Long term generator (or any small engine) storage

I need to do an update video to clear up some questions. See pinned comment for details on the amount of ATF you use and what to do if you have startup trouble the next time you use your equipment. thanks.
In this video I show the my method to prepping a small engine (in this case a generator) for long term storage using automatic transmission fluid
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Gearhead by Kevin MacLeod
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[@johnrodriguez1145]

Can give me an approximate amount of ATF you used..like 1 ounce...5 ounces??? Just don't want to over fill. Thanks

[@Lordofjunk]

This is the question I wish I would have answered in the video. I need to do a follow up soon. The amount varies depending on what kind of generator and the style of carburetor is on it. I'm probably putting 2 oz of so in it. However, don't worry about putting in too much. If you put in too much, you WILL have trouble starting it next time. But all you have to do in that case is loosen the bolt on the bottom of the fuel bowl and drain out the ATF. Then tighten the bolt and it will fire right up. Thanks for your question.

[@marsflee3815]

@@Lordofjunk Very good advice. I had my generator stored for 3 years without starting it. My secret is doing exactly what this video suggested, but instead of transmission fluid, I sprayed some antitrust lubricant and sealed everything. This Texas ice storm forced me to take my generator out. I knew it was going to give trouble starting because of the oily stuff I left in it, so I drained out as much oily stuff as I could, put the drain bolt back in the carburetor, then put some carburetor starter, it turned on on the second crank. Easy.

[@thelibertarian7381]

Good stuff!

[@thelibertarian7381]

Good stuff!

[@DoroTheExplorer]

@@Lordofjunk any update as of today? still good?

[@buffyporson1]

Was never a problem until we were sold the gas/ corn ethanol concoction. Corn farmers love it but forget it as a fuel.

[@daveyhofer7926]

This is A 1. You're a good teacher, just common sense.goes a long way. You're the person who will go the distance. God bless.

[@KenWeston]

This is an interesting tip and makes sense. I would *strongly* recommend that everyone watching *only* use ethanol-free gasoline for their small motors, especially ones that sit for long periods. Stabil really helped me, but I found out the hard way that spending the extra dollar per gallon for the ethanol free, and driving further to get it, saved me countless hours of fixing.

[@wakemeupfacto3264]

wish i could find it haved looked and can not find in a 100 rad but it is a great tip !

[@chipsterb4946]

The other key is non-California compliant storage containers for your gas. If your gas can is vented (like nearly anything you can buy today), gas doesn’t last more than 2-3 months. An old-school Jerry can that seal up tight with ethanol-free gas and Stabil lasts at least a year.

[@brasspick]

Gasohol is extremely unpopular among lawncare workers in my area.

[@barry8215]

Marine gas is ethanol free. I use it in my small engines. Much better than regular gas.

[@terryhill4732]

Your exactly right I started using 93 octane ethanol free in my 2 stroke engine weed eater and chainsaw and the way they run made it well worth the cost, I also run a tankful in my truck along with marvel mystery oil and what a difference it makes in all of their running, also put MMO in the 2 stroke engine too

[@donaldshimkus539]

Lord of Junk huh? I thought that was me. Your a man after my own heart, saving the lives of countless pieces of machinery. Thanks bro.

[@jimireland7299]

2 stroke oil will do the same thing on 2 stroke engines, chain saws, pumps that sort of tool. Amazing!

[@samr1556]

Does it to all engines.

[@harryblackburn9556]

I'll go you one better. I'm 71 and have been using ATF as a fuel system cleaner most of my life. I've never yet had a problem with fuel injectors clogging up and a bonus it will clean combustion chambers of carbon buildup as well. Many years ago GM sold a similar product that was poured in the Carb. Smoked like a train till it burned off but did the job. 6-8 oz. every 6-8 weeks does quite well. Reason behind this line of thought is ATF burns at a hotter temp than gas. Got my first ASE cert in 74 working at a Pontiac/Buick dealership. An old acquaintance of my dads that worked there told me about this ATF. Doesn't matter what kind whatever is cheapest.

[@normanschwartzjr2564]

I'm 73 and my dad taught me to use ATF in the fuel..

[@dangeroustoman]

Do you pour it in carb or in fuel tank?

[@heffedirte6243]

Can't use the synthetic in anything with an o2 sensor

[@AB-vc7ox]

I'm 65, I remember people mixing ATF with cheaper non-detergent motor oil to get the detergent effect.

[@1AXMRDR]

I'm 62 and remember pouring a small stream of atf down the carb of a car while it's running to help clean up the valves. White smoke billowed out the pipes for a minute. Old motorhead taught me to do that.

[@Patriot-bn9om]

Old school is good school. Even though I had turned off the fuel valve and let my generator run until the fuel was exhausted, there still just enough fuel in the carburetor bowl to foul the cut-off solenoid and maybe other carb parts as well. This was after just 3-4 months since last use. A small amount of ATF in there is GENIUS. Thank you for this tip.

