to use less next time. But as long as it gets the job done.

Mexstan

You can dramatically cut down on the varnish etc that forms in the carb when the engine is shut down for a long period by shutting off the gas and letting the carb run dry.

wcbcruzer

Good point. That's what I've actually been doing with our generator.