[motormonkey]

I just realized that I haven't tested my generator in a while, so I drug it out and hooked it up to the gas line for a good test run under load. After the test run, the oil level was up to the full mark, and looked like it had been freshly changed.

I got to thinking about all those manufacturer recommendations regarding oil change intervals, particularly about changing your oil after so many hours of operation or so many months. It has been well over a year since the oil was changed, more likely two years, and in that time, the genny hasn't been run more than a couple of hours.

It's clear that oil needs to be changed based on engine runtime. That will contaminate and break it down. However, I don't see much difference between oil sitting in its original container and it sitting inside an engine crankcase for two years when the engine is not run. As long as I don't see any evidence of water condensation or contamination, I'm not inclined to change it, except maybe for some possibly unfounded peace of mind.

What's the consensus here? Convince me I'm wrong.

 

[Dutchy491]

Kinda like brushing your teeth twice a day. Why bother? All you’re really doing is lining the pockets of the toothpaste manufacturers….😉
I’ve got thousands of dollars invested, so overspending on wasted oil changes is the least of my worries 😬

 

[GenKnot]

What's the consensus here?

I don't see anything wrong with your conclusions. Because it is rarely used, I change my oil before putting my gen in storage so as to remove any contaminates such as water, acids, etc. regardless of the run time. But other than that, I just check the level and then put the gen right to work when I get it out.

 

[flopshot]

That crankcase is open to atmosphere and contaminated whether you can see it or not. Your generator, your money.

 

[iowagold]

I just realized that I haven't tested my generator in a while, so I drug it out and hooked it up to the gas line for a good test run under load. After the test run, the oil level was up to the full mark, and looked like it had been freshly changed.

I got to thinking about all those manufacturer recommendations regarding oil change intervals, particularly about changing your oil after so many hours of operation or so many months. It has been well over a year since the oil was changed, more likely two years, and in that time, the genny hasn't been run more than a couple of hours.

It's clear that oil needs to be changed based on engine runtime. That will contaminate and break it down. However, I don't see much difference between oil sitting in its original container and it sitting inside an engine crankcase for two years when the engine is not run. As long as I don't see any evidence of water condensation or contamination, I'm not inclined to change it, except maybe for some possibly unfounded peace of mind.

What's the consensus here? Convince me I'm wrong.

as long as the fuel does not run in to the crank case you should be ok.
unless it is rich or has other issues for contamination. thinking e-0 fuel as the best.

for me i am now on NG for primary fuel so less issues with oil period.
i would run a good quality oil of your choice but have plenty on hand in case you get a real bad series of events in your area.
for me i run the same oil in the cars and trucks as the gens now.
so plenty here for the just incase.
now i run synthetic in everything as the price is close to the same in my area.
05-30 winter and 10-30 summer.
i like castrol synthetic for the hondas.
but run royal purple in the industrial applications.
but i run oil magnets in the cars trucks and all of the small engine gear.
it works well for me.

if i am close on a long run time and it is going for storage i will change it before storage.
and pull it over to tdc compression for closed valves.
and turn the choke to on and plug the exhaust with a no flite tag plug setup.

 

[iowagold]

oh yea systems testing at least once a year unless i have had an outage.
just to make sure it all works!

 

[zz28zz]

Oil gets contaminated from combustion by-products. The contamination is acidic in nature and can eat away at bearing surfaces if concentrations are sufficient.

IMHO, if it isn't run very much (and it's running good), I wouldn't worry abt it. If used hard and regularly, I definitely would change the oil before long-term storage.

 

[Colt Carson]

Even oil sitting in it’s plastic bottle turns a darker color over time. I’m not sure what this means for the oil. I change the oil and gasoline in my generator once a year, because it’s a convenient reminder in my phone. Of those two fluid changes, the oil is the easy part. Hopefully anyone not running their generator for long periods of time is following the proper storage procedures for the engine.

 

[sledman8002002]

It's clear that oil needs to be changed based on engine runtime.

Hours used is what I go by with 24/25 hours being my max. However I've often changed it out after a 12ish hour continual run.
Similiar to Paul, I use and run the same oil brand in everything 4 stroke (Quaker syn) with the weights being the only difference. All are 5W's, 20, 30 & 40.

 

[flopshot]

and pull it over to tdc compression for closed valves.
and turn the choke to on and plug the exhaust

something many forget to do. i have a Honda EU1000 that i run monthly that was giving me a fit one day. turned out a mud wasp had plugged the exhaust.. now i stick a 1/2" bolt in it after exercising.

 

[speedy2019]

Well the last time I did a oil change was like 3yrs ago(the first oil change), but I have only used the generator for 10-15hrs since then and It hasn''t been worked hard, plus the oil still looks fairly clear.. I just keep it topped up.

 

[Colt Carson]

Well the last time I did a oil change was like 3yrs ago(the first oil change), but I have only used the generator for 10-15hrs since then and It hasn''t been worked hard, plus the oil still looks fairly clear.. I just keep it topped up.

You say you keep it topped up with oil… does it use oil?

 

[speedy2019]

You say you keep it topped up with oil… does it use oil?