[@Bill-wz6tw]

Dude that is a brilliant tip for storing away a genny and I like your style to

[@stevejennings1373]

Learned this from old school mechanic, put a quart of ATF in the fuel tank of your vehicle (20 gallon) every 3 to 4 months and it decarbon the engine and cleans the entire fuel system. I use this method on my motorcycle as well. Never smokes and runs fine. Apparently ATF is about a 5 to 10 weight oil and very high detergent and that's why it works so well. It really is a cheap tune up in a bottle that really works!!

[@brucerogers3253]

It may clean the engine so good it may start leaking oil around the seals cuz some of that varnish seals the oil leaks

[@joebledsoe257]

A gallon of diesel fuel per 10 gallons of gas tank volume will do the same. Do it or your method when you are going to be on the X-way and at higher rpm for extended time. The junk gets hotter and burns off better.

[@firstjohn3123]

I've also used Marvel Mystery oil as well, but ATF does last longer. I keep Stabil in my fuel tank, but swap it out every 6 months. With some metal gas tanks, they can rust from the inside out, since most tanks are vented. Fuel rotation is part of my spring/fall maint. routine. Good tip though. 👍🏼👍🏼

[@JER5389]

Used to pour ATF down the carb of cars at the dealership back in the day. Smoked like hell but it would clean up the top end. Pour it down the gullett until it just about stalled then stop and bring rpms back up and repeat. That's how we did it back in the 1900s anyway.

[@robertpeters9438]

This is the best advice I have heard for long term storage!

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

Another one is to mix ATF and Chainsaw bar oil. If you have an engine that you want to store for a while, squirt a few pumps from an oil can in each cylinder. Turn the engine over a couple of times and replace the plugs. Back off the rockers so the springs aren't compressed and wrap it up good with plastic (and a sock full of kitty litter in the bags) and that engine will be good for years. Another good use is if you buy a used engine from a yard, a squirt of ATF in each cylinder will clean the cylinder and give it more sealing to start easier. When I worked at a junkyard in the 80s, we would just pour some through the carburetor. You would get an engine installed and if it didn't hit on the first spin, two or three of the guys would yell 'Give it some Compression'! That meant to give it a dose of ATF. I hope these uses are handy, John

[@kramsdrawde8159]

On the older cars the transmission modulator valve when it had a busted diaphram would leak and you see white smoke galore, but it cleans the heck out of engine internally, witnessed by engine tear-down...YES ATF is great and does keeps seals soft and combustion chamber clean and also lubricates. BTW I love to go junkin too in my younger days and the wife always complained, after Hurricane Ida all my junking supplied almost everything we needed , she said she would never again complain about the stuff I keep !!! Only problem is finding WHAT you need WHEN you need it !!! LOL !!!

[@tomcampbell6384]

IKR!!!! Now where did I put those float bowl gaskets for that old briggs???

[@petersack5074]

yup.....murphys' law. Clean / clear out the garage-shop, and the next day, you needed that hose/fitting/plastic tub/etc for another project....

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Back in tech school ,one of the kids bought a 400$ American land yacht, it might have been a Lincoln. Anyways,we ran the washer bottle hose to the air intake and filled it with ATF. We woulda made James Bond proud 😂

[@tomg6284]

Class truck with 855 cubic inch cummins. Wet sleeve. Dumped all coolant out. Filled up system with ATF. Run it for 150 miles never got hot. Parked for 10 years. Put new batts. Fuel and started right up. ATF works every time.

[@tomschneider4870]

Dude, Your my hero. I've never tried this but will. I do drain my gas tanks and run the fuel out of the motor until it stalls but that is hit or miss. I have 3 generators now that are operational and just picked up three more from the side of the road that need freshened up and a 2" water pump. I usually rebuild them and either keep em or share them with family or neighbors as I also live in a hurricane prone area. Thanks for the tip.

[@shinola228]

I have a harbor freight two stroke generator that l had in storage for over 12 years. It wouldn't start after that time due to a bad capacitor. I then read that it is common for capacitors to go bad if left unused. I'm just mentioning that for those who have engines in long term storage. BTW it started up and ran fine with the new cap.

[@michaelbenoit248]

This same trick works with putting some engine oil in the gas, all you’re doing is diluting the Ethonol, & preventing it from clogging up. If you take apart a 2-stroke carburetor from a larger engine with an actual bowl since the oil is in it, & not just straight gas the oil has sulfur in it, & it’s the reason why old Diesel lasts so long, & why diesel has the insane shelf life it has. ATF has good detergents & sulfur in it making it an amazing fuel system cleaner, or stabilizer.

