Second the stabil recommendation! I had a generator when we lived down south for hurricanes. I added stabil to the fuel and switched off the fuel supply at the carb and ran it dry. It sat for almost 3 years with a full tank of fuel (again, with the stabil mixed in). When we decided to move up here and i was going to sell it, i popped open the fuel cap and gave it a sniff. Was surprised that it still smelled like gas. Opened the valve to the carb, fired up on the second pull and ran like the fuel just came from the pump. That stuff is amazing!!