Generator Ran Out of Gas, Now Won’t Start (How to Fix)

So your generator ran out of gas and now it won’t start after a refill? Well, sounds like you’ve got stuck air in your fuel pump. This can also happen when you try to start a generator with little to no fuel in the tank. With an empty tank, air, instead of gas, goes into the fuel pump and because of the compressed nature of the stuck air, it can’t move the fuel into the engine. So the engine doesn’t start.

To fix it, you need to do something that’s called bleeding the fuel system. Confused? Read on to find out how to fix your generator when it won’t start after running out of fuel.

What to Do When Generator Ran Out of Gas and Won’t Start

As we’ve explained earlier, when the gas runs out, air enters the pressurized fuel supply system. This prevents your generator from starting. The only fix to this is to bleed the fuel system. But what is bleeding the fuel system?

Bleeding a Fuel System

Although this sounds very technical, bleeding the fuel system simply refers to the process of getting rid of any air bubble build-ups inside an engine’s fuel system. This simple process involves opening the valve called the bleeding screw, located on the fuel system, which allows the air that’s been trapped to escape. 

It’s worth noting that as all engines are built on the same principle, bleeding the fuel system is more or less the same for all types of engines, especially generator engines. Also, in modern generator engines, bleeding is done automatically most of the time. But when you’ve run out of gas and air gets stuck deep into the fuel system, you may need to manually do the bleeding process.

With that in mind, let’s dive into a step-by-step guide on how to bleed your generator’s fuel system and start it when it won’t start after it runs out of gas.

How to Bleed a Generator’s Fuel System

Here’s how to bleed any generator’s fuel system:

• Take necessary precautions like wearing a pair of protective gloves and safety goggles. Keep the engine turned off for a few minutes and let it cool down before starting the bleeding process.
• Next, identify the components related to the fuel system. It may look different in different generators, so take time to read the user manual if you need it. Locate the fuel lines, fuel filter, and the bleeding screw or priming pump, if there are any.
• Keep a container handy, to catch the spilling fuel during the bleeding process. You can also use a piece of towel or paper towel to clean up after.
• Now loosen the bleeding screw with an appropriate-sized wrench or pliers. But, don’t unscrew it all the way. In other words, don’t remove the screws, just loosen them a bit.
• If your generator has a priming pump that helps remove air from the fuel system, prime it. You can refer to the user manual to find out if your generator has a priming pump and how to prime it.
• Open the primary bleeding point, located above the fuel filter. Slowly unscrew until you see gas starting to trickle out. Now let it be for a few seconds until you see a steady flow of fuel coming out. This means that the air is fully out of the fuel system.
• Now locate if there are any secondary bleeding points. If there are, use the same method to bleed the air out from that point as well. Remember, only tighten the screw when you observe a steady stream of fuel bleeding.
• When it’s done, tighten everything up carefully. Don’t overtighten as that may damage the components. Now wipe off any remaining fuel with a piece of cloth or paper towel.
• Now start your generator and let it run for a few minutes. Observer if there are any abnormalities. That’s it. You’ve now successfully bled your fuel system and got rid of the stuck air.

Other Benefits of Bleeding the Fuel System

Apart from being able to start again, there are other benefits of bleeding the fuel system. These are:

• preventing engine damage
• improving the generator’s fuel economy
• extending the life of the fuel pump, etc.

(FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

What happens if a generator runs out of gas?

Apart from air being clogged into the fuel system, it can also cause your generator’s coil to fail. Because when the load abruptly stops due to lack of fuel, the appliances being powered by the generator drain out the residual magnetism of the generator. 

Why won’t my generator start when I left gas in it?

If you are certain that you’ve left gas in your generator, but it won’t start, it can be due to a clogged carburetor. Also if your fuel tank is old and leaky, the gas may have evaporated.

Is it OK to run the generator dry?

Absolutely not. This will lead to air build-up into the fuel system. If you do need to run your generator dry before storing it, do so by turning off the fuel valve.

Should I remove gas from the generator?

Yes, when you aren’t going to use it for long, you should remove gas from the generator. However, don’t run it dry or try to start your generator with an empty tank.

Final Thoughts

For safety, always check the fuel level before starting up your generator. Never use it with a low fuel level or you risk getting air stuck inside your fuel system. However, when it does happen, you can easily get rid of it by bleeding the fuel system. Just follow the steps mentioned above carefully.

Good luck and thanks for reading.