[@jamesglenn520]

Actually the diesel fuel today is absolutely terrible. If you let it sit Untreated it grows Algae and plugs up everything. A friend of ours has a Frieghtliner that she had to let sit for about 2 months because of her medical situation. When she was clear to drive it cost her almost 2 thousand dollars to get the fuel system cleaned because of Algae.

[@jimbefit3073]

I stored a "special" big block ford for 30 yrs by filling the WHOLE BLOCK FULL of atf! The crankcase up to the sparkplug holes, the intake!! Right up to the carb mount. The valves right up to the oil fill spout AND the pcv on the other bank. Kept it like new! ! Might have to plug the dipstick end or dipstick hole. Left water passages alone. *** It worked awesome! *** Might have to add a tad once in a great while.

[@rd8370]

I was talking to my neighbor yesterday about his generator and now I’m getting this.

[@flilguy]

My dad had the resources to buy just about any push mower he wanted. We used a lawn mower somebody threw out. In the beginning, it started well. By the time I was in high school, it didn't start that well although it still worked. The old farmers in the Midwest use ATF for a lot of things. They even spray it in the wheel wells and underbodies to prevent rust in the winter. I use Iso-Heet in the red bottle to store my lawn mower over the winter. It contains isopropyl alcohol and fights varnish. I will share this with my relatives that ended up with my parent's generator.

[@smorgdonkey]

You know, I like the peace of mind that comes with running the generator every few months.

[@gregr1672]

My friend had a Jeep CJ 5 that was really getting low on oil pressure and had tons of crankcase pressure built up! Blowing dip stick out of engine.He read about some miracle engine restorer method in Popular Mechanics or one of those magazines .It involved pouring a mixture of ATF ,Water,and some other ingredients I can't recall just now. It was supposed to decarbon and restore engine functions. We tried it one day ,I ran the engine while he poured solution into carburetor .My job ,not let it stall! Well it fogged up about an acre lot and coughed,sputtered etc. The oil pressure came back up a little ,and motor ran about another year.I think there still are no insects out his way 35 years later.

[@richardkawucha1232]

I have a Generac 5,000 watt generator, quite similar to this. I've owned it, now for 30 years. When I purchase gas for it, as soon as I get home I add stabilizer to the gas. That way the gas "always" has stabilizer in it. I.keep the tank full of gas. That way it's always fuel for use. I swap the gas out every spring and fall. I also run it for 1/2 hrs. before storing it. To store - make sure the gas tank is full, (less chance of condensation getting in it). While the engine is running I turn off the (stabilized) fuel and let it run dry. Letting it cool, I pull the spark plug and with an old squirt oil can, I've had for almost 50 years, pump about a teaspoon of 30 weight motor oil in the spark plug hole. Then I give the motor several pulls on the starter cord. This ensures the oil gets tossed around the combustion chamber and coats the cylinder walls. Then I loosely reinstall the spark plug, but leave the coil wire off. That way I know I need to tighten the plug before starting it. Before starting it, I always pull the plug, inspect it, check the gap and wire brush the tip. Then it's reinstalled, the wire connected, gas turned on and will fire up after a couple pulls. Like I said 30 years and still going. Before I swap out the gas, any unused gas I have, I pour into my vehicle. Then I go buy fresh gas.

[@trustbuster23]

Good tip. For any small engine, get the ethanol-free gas if you can. It remains stable a whole lot longer than gas with ethanol in it.

[@joseywells9616]

Get propane it last 10 years and cleaner

[@dubmob151]

@@joseywells9616 I finish off the run-dry by using propane fed into the intake to allow the engine to run completely out and purge all traces of gasoline from the carb. That works on start up also with fuel pump systems that need to run for a while to prime up, so it doesn't need to be cranked for a long time.

[@DougJohns]

I have never heard of that before... interesting :)@@dubmob151

[@dirtyaznstyle4156]

Sounds good, I got like 3 gallons of slightly used mercon v sitting around. I use it for stuck fasteners, wiping down my shovels and picks etc. now I got something else! And I’m all about one man’s trash is another man’s treasure

[@thenarrowpathoftruth9443]

Awesome. Ain’t too many things I love better than “old school.” Like treating sore throats with Gentian Violet. Ya know? Or ballpoint ink stains with Fels Naptha.

[@jayrodriguez5654]

This works fantastic i used this method a few years ago on my generator. pulled out my generator for hurricane Ian fresh gas and a few pulls a puff of smoke and ran like a champ. my buddies dad is an oldschool mechanic and suggested it to me and now i will continue to do this on other small engines. I like to tinker with small engines as well working on a murry rider i found in the trash after the storm.

[@kenhurley4441]

Another old timers trick is putting a little atf in the tank. It'll lubricate the upper cylinder and the rings on the piston.

[@yellow_panther]

what amount do you put in the tank? ATF:Fuel ratio?

[@kenhurley4441]

@@yellow_panther When fluids were cheaper 2-4 ounces @ gallon.

