Can You Put Premium Gas in a Generator

Topic: Premium Gas

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Posted By: sdmotor on 03/11/10 07:38pm I searched the site and the net in general and couldn't find an respond so here goes...

Tin can I run premium fuel in my generator? My TH simply has one tank for the gen and toys and the bike I haul needs premium.

Cheers...

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Getting there is half the fun...

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Posted By: Habitation Skillet on 03/11/10 07:41pm If the gen fix was designed for regular gas, using premium tin can cause problems.
The premium fuel is "slower" burning which tin lead to excessive carbon deposits in the combustion chamber.
The carbon deposits can flake off and bend valves etc.

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2005 Gulf Stream Conquest 31ft
BigFoot Levelers,TST in tire TPMS,Bilstein Shocks,Trans temp guage,Lowrace iWAY

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Posted By: 427435 on 03/12/10 09:01am Sorry guys, that's an old wives tale. Stop and think about information technology. That theory doesn't pass the quondam smell examination. Where does premium gas become used??

That'southward right, usually in high performance cars with engines that not only have higher compression but also plow high rpms. At high rpms, you would desire faster called-for fuel (if anything), non slower burning fuel. For max power and efficiency, you lot desire the combustion procedure pretty well over by x degrees subsequently TDC. That holds truthful whether the engine is turning at 4500 rpm or 7000 rpm.

Once again, octane does non directly bear upon burn rate----it simply raises the temperature/pressure level that the fuel will auto-ignite at (pre-ignition). Once the fuel is ignited, whether by motorcar ignition or the spark plug, the fire charge per unit is the same. The trouble with auto-ignition is that tin can farther heighten the temperature/pressure of the whole fuel/air mixture causing the whole charge to detonate instead of burning.

I've got an old engine design text book where pictures were taken of the fuel/air charge being ignited and and so "time-lapse" photos of the flame forepart moving beyond the cylinder. I serial of pictures shows normal combustion, and another shows detonation. Interesting stuff.

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Mark

2000 Itasca Suncruiser 35U on a Ford chassis, eighty,000 miles
2003 Ford Explorer toad with Ready Restriction supplemental brakes,
Ready Animate being tow bar, and Demco base plate.

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Posted By: 427435 on 03/11/10 07:58pm

Home Skillet wrote:

If the gen set was designed for regular gas, using premium tin cause problems.
The premium fuel is "slower" burning which can lead to excessive carbon deposits in the combustion sleeping room.
The carbon deposits can flake off and curve valves etc.

Where e'er did you get that theory?? Premium fuel has a higher octane number which prevents pre-ignition due to loftier temperatures and compression, but once ignited, it'll burn as fast every bit any other gasoline.

To the OP: Yes.

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Posted By: Domicile Skillet on 03/11/10 08:31pm 22 years as an motorcar technician!
I have seen it many times.
I accept said what I needed to say, the OP tin can do what he wants.

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Posted By: PaulJ2 on 03/11/10 10:38pm Aye, premium fuel does in fact burn slower. Kinda like retarding the timing, information technology is used to control detonation not to add ability. Exterior of mayhap a slight power loss I doubt if it would cause problems.

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Posted By: Curbe on 03/12/x 09:23pm

sdmotor wrote:

Thank you for the "spirited" responses. I'g killing 2 birds by running premium in the tank. I'd rather waste the pennies in the generator than the dollars on a new top terminate for the fuel picky BMW motorbike. Trailer needs gas and so 91 here I come!

If the B'mer needs 91 and then "and then exist it". Your gen will practise fine on information technology. Accept a good fourth dimension.

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Posted By: PaulJ2 on 03/12/ten 10:35pm I estimate I meant "ignites slower" rather than burns slower. Premium is designed to ignite at a college temperature. This means it takes longer for the same spark plug & compression ratio to ignite premium than regular. Years ago when I was playing with a dyno I found I had to accelerate the timing a couple of degrees (ignite earlier) when running premium versus regular to go along the same power output.

Again, the deviation probably won't matter to a generator.

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Posted By: Curbe on 03/12/10 02:50pm Well I'm certianly no chemist like possibly some others who have posted hither ... only, I as well accept a toyhauler and my Polaris ATV's recommend 91 octane fuel. Do they run better on college octane? I cannot honestly experience the departure running 91 or 87. Then ... I make full my toyhauler with 87 octane, run the bikes and the Onan on the aforementioned fuel. I have run the route of thinking that the OP has and I cannot experience a performace difference. I also spoke to a Polaris rep at an ATV jamboree regarding this event and he said he also runs 87 ocatane in his 800 Sportsman.

Not sure if this helps you lot much but I dont feel it matters one manner or another for either engine. I have run 91 octane for my gen and 87 ocatane in my bikes. Can't tell the difference either mode. I'll put the nickels in my pocket and enjoy both. JMHO

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Posted By: sdmotor on 03/12/10 07:32pm Thanks for the "spirited" responses. I'grand killing two birds by running premium in the tank. I'd rather waste the pennies in the generator than the dollars on a new top end for the fuel picky BMW motorbike. Trailer needs gas and then 91 here I come!

