Water in gas tank.

[GlennC]

My neighbor has a Coleman powermate 5000 generator with a Subaru engine. The gas tank keeps getting water in it. I mean a LOT of water. This is about the 3rd or 4th time,over the last couple years, I've had to drain and dry out the tank,clean the carb,etc. Example: the last time it had about enough liquid in the tank to fill a pickle jar, 80% of it was water! She keeps it with barely any fuel in the tank "so it won't go bad". It has a big plastic tank on top,holds about 5 gals. The tank is in good condition,we live in So Cal, so the weather isn't extreme. She keeps this thing beside her house next to another generator (different model) both under a tarp. The other unit doesn't fill up with water. I told her last time to throw her gas can away,buy a brand new one and fill it up with fresh gas,which she did. Couple days ago she brings the generator AND the gas can over. Generator wont run,full of water, pure gasoline in the can,no water. Outside of deliberate sabotage what could it be? Condensation? THAT MUCH CONDENSATION ??!! Why just this thing? I've got a lot of little gas powered machines and they don't get water in them.California jokes aside,maybe shes crazy! LOL. Pouring water in it herself ! But I kind of don't think so. Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Lawnranger]

Get the fuel system completely clean and put just enough fresh fuel in it to run the engine and verify that everything is working properly, then drain all fuel from the fuel tank and run the engine until it runs out of fuel. Then store the machine without any fuel in it and see if the water reappears. Is this a long-shot? You bet it is but at least worth a try. Most of the time plastic fuel tanks don't have the condensation problem that the metal tanks do.

I have a similar 5000 watt generator with a 5 gallon plastic fuel tank above the engine and I live in a high-humidity climate but have never had a problem with water entering the fuel tank. I store the generator in my workshop and I have the doors open most of the day allowing humid air to reach the generator and I store it with a full tank of fuel. I filled the tank last year about this time and just yesterday drained the fuel out - no water. I use Sta-Bil Marine Formula stabilizer and then use the drained fuel in my lawnmower with no problem whatsoever.

 

[SONOFADOCKER]

There is a rain shower in that has tank everyday it gets warm and cools of at night regardless of the outside air temp .

 

[Mini Motors]

Their best bet is to convert it to propane, and disconnect the fuel tank permanently. Google "small engine propane conversion kits", or try this site;
http://www.propane-generators.com/\

They don't list Subaru engines, but do list some Coleman generators. And I'm sure someone makes a kit.

 

[Rivets]

Another thing you can do is once you know you have all the water out of the tank, when you store it with very little gas is take a sandwich bag (single layer) put it over the tank opening, and then tighten the cap down. This should seal the tank and not allow moisture in. Just remove the bag when you wish to run the engine. With very little fuel in the tank you should not get much expansion.

 

[possum]

It makes no sense that some folks have trouble and some do not but it does seem to happen. I know one older fellow who has a real nice heavy duty John Deere zero turn, every summer he has to drain his gas at least one time to get the water out. He stores it inside and there is 4 other mowers in the same shed with no problems.

 

[greggn]

A partially filled tank with ethanol blended / oxygenated gas -Is ASKING for trouble, best a full tank with non ethanol gas. If using ethanol blend adding a product such as Safeguard™ Ethanol Fuel Conditioner with Stabilizers : Lucas Oil