[@myronadams2101]

Probably a good cheap trick but you should pull the spark plug/plugs and put a couple tablespoons full into each cylinder and spin the engine over a few times to coat the cylinder walls. Rust prevention and will help with stuck rings from storage. And if you’re from anywhere mud dauber wasps are present, wrapping the entire thing with stretch wrap (the stuff they wrap pallets with to ship) to keep them from building nests in critical parts. Something else to do for storing equipment for emergency use, keep enough oil to service it, an oil filter (if applicable) and a new air filter. Many times foam air filters will break down during storage or damaged by vermin and parts may be hard to find with an emergency on the way

[@111000100101001]

You’re a good man with a plan! Thank you for sharing that tip. You make a valid point about atf sitting in a trans for years and keeping things clean.

[@kennethscott820]

Thanks for the tip!Keep me posted with more old school tricks especially on lawn mowers.

[@paullageman4782]

I worked for a Ford dealer in the late 60s. One of the top mechanics used ATF for noisy lifters .

[@facereader99]

I am full time in small engines repair for the last 15 years. I agree with the concept of having some kind of oil in the carburetor for long storage. It can be ATF, or any thin oil, like 5W30, 10W30, even just 30. I would like to add that some carburetors have a drain bolt in addition to the main bolt holding the fuel bowl to the carburetor body. If so, I would drain the oil first till the fresh gas from the tank comes in, then close the drain bolt. If no drain bolt, no problem. Just loosen the main bolt gently, let us say first, 1/32 of a turn, or in 1/32nd increments, till the oil begins to seep out.

[@markbaker1843]

agree before I ever heard of Sta bil, Star Tron, Lucas, etc. when I wanted to mothball a small engine I'd just mix a little plain SAE 30 into the fuel, pour some into the spark plug hole if wanted to go crazy. Spray interior of metal gas tank with WD-40 to prevent rust, and where no fuel gauge was present to interfere, place a piece of plastic bag under the gas cap.

[@condor5635]

After draining fuel like you do I just remove the drain bolt on the carb and drain fuel out of float area. All of them typically have this fuel drain bolt. I then use my compressor and lightly pressurize the main fuel tank (use a towel to seal tank) which then gets air through the carb and allow all fuel out that doesn’t come out when removing the bolt. You’ll see several drops sputtering out the hole. Done this for years. Never store gas in the generator - Stabil or not. Mine starts on the 1st pull. Great video.

[@happycamper5900]

Condor, great idea! I use 2 cycle motor oil instead of ATF but I like your idea better. Thanks.

[@markrice41]

It is a good trick. My grandad taught me this trick many years ago. I can still smell the ATF when I hear you talk about it.

[@lanceopperude5868]

awesome video. never thought about storing small engines with ATF. That's a damn good tip.

[@Jayson90210]

Thanks for this video! ATF is amazing stuff..I get a long tube and and drop some ATF into the bottom of the door panels on my stored Mustang to keep them from rusting. Worked great on my Ford Escape also that's known for door panel rust. As far as storing my generator, I just use Marvel's mystery Oil in the gas and run it dry as you suggested. 8 years old and went 4 years sitting in a storage without being started and amazingly, started right up.

[@Lupgaroo666]

Cool trick for winterizing, cleaning engines. Check out some of the other comments too. I'd probably try just adding some to a little fuel ànd run it till it runs out. A shut off valve is good to put in line if possible. I accidentally discovered that with my riding mower that has a float issue. It just let's the fuel keep flowing when the engine is off so I put à shutoff in between the tank and carb ànd run it till it dies when I finish mowing. Its now over 15 years and it starts right up every season. Never had these issues before leaded gasoline was taken off the market. Aluminum/pot metal carburetors don't like unleaded or ethanol. In the late 80s we were burning MOGAS in the gasoline engines in the Air Force. I believe it was basically leaded gasoline. If you ever pull a carb apart that had unleaded left init you'll see all the whitish colored oxidation...basically Aluminum rust...clogging up everything. Nasty stuff. I left fuel in a motorcycle I had one winter and it never ran as well again. My tiller has a shut off built into the carburetor, but it gums up because its the same metal. You need a line shut off that won't get corroded by the fuel. Thanks for the great tip! The comments you got were insightful too. Long term Experienced people are a great resource. I'm sure the repair shops hate that you shared this knowledge if they are anything like air-conditioning people. They make it a practice to troll. Thanks again!

[@71160000]

I've got a generator that's over 12 years old and starts on the first pull. Every time I use it when finished I shut off the fuel valve and let it run dry. Open the valve and pull start it easily the next year or two. I've never bothered with oiling the cylinders just keeping the carburator clean and empty. I think by the time the engine has turned over a couple of time by the starting pull there's oil available. Unless you're getting moisture into the engine it should stay clean between uses even a year or two apart. And mine has had plenty of use during power outages. The best investment I've made was around four years ago when I purchased a whole house generator. So far in that time I think we had one power outage that lasted three hours. Who knew that buing a new generator would fix power company outages.

