Here I am

Run the carb dry?

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff
R

Tires! Tires! Tires!

  • realfine409
  • Replies: 14
Motorhead

AC Electrical load balancer to delay compressor start on second AC?

  • Motorhead
  • Replies: 10
GAmes

GAmes

TDR MEMBER
I just finished finding why my Yamaha 2000 inverter was surging and repaired the problem. By pure luck I found a website detailing the fix. That was after I paid to download a service manual that failed to pinpoint the cause in it's troubleshooting guide. The manual pointed me to a failure of a $55+ part that I was looking for on-line when I stumbled on the site that showed the correct repair. A small orifice in one of the carb passages was clogged. I used a strand of small gauge wire to clean it out. I don't own a #78 (.016") drill bit. Anyway, should I now start to run the carb dry after use or not. Years ago I would run the carbs dry in my outboards since the fuel hookups were quick disconnects. The outboard I have now isn't easily run dry, so I don't. I really haven't had a problem either way, but those engines are 2 stroke. The Yamaha is four stroke. I did install a small engine fuel filter in the line to the carb and I use Sta-bil in the gas. Any opinions either way?
 
I have a pair of Yamaha EF2000iS generators that I run in parallel to power one A/C in our 5th wheel when in transit. These generators have an on/off knob on the control face of the generator to shut off fuel supply - they also have an on/off ignition switch and an on/off vent valve on the fuel fill cap. The recommended shutdown procedure if you're not going to be restarting them immediately is to disconnect from load, turn the fuel supply knob off until the engine dies after you've run the carb dry, then turn off the ignition switch. Once the engine cools down, turn the vent valve on the fuel fill cap to the off position.

Rusty
 
Last edited:
Not using gas with ethanol helps also. I get my outboard, golf cart, chain saw, power washer and generator gas at our marina or the farmers coop store that has a ethanol free pump. Honda 50 hp clogs the same little ports in the metering tube. SNOKING
 
Interesting. The full model # if mine is also EF2000iS, but the owners manual instructions are different. I did fail to page back to the "storage" instructions. :eek: It has you emptying the fuel tank, draining the fuel from the carb bowl, then running the engine until it stops. It goes on to putting some oil into the spark plug hole and rotating the engine through a couple times. Apparently the fuel cap doesn't have a vent valve like yours, there isn't a mention of it. Thanks for forcing me to do my homework. :-laf

I'd love to use non-ethanol fuel, but I haven't seen any in the area and the interweb doesn't list a dealer close by.
 
That's probably fine for storage. The instructions I gave weren't for long-term storage as you would need to drain the tank, as you say.

Rusty
 
Shut down procedure in my manual is to disconnect electric devices, turn off the switch, then close the fuel valve (forum will block the word used in the book). There isn't anything in the middle ground between shut down & storage. :confused:
 
If it were me, I'd run the carb dry if I weren't going to use it for a few weeks or months. There's a shutdown to refuel, a shutdown for long term storage, and the intermediate ground that I'm describing. I guess it's up to you, though; I'm just telling you what I do.

Rusty
 
Your method sounds good to me. In the past I just shut it off, then tried to remember to exercise it once a month. After sitting a couple(?) months I cranked it up and it surged. It still put out 118-120 volts though.:D
 
Regarding my gas power equipment, I run them dry when storing for the off season. I hate when the little jets and bleeds clog.
 
Last edited:
Use AvGas!

This discussion has gotten to one of the root problems - the fuel.

A long time ago the young man who sold me my first real chainsaw told me to run aviation gasoline (AvGas) in it. He kept a 55 gallon barrel of it at his shop to sell to customers who couldn't find it elsewhere. He told me that it doesn't deteriorate over time as regular gas-station gas does. I have since verified this by talking to a number of pilots who use it in their aircraft.

I've been burning AvGas in my off-road gasoline equipment for years and now I won't burn anything else. It can be difficult to buy, even though it's available at every airport. I've found that some airport fuel dealers won't sell it to me. I assume this is because they are afraid that I'm going to run it in an over-the-road vehicle. Not that it's any of their business, nor their problem. A drive to a local, small airport solved the problem. (The key word there is "small".)

Now I fill several 5-gallon cans each spring and they are almost always empty by winter. Since I started using AvGas I have not had to remove and clean any of the carburetors on my generators, roto-tiller, log splitter, or anything else. I wouldn't leave any fuel, including AvGas, in equipment any longer than needed, and I still run the carburetor dry when I shut off the engines, but using AvGas has virtually solved my problem of clogged jets on little-used equipment. I urge you to give it a try.

Good luck,
-- Loren
 
I dont think they put any corn squeezin's in avgas. Take a look at the web site pure-gas.org to see if there are any gas stations in your area that sell non ethanol gas. If so, you may find it to be less expensive than the av gas, but just as good.

Its been a of years. But when I used to fly, it seems there were a lot of guys who would use regular gasoline in the airplanes because it worked and cost a lot less.
 
I almost forgot... One more thing that I like about AvGas is that it smells like gasoline. If you are as old as I am you may remember when gasoline didn't stink. AvGas still doesn't.

-- Loren
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Issue 128 – Digital Version
Digital Magazines
FREE!
TDR Test Drive - Digital Edition
Renew
Subscribe
Gift Subscriptions
Back Issues
Subscription Status
Address Change Form
Buyer's Guides
Ram Diagnostic Trouble Codes
The Perfect Collection
The Perfect Collection Vol. II
TSB Updates
Dodge/Cummins Historical Overview
Cameron Collection
What Makes Us Tick?
Product Showcase
Advertising



Turbo Diesel Register
Issue 128 – Digital Version
Digital Magazines
FREE!
TDR Test Drive - Digital Edition
Renew
Subscribe
Gift Subscriptions
Back Issues
Subscription Status
Address Change Form
Buyer's Guides
Ram Diagnostic Trouble Codes
The Perfect Collection
The Perfect Collection Vol. II
TSB Updates
Dodge/Cummins Historical Overview
Cameron Collection
What Makes Us Tick?
Product Showcase
Advertising



Back
Top