Helpful Tips & Suggestions; Storing Your Engine - Honda GXV160 Manuel De L'utilisateur

HELPFUL TIPS & SUGGESTIONS

STORING YOUR ENGINE

Storage Preparation
Proper storage preparation is essential for keeping your engine trouble-
free and looking good. The following steps will help to keep rust and
corrosion from impairing your engine's function and appearance, and
will make the engine easier to start when you use it again.
Cleaning
If the engine has been running, allow it to cool for at least half an hour
before cleaning. Clean all exterior surfaces, touch up any damaged paint,
and coat other areas that may rust with a light film of oil.
Using a garden hose or pressure washing equipment can force water into the
air cleaner or muffler opening. Water in the air cleaner will soak the air filter,
and water that passes through the air filter or muffler can enter the cylinder,
causing damage.
Fuel
Gasoline will oxidize and deteriorate in storage. Deteriorated gasoline
will cause hard starting, and it leaves gum deposits that clog the fuel
system. If the gasoline in your engine deteriorates during storage, you
may need to have the carburetor and other fuel system components
serviced or replaced.
The length of time that gasoline can be left in your fuel tank and
carburetor without causing functional problems will vary with such
factors as gasoline blend, your storage temperatures, and whether the
fuel tank is partially or completely filled. The air in a partially filled fuel
tank promotes fuel deterioration. Very warm storage temperatures
accelerate fuel deterioration. Fuel deterioration problems may occur
within a few months, or even less if the gasoline was not fresh when you
filled the fuel tank.
Fuel system damage or engine performance problems resulting from
neglected storage preparation are not covered under the Distributor's
Limited Warranty.
You can extend fuel storage life by adding a gasoline stabilizer that is
formulated for that purpose, or you can avoid fuel deterioration
problems by draining the fuel tank and carburetor.
Adding a Gasoline Stabilizer to Extend Fuel Storage Life
When adding a gasoline stabilizer, fill the fuel tank with fresh gasoline. If
only partially filled, air in the tank will promote fuel deterioration during
storage. If you keep a container of gasoline for refueling, be sure that it
contains only fresh gasoline.
1. Add gasoline stabilizer following the manufacturer's instructions.
2. After adding a gasoline stabilizer, run the engine outdoors for
10 minutes to be sure that treated gasoline has replaced the
untreated gasoline in the carburetor.
3. Stop the engine.
Draining the Fuel Tank and Carburetor
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive.
You can be burned or seriously injured when handling fuel.
• Stop the engine and let it cool before handling fuel.
• Keep heat, sparks, and flame away.
• Handle fuel only outdoors.
• Keep away from your vehicle.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
1. Place an approved gasoline container below the carburetor, and use
a funnel to avoid spilling fuel.
2. Loosen the carburetor drain bolt, and drain the carburetor bowl fuel
into an approved gasoline container.
3. Move the fuel valve lever to the ON position. This will allow the fuel
tank to drain through the carburetor bowl.
CARBURETOR BOWL
ON
OFF
4. After draining the carburetor bowl and fuel tank, move the fuel valve
lever to the OFF position.
5. Tighten the carburetor drain bolt securely.
ENGLISH
CARBURETOR
DRAIN BOLT
FUEL VALVE LEVER
OFF
ON
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