If your gas generator starts making pop sounds and produces thick smoke, it’s probably backfiring. It may also cause flames to emerge from the carburetor or exhaust manifold.
These problems are typically caused by a lean fuel-air mixture, a timing issue (early combustion), or a stuck intake valve. Let’s take a closer look at what causes these problems, if they can damage your engine, and how to fix them.
Poor Fuel-to-Air Ratio
A gas generator’s engine requires three main components to run well: good spark, good mechanical compression, and a properly balanced air-fuel mixture.
When the air-fuel mixture isn’t balanced correctly, it will misfire and cause backfires.
The control system in your vehicle relies on several sensors to ensure the proper fuel-to-air ratio is maintained. If one of these sensors isn’t working properly, it can send an incorrect signal to the computer and cause the air-fuel ratio to fluctuate or drop below the proper level.
Incorrect Carburetor Adjustment
If you are experiencing backfires in your gas generator, the first thing to check is the carburetor. Usually, an incorrect carburetor adjustment can cause these problems.
Carburetors have jets that meter the right amount of fuel to the engine. When the carburetor is adjusted incorrectly, it allows too much or too little fuel to pass through the jets, which can result in backfires.
Lean Fuel-to-Air Ratio
A lean fuel-to-air ratio is a problem that can happen in both gasoline and diesel engines. It can be caused by a vacuum leak, a bad fuel pump, or clogged fuel injectors.
The stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, or l (lambda), is an important indicator of how the mixture burns and affects your engine’s performance, emissions and longevity. It also plays a role in anti-vehicle exhaust gas emissions control.
Bad Gas
If your generator backfires, it means that the fuel isn’t able to get into the engine’s combustion chamber.
It can also be a sign of a problem with the carburetor.
When you store your generator for a long period of time without draining the gas tank or draining the carburetor first, it is possible that your carburetor will become clogged with stale gasoline.
Oil Leaks
Oil leaks can be a serious problem, as they will deplete your engine’s oil levels and cause more problems. They can also damage oxygen sensors or gaskets if you ignore the issue for too long.
Oil leaks are often caused by degraded gaskets or deteriorated valve cover gaskets. You can inspect for oil puddles when you park your vehicle, or lay down a piece of cardboard under your car to see if there are any dark brown or yellow stains.
Dirty Air Filter
The air filter is the final barrier as air and fuel come together to produce combustion. When it’s dirty, your engine is unable to get the proper amount of clean air to operate properly.
Dirty filters can cause a wide variety of issues for your generator. One of the most common is gas generator backfires. These can be caused by a number of factors, including an improper air-fuel mixture and a stuck intake valve.
Bad Valve Adjustment
If you notice that your gas generator backfires, it might be because of bad valve adjustment. This can affect the performance and efficiency of your engine, so it’s important to fix it as soon as possible.
A valve is a mechanical device that opens and closes in a sequenced process. It opens to let air into the combustion chamber and closes to release spent gases from the cylinder head.
Bad Valve Seals
When valves fail to seal properly, they can lead to gas generator backfires. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including poor clearance between the stem and the rocker arms or tappets, a broken rocker arm, carbon build up, or more.
A cold engine test is a great way to check for bad valve seals. If your car has been sitting overnight or over a long period of time, then residual oil will collect on the top of the head inside the valve cover.
Bad Fuel Lines
Despite their strong design and construction, fuel lines can dry out, crack or wear out over time. These issues can cause them to leak and cause performance problems with your machine.
Vehicles that use fuel injection systems produce pressures that are significantly higher than what regular fuel hoses are designed to hold. Therefore, if your fuel lines are failing or leaking, you should have them replaced as soon as possible.
Bad Fuel Tank
A bad fuel tank can cause a gas generator to backfire. This can be a sign of several issues, including bad gas or contaminated fuel.
The first thing to do if you suspect that the gas in your tank is bad is to drain it and fill it with fresh fuel. This will help prevent further damage to your engine and fuel system.
