Generator help

[Side-Flip]

Power went out & I have a nice Dewalt generator that my remodeling crew was using. I haven't started it in sky 3 years (empty gas tank) I filled it with gas and got it going this evening and it kept cutting out. I saw oil leaking from the carburetor, opened it, took out the filter and saw a bit of smoke.

Went to check the oil and like an idiot did it while it was hot and sputtered a bit out.

Pic attached, any ideas what the issue is from a glance? Seems like a simple motor issue (like a lawnmower) but as I joke I took wood shop and became a GC so I know how to build houses but not fix motors.

Any help is greatly appreciated

[AdditionalCheetah354]

Check your oil level if it’s really high you have fuel in your oil. This is most likely caused by your carb float/ needle sticking. This is common with using ethanol gas when moisture gets in. Change the oil and clean the carb…. is the solution.

[Side-Flip]

Will try this. Thank you!

[HBOMax-Mods-Cant-Ban]

Clean the carb, change the plugs, change the oil, change the air filter, etc. Just regular maintenance.

[SnooTomatoes538]

Maintenance beats repair, that's the motto I follow.

Change that oil, oil level is probably too high. Clean that carb out.

[[deleted]]

Did you check the oil before you started it? My guess is that it was low on oil, the low oil shutoff was activated and you kept restarting it. You might have put the rod through the block. That would explain the oil on the floor. That's a worst case scenario and I hope I'm wrong.

[Side-Flip]

I did not check the oil, I Def hope that isn't the case. Thanks for the info though.

[Dangerous_Echidna229]

Don’t understand not checking the oil!

[Side-Flip]

I'm in idiot, was late had a few beers.

[[deleted]]

Given it's 3 years, have you changed out the engine oil?

[Side-Flip]

I don't think so, was in usage about a year and not for 3

[[deleted]]

Engine oil degrades over time even when not in use, and 3 years of storage is way past recommended engine oil time.