It barely uses any, so I top the oil up yearly. Im guessing it will use more when I make the thing work hard, but since having the generator 4yrs ago I have only needed to use it twice for 2hrs max during a powercut. So its only really been used monthly for exercise runs with a light load, but it will be interesting to see how much oil it actually uses when used properly.

 

[blaubon12]

I just realized that I haven't tested my generator in a while, so I drug it out and hooked it up to the gas line for a good test run under load. After the test run, the oil level was up to the full mark, and looked like it had been freshly changed. I got to thinking about all those manufacturer recommendations regarding oil change intervals, particularly about changing your oil after so many hours of operation or so many months. It has been well over a year since the oil was changed, more likely two years, and in that time, the genny hasn't been run more than a couple of hours. It's clear that oil needs to be changed based on engine runtime. That will contaminate and break it down. However, I don't see much difference between oil sitting in its original container and it sitting inside an engine crankcase for two years when the engine is not run. As long as I don't see any evidence of water condensation or contamination, I'm not inclined to change it, except maybe for some possibly unfounded peace of mind. What's the consensus here? Convince me I'm wrong.

You change your oil in your car every 6,000 miles or 6 months, so why not your generator. I run my generator monthly for 20 minutes and change the oil, spark plug, gas filter and air filter yearly.

 

[Markar]

as long as the fuel does not run in to the crank case you should be ok.
unless it is rich or has other issues for contamination. thinking e-0 fuel as the best.

for me i am now on NG for primary fuel so less issues with oil period.
i would run a good quality oil of your choice but have plenty on hand in case you get a real bad series of events in your area.
for me i run the same oil in the cars and trucks as the gens now.
so plenty here for the just incase.
now i run synthetic in everything as the price is close to the same in my area.
05-30 winter and 10-30 summer.
i like castrol synthetic for the hondas.
but run royal purple in the industrial applications.
but i run oil magnets in the cars trucks and all of the small engine gear.
it works well for me.

if i am close on a long run time and it is going for storage i will change it before storage.
and pull it over to tdc compression for closed valves.
and turn the choke to on and plug the exhaust with a no flite tag plug setup.

The best days are when someone turns on the lights on for you.
‘Never read or thought about putting it on TDC.
Thanks
Markar

 

[Browse Deweb]

You change your oil in your car every 6,000 miles or 6 months, so why not your generator. I run my generator monthly for 20 minutes and change the oil, spark plug, gas filter and air filter yearly.

Can't hurt, but I think it's more important for cars since the oil has to go through many tiny passageways, screens, channels, filter, etc. For small engines, it just sits and gets sloshed around, though it is unfiltered in most cases. I remember back when I was young and didn't know anything about engines...we had an old Snapper lawnmower with a Briggs & Stratton engine...thing went 30 years without an oil change and still ran fine. Obviously, regular oil changes are the way to go, but if it's just sitting around not getting much use, going a year or two between changes should be fine too.

 

[Dutchy491]

We’re talking about small engines in emergency generators here. You blow up the engine in your lawnmower?….meh, no emergency. The grass grows a little extra tall for a week or two until you get the mower repaired/replaced. The neighbors might just think that you’re cheap. You blow the engine in your generator?….the lights go out, the freezer thaws, the toilet doesn’t flush, your cell phone dies, your wife gets upset, really upset….major emergency.
Blow $50 on generator maintenance per year….you’re the hero!
My priceless wise suggestion 😉

 

[Colt Carson]

When I was young, I tore apart a Ford V8… apparently it wasn’t maintained very well because every interior surface of the engine was covered in a half inch thick coating of a solid sludge.

 

[chadjones999]

So just a thought as this threat is relevant to me right now, we are off the grid and use a lot of solar but come winter the generator sees a lot of use. So I bought a Pulsar 4500/3700 about 2 years ago and until last Dec ish it had only seen lite use as it was our out of town Rv generator so light use . Anyway this year we stayed the winter in Colorado so we used the heck out of it. and we changed the oil pretty regularly. So funny I thought we were out of winter last week lots of sun and warmer so didn't use the generator at all for about 4 days and then BAM storms out of California hit us and dumped a ton of Snow on us. so I ran the generator for about 8 hours ( not the first time normal when we run it it's for 6 to 8 hours ) and I noticed a rattling sound. like its getting loose and can hear lite rod knock (?) So Ive had issues in the past with the danr carburetor leaking into the cylinder once is a while and flooding out the oil with gas. So now I have to go out and shut off the fuel every time I stop using it so it can't leak into the engine, so I figured maybe the oil was thinned out due to gas , so changed the oil and it was not washed out , it was just a little burnt looking and on the dipstick this time ( magnetic ) I had metal build up a lot heavier than normal, So I changed oil and I guess I just run it to failure now ........ its Chinese so I really didn't expect to last as long as out last honda it had a few thousand hours on it. this Pulsar is at 686 hours now. see if it makes 700 ???

 

[chadjones999]

back in the day oil wasnt that great compared to now , I have a V8 mustang back in the 80s and same thing , covered in slugge BAD