Will a flooded engine clear itself?

A flooded engine in a generator can sometimes clear itself, but it depends on the severity and how long you wait. Flooding occurs when too much fuel enters the combustion chamber, wetting the spark plug and preventing ignition. If you have flooded a small generator engine by over-choking or pulling the starter cord too many times, it may clear itself if you leave it alone for 15 to 30 minutes with the fuel valve off and the choke in the off or run position. During this time, excess fuel will evaporate from the cylinder. A faster method is to actively clear it. Turn off the fuel valve, move the choke to the run position, remove the spark plug, and pull the starter cord 8 to 10 times to expel excess fuel from the cylinder. Dry the spark plug with a cloth, clean any carbon, check the gap, and reinstall it. Then attempt to start without choke. If the engine is severely flooded due to a stuck float needle in the carburetor, it will not clear itself because fuel will continue to flow. In that case, you must fix the carburetor issue by tapping the carburetor bowl gently, draining it, and cleaning the needle valve. Repeated flooding can also wash oil from cylinder walls, so avoid excessive cranking.