[@rexmericle5068]

Great video. Back in the day (I'm 70) we did similar to mowers using Marvel Mystery Oil. I grew up in northeast PA where winters are long . Now living in NC and this reminds me I need to do exactly that to my generator. Thanks

[@vincemajestyk9497]

I used to use MMO to pickle the engines too.

[@tomcampbell6384]

Me too! I put that sh#t in everything!!....😉

[@tomcampbell6384]

Oh! And it smells nice 😋

[@vincemajestyk9497]

@@tomcampbell6384 Yeah, I think the wintergreen oil is the 'secret' ingredient. They used to say it would 'micro-polish' surfaces. It has very mildly acidic ph characteristics.

[@dougreames605]

Hell yeah !!

[@the1sgjohns]

Thanks for this tip. I am fixing to show up at my daughters this week and check on their small generator they bought after the freeze. I was going to break it in (lucas oil) and store it for them. I have a feeling its gonna sit a long while so I will use this ATF trick. Generally I have used only stablizer cause we just our small engines enough. So thanks gain.

[@jimmymundane1084]

Alright! I have all the necessary components to perform this prep. Gonna do the generator, tiller and outboard. Thanks for the tip.

[@alancummings5008]

I use my generator anytime i need ourdoor power. (ie; trim hedges, blow leaves, electric chain saw, etc). Generator is over 20 years old and starts on 1st or 2nd pull. 14 hp b&s. I do keep sta-bil in the fuel. I mounted it on a garden wagon so it is handy to move around.

[@grgr8888]

Thanks for the tip. I’m always looking for better ways to store Small engine equipment. Good vid.

[@dirtyharry5878]

that's a great idea, I've used ATF in my fuel tanks for my Peterbilt since the 1970s and it's worked wonders. so you are spot on brotha.

[@kenrudder9784]

So it’s hood in diesel?

[@dirtyharry5878]

@@kenrudder9784 if you're asking if it's good for Diesel engines!! YES! ATF contains detergents that will clean out small passages like injectors. I also use it in my gas engines in the oil prior to an oil change to clean any particulates that may be in my engine passages.

[@YeOldeTowneCryer]

This is good advice. For something that will be stored longer than 24 months, I will begin doing the same. For shorter term I highly suggest using only gasoline that is 100% gas. NO ALCOHOL. NO ETHANOL. And of course use the stabil. For 24 months I suggest a double dose. Ethanol made a horrible mess in the gas tank of a car I stored.

[@johnlong384]

Thanks for your very slick advise & yes, I'll do it on four larger gasoline powered equipment items!

[@billfrederickfrederick2791]

Some good advice here ,ethanol free gas is best of course....another trick I always do is after the engine is stopped I always pull it through to TDC on the compression stroke to make sure that both intake and exhaust valves are closed (on a single cyl engine)

[@diaperjoeisaped1723]

Same here. I run only ethanol free fuel in everything. It cost more but saves a lot of headaches.

[@frankwoodbery2473]

Yup, I also use ethanol free year round.

[@brianw6645]

How do you know when the piston stroke is at top dead center?

[@martinsopchak8218]

Good info video. I own a small engine repair shop. I always tell my customers to store a extra spark plug in a zip bag to the generator.

[@jjjsmith2497]

Throw in a carb kit too🙂

[@wakemeupfacto3264]

good tip as a mech back in the day i used atf to swell valve seals in motors that sat for a while just poured a few teaspoons down the carb when i got em fired up

[@TheRadconranger]

just subscribed,and gave a like....old school WORKS.And "frugal" is smart...I live in the woods in Oregon, and all my neighbors are like you (fortunately)

[@TheRadconranger]

but,I run everything off propane....;-)

[@UnitedWeStand2020]

As old as I am, I've never heard this before. But it sure makes sense to me. Thanks for sharing this info! 👍👍 Sta-bil works good, but it's not the cure all for long term small engine storage. Today's gas is made so cheap because profits and corporate greed in America are top priority over quality of anything. Gas doesn't last long at all like it used to years ago. Another tip, DON'T USE GAS WITH ETHANOL IN IT FOR ANY SMALL ENGINE, even if you run it regularly, UNLESS IT SAYS YOU CAN.

[@DougJohns]

Good trick to remember ... thanks for sharing. I'm about the same age as your father and one of the things I have found is to ensure my small engines never come in contact with gasoline with ethenol and a shutoff valve is helpful when storing for a long time you can simple let the bowl run dry.

[@mrnotnomis]

Not in a hurricane zone, but I AM in Texas - a place not known to be able to keep the lights on when Jack Frost brings Northern Canada down here for a visit. So my gen does a LOT of sitting around. I run it for about an hour every 3 months, but this will be a good way to save me that time and have it ready when I need it. You earned a subscriber.