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Posted By: wa8yxm on 03/12/10 x:24am

Home Skillet wrote:

If the gen gear up was designed for regular gas, using premium can cause issues.
The premium fuel is "slower" burning which can pb to excessive carbon deposits in the combustion sleeping room.
The carbon deposits can chip off and curve valves etc.

That is news to me.. Premium gas burns only equally fast every bit regular.. What information technology does not do is self ignite

If yous take a very high compression engine then the heat of compression combined with the heat already in the engine tin cause regular gas to ignite Before the engine ignition system calls for ignition, this causes a PING sound and is harmful to the engine.

Premium gas has a higher ignition betoken, even so well beneath the temp of the spark when the plug sparks, but it's college so it does not pre-ignite like regular will if information technology's highly (more 8 to 1) Compressed.. Thus it'south used in racing engines where compression can be much greater.. It is also of benefit if an engine is poorly tuned crusade a poorly tuned engine tends to run hot.

Now... To the quesiton: Tin I run it in a generator

YES: but why, I mean it's like 20 cents a gallon more than regular

I will betoken out that there are thousands of car experts out there, Hundreds of them have said the same thing:

Using Premimum gas in a vehicle designed to burn regular won't injure annihilation except your wallet.. There is NO benefit if the engine is properly tuned.

And.. .Frankly.. I hold with them.

Now.. if an engine is Not properly tuned. or if there is another problem.. THEN a higher grade of gas MIGHT give better performance.

Just once they start called-for.. Yous tin can't tell the difference relieve past chemical assay.

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Domicile was where I park it. but alas the.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
later on a semi "nicked" it. Still take the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times

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Posted By: paulcardoza on 03/12/10 09:12am Premium fuel is fine, if y'all wish to waste material the actress money for it.

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Paul & Sandra
Plymouth, MA
2022 Heartland Cyclone 4100 Rex

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Posted By: topflite51 on 03/12/10 09:38am

427435 wrote:

Sorry guys, that's an old wives tale. End and think about it. That theory doesn't pass the old scent exam. Where does premium gas go used??

As I said the other day in some other thread, lot'due south of old wives tales floating around here. Never ceases to amaze me. LOL

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">David
But rolling along enjoying life
w/F53 Southwind towing a 87 Samurai or 01 Grand Vitara looking to fish
Merely Despicable ">
Any errors are a result of CRS.">

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Posted Past: topflite51 on 03/12/10 09:50am

paulcardoza wrote:

Premium fuel is fine, if you wish to waste the actress money for it.

Considering he has a congenital in tank for fueling his toys, and they require premium fuel, it makes more financial sense that mode than having to deal with the expense and inconvenience of portable containers.

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Posted By: 427435 on 03/15/10 09:15am

johntank wrote:

The just thing I might do is run a plug (1) one step hotter in the genny to help burn the premium fuel.

And why would that exist???

The plug-----regardless of heat range-----will fire when the ignition system tells it to. If it's gaped correctly, it will fire either regular or premium fuel.

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Posted Past: johntank on 03/14/10 03:33pm

MrWizard wrote:

Quote:

Yeah: merely why, I mean it'southward like 20 cents a gallon more than regular

ONE fuel tank in the Th and he runs Premium for his toys.

the 20 cents per gallon 'so what'! the ease of using the same fuel, no extra gas cans etc.. out weighs the genny run toll

he's going to use far more in his toys for the trip than he will in the generator

I agree, he will use more than gas in the toys than in the genny. The only matter I might do is run a plug (1) one step hotter in the genny to help burn the premium fuel.

BTW, I would think the genny would be cheeper to set than the BMW motorcycle, if running the wrong gas in ane or the other caused a problem. JMHO

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Posted By: 427435 on 03/14/10 xi:31am Again, Clicky.

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Posted By: MrWizard on 03/14/10 11:44am

Quote:

YES: but why, I mean it'due south similar 20 cents a gallon more than than regular

ONE fuel tank in the Thursday and he runs Premium for his toys.

the 20 cents per gallon 'so what'! the ease of using the same fuel, no extra gas cans etc.. out weighs the genny run cost

he's going to utilize far more in his toys for the trip than he will in the generator

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I can explain it to you lot.
Merely I Can Not sympathise it for you !
....

Continued using Verizon and AT&T
1997 F53 Bounder 36s

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Posted By: Steveo35 on 03/14/x 07:52am

Dwelling house Skillet wrote:

22 years as an motorcar technician!
I accept seen information technology many times.
I have said what I needed to say, the OP tin do what he wants.

Yup, it does burn slower and more than completely. I'm a former auto shop teacher, took the ASE certification a LOOOOONG time agone.

When in uncertainty, follow the manufacturers recommendations.

Perhaps the OP needs an auxillary fuel tank?

