TIL why my generator's fuel lines gave out after years in storage

Last week, I tried to start my generator after five years in the garage. I did the basic stuff like new spark plug and fresh gas, but it kept cutting out. When I looked at the fuel lines, they were cracked inside even though they seemed okay outside. Putting in new lines made it run fine. I don't get why they go bad when not even touched. Does this happen a lot with engines that sit? What makes fuel lines fall apart over time? Let me know if you have seen this before.

3 comments

3 Comments

rileysullivan3mo ago

Yeah, that's super common with anything that sits. Modern gas with ethanol eats the rubber from the inside out. Been there with lawn mower lines too!

riley_ellis3mo agoMost Upvoted

Ever think about how many things we own that just sit with gas in them? I've had the same thing happen with a snowblower fuel line and an old generator... the rubber turns to mush from the inside. It's wild how many small engine problems just come back to these rotten lines. Really makes you hate what ethanol does to anything that isn't driven daily.

eva_garcia563mo ago

Wait is it really that common? My grandpa's old mower sat for a decade with the same gas and the lines were fine, so maybe it's not always the fuel.