[@kevinhitt719]

I do the same thing with starting it every 3 months but I also run non ethanol gas with Star Tron and lucas in it

[@bertgrau3934]

@@kevinhitt719 I have had very good luck with Lucas products, project farm did a test with Lucas fuel stable, and it failed. I was a little surprised, but the rest of their products are very good.

[@kevinhitt719]

@@bertgrau3934 I saw the same vidio from him and like you I was surprised and even though I don't think it necessary with non ethanol gas I still think it a good product

[@bertgrau3934]

@@kevinhitt719 Agreed

[@bgturf6525]

Sweet !!!!! starting today I will be doing this on all my small engines that I store away.

[@kinksbikes]

I needed this early in the week here in Houston SNOWVID had to rebuild carb quickly and yes did run gas out of carb Great video going to do this this weekend

[@jimbo9563]

Thanks great advice. I think I’ll try it. I put the stabol “fog” in mine, but your treatment sounds better.

[@nathanlambshead4778]

Rural North Easterner here, from ice and snow country. I have had portable generators hooked up to my house for decades (I had a transfer switch installed years back) I buy a new one about every 10 years or so. I always run them at least once a month for about 15 minutes, and about 4 times a year I hook the house up and run the electricity as well. Exercise the magnates that way. They always start up for me. But if I was to leave it for a year, this sounds like a good plan.

[@CaptainEverythingHumorandMore]

I always take mine out every couple months and run it. But I like your idea better. Thanks 🍺👍

[@georgepanchos6677]

Now this is what I call Hillbilly logic. And I just love it. Thanks for the video.

[@JimmyJamesJ]

This man speaks the truth. It works and you should do it. You don't want to be replacing all the carb seals in your chainsaw every year.

[@kowski9477]

This is the type of knowledge I look for rate here. Nice bit of info man , I appreciate it. I'm going to subscribe.

[@cujoedaman]

I went through all our small engines this year and put a shutoff valve on every one of them. Was so sick of worrying about if the fuel would last or not, even with additives and such. Should have been made mandatory on all small engines for the sake of storage and the environment.

[@petersack5074]

i agree, Mr Junk Lord. Old fashioned = LOGIC. IF it is a 'winner' , then let us just do it. Modern business, just is into 'selling' stuff. NOT re-cycling, repairing nor saving OUR EARTH. Way to go !, some of us, are in the 'reuse' department ; which is missing completely, in this modern, cheap, chinese plastic use-once, throw-away world. I have re-done carbs, on lotsa mowers/generators; some of which i had to use the wire wheel on bench grinder, to clean off crud, from stuck needle valves/floats. And vinegar soak the rest, to remove other stuck stuff (ethanol) . Good day to A L L ! ALBERTA Canada

[@maureenmillard4241]

I used ATF in my MGCGT 4 speed manual o/d gearbox when I experienced slight slippage ,drained the 20/50 oil,filled with ATF the o/d worked perfectly left it in . It was said the Volvo P 1800 running the same box recommended ATF.not sure if that was true,but it worked in my C. Cheers Mal.

[@glennmiskulin5379]

I've been in engine repair forever I learned something today thanks

[@houndsmanone4563]

Man, I wish I had known this old-school method years ago. I could have sae myself a lot of heartaches trying to keep carbs from getting so mucked up then ultimately wanting to smash the carb with a steel mallot. This was a GREAT video and so very informative. For that, I am now a NEW SUBSCRIBER!! Thanks again.

[@marvelaturraz5405]

I second what Houndsman said!! Thank you so much, Lord of junk!!

[@darmok-hm6jx]

Me too!

[@Eyes0penNoFear]

Me three!

[@danray9744]

Kerosene is better

[@robertkubrick3738]

@@danray9744 Good antifreeze in the winter too...back in the 40's

[@acetech9237]

Been an Automotive Specialist going on 20 years never seen or heard of this but it makes complete sense to me and I damn sure will start doing this on my small engine carbs.

[@TheUnclered2]

I run my generator every two or three months, no problems so far.

[@stephenhair5501]

One other step that I do when running the gas out.......When the engine starts surging and just before it quits, I flip the choke on and get the rest of the remaining gas out of the carb. You'll be surprised how much it can run before finally dying out. I also run Non Ethanol gas in all of my small equipment. I'll try this ATF trick for sure. Thanks for sharing this great tip. Stay well and God Bless.

[@SirGolfalot-]

Good video. I'm going to try it. Also A light coat of ATF fluid will bring your rubber vehicle window seals back to life. and Your rubber ball joints. Some people add some ATF to the vehicle's oil and run it for a while just before they change the oil. There are videos for all of this.

[@stephenwalton7079]

Stabil has a red and a green product. Green is sold for marine applications and is better for long range storage as it actually combines with the gas. The red puts a film across the surface of the fuel to exclude oxygen. Green does that and more.

