Honda EU2000

Good information, Doug.  Here in Florida, we go one step further.  When some people started having problems with ethanol, we all started using fuel stabilizer in the fuel for all of our equipment we did not use every day.  I always added it to my outboard motor fuel since my boat has a 17 gallon tank which is enough to last me for a month or more.  With the stabilizer, I have had no problems with the outboard, chain saw, or any other items not used on a frequent basis. 

My only ethanol problem has been with my large generator used for backup during power outages.  This season we have had no hurricanes, and I often forget to exercise it regularly.  With a fuel stabilizer, no problems this season.  I do shut off the gas and run the carburetor dry after exercising it.

Bob

Originally posted by techntrek I've been using Stabil for a couple of years now, I store several 5 gallon cans year-round as an emergency supply.  No issues rotating it once a year but I discovered something odd this summer.  The Yamaha genset I bought this spring will start on the first pull.  I rotate my gas supply in July so in June I put some of that gas in the Yamaha.  Suddenly it took 8 pulls to get it going.  Once running it ran fine.  I didn't know why it changed until I put fresh gas in it.  It went back to starting on the first pull.  So in general Stabil may keep gas usable but it is not perfect.  I'm considering rotating my supply every 6 months now.

You are right about Stabil.  I belong to a few local area fishing clubs and the consensus is that Marine Stabil is somewhat better than the standard Stabil.  But, as you said, it is not perfect.

We have found that ethanol affects our older engines in yet another way.  It will deteriorate rubber fuel lines over time.  I still have my old 1750 watt Coleman PowerMate which I bought to power a small Coleman A/C unit I installed in a 1979 Toyota motor home.  After changing to synthetic fuel lines, it once again ran like new, even after setting for a year or so with "Stabil" fuel.  It is definitely better than not using anything.

Bob

Had a DRZ400 supermoto and was warned about using regular Stabil.  Think the rationale was that it didn't really protect against the ethanol and the Marine Stabil was the way to go as it provided protection from the ethanol. Worked for me. Left the bike up for 8 months and it started up first push of the starter.

I'm going to play that card tonight. Lol.

For what it's worth: I have a Honda 2000w generator from 1983. Still starts on the first pull. All my friends borrow it for their power outages. Not a camper model - but reliable. If we do get one for the r-pod, my wife says it has to be a Honda.