The use of Ethanol as an oxygenating ingredient in gasoline is nearing 50 percent of all gasoline sold in the U.S., and is predicted to continue growing for the foreseeable future. This “re-formulated” gasoline can have serious consequences for engine driven welding generators and other small engine tools and vehicles.
A major problem that can occur is when water gets into the fuel causing the water/ethanol mixture to sink to the bottom of the tank where the fuel pick-up is. Engines cannot run on an alcohol/water blend and can seize. Two cycle engines particularly have this problem since the proper lubricant will not be present in the gasoline. While a properly formulated additive may prevent the separation by removing excess water, it will not cure the problem once it exists.
Due to these and other potential hazards, owners of engine driven welding generators need to take measures, such as using fuel treatment additives, keeping the tank as full as possible to prevent moisture build up and adding fuel stabilizers, to prevent these problems from occurring.
Have you experienced any ethanol-related problems with your engine driven welding generator? Do you know of any other ways to avoid these problems? Share your thoughts by posting a comment below.