[@kevinmire3745]

I do the same thing with lawnmowers and weed eaters to. The atf does more than just keep gas from gumming up the carb. But it also keeps the Internal pump diaphragm in some carbs from hardening as well

[@grizzle251]

OLD SCHOOL Is right, my family had boats back in the 1960's,cabin cruisers, at the end of teh seasonwe would "fog out" teh engine bu pouring ATF into the carburetor while the engine was running at idle until it chockedd it out, this would coat the carb and the entire internal combustion parts and in the spring it would take a shot of starting fluid but it would fire over with a puff of white smoke and be good to go. We would always clean teh plugs after the first use.

[@precinct1baltimorecountyre588]

We use to add to car crank case to loosen up stuck valves pumping up the hydraulic lifters. Good trick

[@tslim250]

So to elaborate, i think this method is a solid idea. I mean i've had engines sit for years with just premium gas and they fire right up no problem but lets be real, you get some crappy gas with moisture or too much ethanol and its game over for that little carb. Doing this is basically just returning the factory oil coating on the internals of the carb before storage and tbh that little amount of atf burned at first start up isn't going to do a lick of damage to anything. this is a great tip for super long term storage no doubt and i'm adding it to my tool belt.

[@MMPCTV]

Great video. I really like hearing about people recycling stuff. I do the same with computers. People throw them away for the dumbest reasons.

[@chriscarter7182]

OMG I read your comment and my first thought was, "you put atf in, what, your hard drives, maybe the power supply!"? Sorry,,,,I guess I've had one too many beers! Your comment caught me off guard, I'm not criticizing you! I still have my original IBM PC, vintage 1986ish. 64k hard soldered to the mother board with a 576k daughter card, 640K total. I died and went to heaven when I installed my Seagate ST238 30mb hard drive! I still have the green phosphor display, but I don't have the video card for it anymore, it got lost when I upgraded(?) to a cga video card. The keyboard for that weighs more than my laptop!

[@randyschock7374]

lovin the solid axle on the nissan!!

[@michaeldubya]

I’m outside of Houston, been through a few storms myself. First I’ve heard of this trick. I’ve become the small engine guy at my church. Will pass this on, I’ll end up doing it anyway. In exchange for dinner at a dive.

[@psmiley84]

Good stuff. Been adding a shutoff valve to every snak engine for many years and running it out of fuel, but this is wise advice. You've gained a new subscriber!

[@dfb1111]

An inline fuel shutoff is a Great idea. I created a problem that took me a little while to figure out was the shutoff itself. Some shut off valves I got at a swap meet and were undoubtedly made overseas simply would not flow enough fuel under load to keep up with the engines demand. This was on engines of 8hp or larger. A simple check would be to observe fuel flow with just a hose on the tank and then through the shut off valve if you are using an inline type.

[@rayhageman]

I am an old school auto mechanic and I use ATF as lube in air motors and I put it in my motor oil a couple days prior to an oil change. It cleans, Lubricates and keeps the seals supple.

[@ropadoped]

Good deal...I will try this my generator has already been setting for a couple of years. I last used it when we lost power in the snow storms a couple of years ago down here in South Texans. Even then I had to clean the gunk out of the carb to get it started, not fun when your family is without heat and waiting for you to make it happen. So this sounds like something I can use... thanks for showing us this.

[@edwardmylnychuk5774]

this is a great vid showing other uses for atf. when i was in my hot rodding days, lol, i would put a quart of atf in with my engine oil and what a difference in how the engine run, like you said, tranny fluid lasts a long time and keeps things clean, it does the same for your engine and that is why you have synthetic oils now because most dont service their vehicle properly, i did a lot of highway driving so i changed my filter and oil about every 5 thousand miles and never had a problem putting a lot o miles on my engines, proper maintenance is key for all equipment.

[@ebla83]

Very good idea. ATF also works well if you have an engine that sat with water in it and locked up. Drank the old oil, and FILL up the crankcase and cylinder with ATF and diesel Let it set a month. Then slowly work it to loosen it.

[@ShainAndrews]

You could fill it with piss and get the same or better results. You could also try nothing and get the same results.

[@amerlin388]

Great tip. I'll be checking out the rest of the channel. Maybe not the best example of knife safety, LOL. Cut that tip before screwing onto container... I keep a couple recycled syringes, with and without needle, in the garage for applying MMO to small bearings or measuring out 2-cycle oil; will probably use that or tiny funnel for the ATF.

[@Todjcam]

Old school wisdom is the best kind hands down! 👍🏼👌🏼

[@linusmadrone]

Good advice. Detergent used to be in motor oils. Can't find it anywhere anymore. Trans fluid is very detergent and I can see why it works so well for that.👍👍👍👍👍

[@michaelratliff9449]

Lord knows I have some junk...but knowing that I finally found a connection to The Man about it, I feel much better..Thank you, praise the Lord....of junk!...👍.U da Man!