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Posted By: ol Bombero-JC on 03/xiii/10 09:12pm

427435 wrote:

What you're now discussing is the delay period or reaction fourth dimension for dissimilar fuels----------and we've at present not only moved from telling the time of day, to building a clock, merely on to discussing the metallurgy of the parts being fabricated for the clock. Similar burn rates, these may be dissimilar for different fuels only the changes aren't necessarily related to octane changes.

Ain't it just Amazing the fence that goes on . . . .
and -OFF- the OPs question to see who tin can pee the farthest, longest, - and dorsum-upwards their logic with sites, etc.

Now what we need here Luke, is Fast Eagle from the 5th cycle forum to
tell all you folks - the OPs generator will run meliorate with ST tires
no matter what the octane rating!

Gimme the Chevron "White Pump" . . . . ARG! - never mind, that was the old octane rating system.

Sooooo, OP - - run what ya brung!

~

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Posted Past: 427435 on 03/13/10 ten:15am For those of y'all that would rather larn how to build a clock instead of what time information technology is, here's a link on this discipline.

Clicky

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Posted Past: wnjj on 03/13/ten 12:42pm

427435 wrote:

Premium will ignite as fast as regular FROM THE SPARK PLUG. Without the spark plug firing, even so, it takes a higher combination of pressure and temperature for premium gas to motorcar-ignite------thus the need for it in higher compression engines.

To the OP, keep the rubber side down with the "toys"!!!

How can something take a higher force per unit area & temperature to car-ignite yet accept exactly the same time from a abiding heat source (the spark plug). This doesn't pass the mutual sense examination.

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Posted By: 427435 on 03/13/x 01:49pm The energy/temperature in a spark (especially from today's ignition systems) is way higher than necessary to ignite either regular or premium gas.

Look at it another way--------take two pans of gas, 1 regular and one premium. Throw a lucifer into either and they will both burn/explode immediately!!

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Posted By: wnjj on 03/13/10 02:23pm How much actress energy the spark organisation provides isn't the signal. The free energy in the spark plug is pretty much zero (other than residual estrus) until the ignition system activates it. The gas (either blazon) will ignite when the free energy provided by the spark exceeds the activation energy of the gas. While this may seem instantaneous to a person watching a match hit a pan of gas I don't call up the homo center/brain is an accurate style to measure that. Transferring enough free energy to the gas to ignite it takes time, no matter how little. Higher octane gas is more than resistant to pre-ignition from heat and pressure but that same resistance applies to the spark likewise. This is why the timing is avant-garde with higher octane fuel. It'southward offset to continue producing the maximum combustion force per unit area at the proper fourth dimension.

Because that a 3 of degrees or rotation of the creepo of an engine turning at 6000 rpm happens in:

6000 rpm = 100 rps = 100*360 degrees/sec = 36000 degrees/sec = 27.8 microseconds (millionths of seconds) per caste. PaulJ2 said he had to motility the timing a few degrees when changing fuel. That'south less than 100 microseconds. Pocket-sized, but significant in the time frame that ignition takes place.

* This mail service was edited 03/thirteen/10 02:38pm by wnjj *

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Posted Past: 427435 on 03/thirteen/10 02:46pm What you're at present discussing is the filibuster flow or reaction fourth dimension for unlike fuels----------and we've now not only moved from telling the fourth dimension of day, to building a clock, but on to discussing the metallurgy of the parts being made for the clock. Like burn rates, these may be unlike for different fuels only the changes aren't necessarily related to octane changes.

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Posted By: wnjj on 03/xiii/10 02:53pm Delay period...Ignition time. Call it what you want. It's notwithstanding to me. The time from when the spark is fired to when the fire completes is what matters to the engine. And yep, it's related to octane among many other things.

I'g done. You may have the last word if yous similar.

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Posted By: WILDEBILL308 on 03/13/10 03:00pm

wnjj wrote:

427435 wrote:

Premium will ignite as fast equally regular FROM THE SPARK PLUG. Without the spark plug firing, however, information technology takes a higher combination of pressure level and temperature for premium gas to auto-ignite------thus the need for it in higher compression engines.

To the OP, keep the safety side down with the "toys"!!!

How tin can something take a higher pressure level & temperature to auto-ignite notwithstanding accept exactly the aforementioned time from a constant heat source (the spark plug). This doesn't pass the common sense test.

Well yes it does. The "abiding heat source" is maney times hotter than the tempature in the cylender. Preium gas has additives to prevent preignition.

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2008 Newmar Mountain Aire
450 HP CUMMINS ISM
ALLISON 4000 MH Manual
TOWING 2022 HONDA CRV With Blue Ox tow bar
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he tin larn in no other way.
-Mark Twain

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Posted By: 427435 on 03/13/10 09:30am Premium volition ignite as fast as regular FROM THE SPARK PLUG. Without the spark plug firing, however, it takes a higher combination of pressure and temperature for premium gas to auto-ignite------thus the demand for it in higher compression engines.

To the OP, continue the safe side downwards with the "toys"!!!

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