[@cphank3722]

For small 2 cycle engines with a primer, usually pumping the primer sucks fuel from the tank, through the carb then the primer and back to the tank. Disconnect the line at the carb fuel inlet and use the primer to suck ATF into and through the carb. It will keep the carb clean and preserve the diaphragms for storage.

[@simonallan9941]

And being 2stroke fuel, it would only leave a layer of oil on the inside of the carburetor to stop corrosion.

[@benjaminshropshire2900]

I wonder if using straight 2-stroke oil in place of ATF would work as well? It would have the advantage that it's deigned to be burnt in an engine so you don't need to worry about it leaving any tars behind. Or maybe engine oil? Makers of engine oil have to assume it will get burnt eventually and (IIRC) most of what uses it up in normal service is the accumulation of products of combustion, which doesn't happen when the engine is in storage and isn't running.

[@CuttinInIdaho]

That is a fantastic idea for diaphragms. I leave my tanks full and start and run them monthly for a while to keep the diaphragms coated. This will allow me to stop having to do this.

[@MrNorthstar50]

Most 2-stroke shops say it's best to use two stroke oil in the tank only and use the primer bulb and prime it. Then when you're ready to start it the next year just pour out the oil and pour new fuel in there works great.

[@lakerdigital]

2 stroke oil primed through the carb is the way to go for 2 strokes. That's what I've heard and that's what I'm about to do.@@benjaminshropshire2900

[@mrmatt7210]

Great tip. For all my small engines I choose the option of ethanol free "marine gas" at my local gas station. Basically this is the old fashioned unleaded that dont have the addition of ethanol. Ethanol has ruined several of my small engine carbs prior to making this swap. I

[@rodneyw849]

My generator with Premium Non-oxigenated gas with Seafoam was good after 6 years. Started and ran twice a year through the 6 years, put a plastic bag on the filler then installed the cap with fuel shut off no air can enter or leave the tank. Vented is where fuel goes bad pulling in moisture as temps change. I will add some trans fluid, cause that makes sense also.

[@rodneyw849]

I actually use the plastic bag and shut off the fuel on all of my small engine mowers etc that have a screw on cap to keep the fuel fresh. And again only Premium Non ethanol/oxygenated fuel.

[@Graybeard_]

I own three timberland properties in two states and a sawmill (with a Kohler V-twin 747cc). I have multiple chainsaws, generator, pressure washer, and brush cutter. All my engines over winter with fuel in them. I always run premium, non-ethanol in both my four strokes and two stroke engines from the day I get them. I've never had an engine not start and run fine the next year, since 1977. I do do regular maintenance like changing the fuel filters, blowing out the air filters, changing plugs and crank oil, but other than that no issues. I'm not recommending anyone doing this, just sharing my experience.

[@oliver90owner]

Not read the comments, but this is a very good way with the small engines that have these manual primer pump bulb thingies - you just pump/corculate the fuel back to the tank until most/all of the ATF is cleared. The dilution in the fuel tank will be sufficient to avoid smoking, while running, unless the user is particularly stringy with filling the tank!

[@bobbreit5244]

Love ATF for lots of old school fixes.👍

[@allana5708]

Thanks for the info, you're a real world mechanic and I've done many of the same things. My goal many times is to stop adding to the waste heap, landfill lie.

[@jefff6902]

It's also a good idea to run the gas out with the choke on it'll run rough at 1st Quickly the idol will smooth out then rev up a little as it goes lean and dies out. This will use up almost all if not all of the fuel In the carburetor. I have done this with great success and many engines Jinx over many years.

[@jonnyindianajd]

Man, that stuff is so great we put it on our coco puffs every morning man. Just kidding.... I got my sea legs in Humboldt County, in the Redwoods. Loggers, Fishermen and their boat out in the ocean, WE LOVE THIS KIND OF STUFF. Thanks a lot!!!!

[@jerryholmberg135]

I use atf in my high pressure paint sprayer so don’t have to take it apart to get paint residue out works great!

[@nathanhale7444]

This is a very timely vid for me since I'm just about to put my generator in storage for a while. I already put stabil in the tank and was going to run it u til the carb was empty but I was worried about residue like you said. So you can bet I'll be doing this technique on my generator and all my small engines in the future. That little bit of atf being burned off upon startup is good for lubricating valves and upper cylinder walls.

[@Big_John_C]

Never add Stabil to a long term stored piece of equipment, the additive will break down and clog the carb just as fast as the trash fuel we have. For short term storage, Rec fuel with 0 ethanol will stay usable for up to 6 months and will not clog the carb.

[@MuckoJumbie]

This guy did a good job of making this video, explained things well & seems quite comfortable in front of a camera .