10hp B&S Generator 5250w oil recommendation.

[goofy8]

What oil do I use in this Generator the manual says 10w30, but I heard 15w40 so what's best?

Is Hurricane season again :-( So this small engine hard working maybe running for hours at a time.

 

[eljefino]

Rotella 5w40 sounds good to me.

You're going to be loading it quick when it's still cold. Horde some stabilized gas ahead of time too.

 

[goofy8]

So for as gas I plan on filling the 7 gallon tank, filling (2) 5 gallon gas cans filling car, then siphoning gas from the car if I need to. At end of Hurricane I would put left over gas back in car. Sound ok, or a bit crazy?

 

[eljefino]

Test your gas siphoning plan ahead of time. Rather than sucking through the filler tube which will fail due to the rollover check valve you'll probably want to tap at the fuel pressure test port or by removing a fuel filter supply hose under the frame. Then jumper the fuel pump relay. Look your vehicle over to decide which is safest.

Better figuring this out now than when you're crabby from eating ramen noodles for a week and all your socks are wet.

 

[goofy8]

Eljefino,

Ok, I agree that siphoning maybe a bad idea, in Florida with the heat I don't wish to modify my fuel lines in anyway. So I will buy another 5 gallon gas can that way I have 15 on hand 7 in the generator. I will siphon the gas from the generator at end of season back to gas can then back to car. If done this way do you think I still need a gas stabilizer?

Back to oil subject 10w-30 is too thin a 40w is best for this. Thinking about 15w40 amsoil any input on this.

 

[416Rigby]

I'm using Redline 15w-40 in an Onan air-cooled engine, and it loves it. Amsoil 15w-40 would be fine, too.

 

[Bror Jace]

You're in Florida, are cold starts much of an issue?

I wouldn't use a mineral 10W-30 in that thing if I were you. Not for use for several hours at a time. The stuff could easily shear down, get consumed and then run low.

Either a REAL synthetic 10W-30, GC 0W-30 or a 15W-40 like Chevron Delo400.

Also, even if in the middle of a power outtage, I'd shut down after the first few hours of running the generator and give it a quick oil change before firing it back up.

--- Bror Jace

 

[goofy8]

Well I can say NO cold starts it will be 90f + when I use this generator, I will be using during Hurricanes.

Where can I get Chevron Delo400? Better then Amsoil?

 

[TooSlick]

I'd run the new Amsoil 10w-30/30wt in this application, ie their new "ACD" HD gas and diesel formulation - meets the ACEA A3/B3 specs. It has no VI modifiers and is completely shear stable.

The unit will run cooler with a 30wt instead of a 40wt, due to a reduction in "intrafluid" friction. This refers to the energy needed to pump and shear/deform the oil film between moving parts of the engine. Think of the energy required to stir a glass of honey vs a glass of water! The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can not be created or destroyed - only transferred.

The new Amsoil ACD formulation is the same price as the excellent Amsoil 15w-40, but better for all these small, air cooled engines....

Tooslick

 

[goofy8]

TooSlick,

I'm using Amsoil's 10w-30 API Service SL, SJ, CF
The "Severe Service" Motor Oil. Product code ATM-QT, is this what you're talking about? Sorry for all the bottles labeling newbie.

 

[Cujet]

While I do not think I know best, I had 2 Honda water pumps fail here in Florida due to heat/oil related issues. Both times, I used the proper dino oil 10-30. Both times the oil could not take the strain and the engines started making metal.

I have since switched to Kawasaki engines for my pumps and I use 15-50 M1.

Also, My generator (Robin 11HP) ran like crazy for weeks and weeks after both hurricanes on M1 15-50. I did an oil change every 50 hours (as there is no oil filter). The engine still runs perfectly. The same cannot be said for many others here.

I have had stellar results with M1 15-50 in my small, hot running, abused air cooled engines.

Chris

 

[Rickey]

OK my two cents worth: Sounds like we have similar or the same generator. Mine came from Lowes. No oil filter. Red shroud I/C Intec. First of all a proper break in is important.I wouldn't take a fresh from the box generator and run it for hours and hours without a proper break in of the engine. If this hasn't allready been done. I suggest running it with any straight 30wt HD oil at moderate electrical load for 15 minutes or so then drain the oil. This would be good practice for the real thing. Look for metal particles in the drained oil. This is more important for an engine without a filter. If it puts metal in the oil change the oil frequently with 30wt HD until the metal stops. When there is no further metal in the the oil it should be broken in. Then long term loading and a really good synthetic oil can be considered. I use Castrol 5W50 in mine. You might consider Mobil 1 15W50 in yours as you shouldn't be bothered with cold starting during ice storms. 15W40 HDEO or Rotella T 5W40 synthetic should also work well for you. I really believe you can't get too much protection for an air cooled engine that will be depended on for hours upon hours. For me this spells a 40 or 50 WT multigrade oil. The multigrade is mostly for the cold weather we sometimes get here in N.C. You migh do just fine with a straight HD 30 WT considering your climate. I figure my 5W50 shears to closer to a 30 WT anyhow. For gasoline stored over 30 days Stabil (or similar product) IS A NECESSITY if you want to avoid fuel system problems. Just do it when you buy the fuel, you won't regret it. Instant starts are important when you really need the generator,and you wouldn't won't to have to disassemble and rebuild a carburator in the aftermath of a hurricane. I have 30 Gals of stored fuel treated with Stabil and Marvel Mystrey Oil at the reccomended rates. This fuel gets rotated out through the lawn equipment after about a year storage. My generator has never failed to start on the 1st pull,even for my wife. Good luck. Rickey

 

[goofy8]

Ricky,

The Generator is maybe the same it sell at Home Depot, but I bought it from **'s wholesale club.

The brand is Porter Cable model BSI525, but way confused about oil thick or thin?????? Generator to be used for hours on end in 90f or better.

 

[Pick]

I converted my Honda EU2000i to run on propane, pictures are in Photo Section. I ran GC 0W30 during the last hurricane season. Honda ran for 6 days straight, changed oil after first 3 days. GC is PAO, so it is shear stable.

Just bought a new Generac 7500XL, with 15 HP OHV. Thinking about the propane conversion for this one, too. Factory fill was 30 wt B&S oil.

 

[goofy8]

Pick,

Great info and pictures I just had a 125gallon Propane tank installed in ground for a spa so you got me thinking. For you and me during the summer’s season of rain and wind, I'm more confident about 15w-40 oil in a Generator in our heat. I did a search of generator oil on this board found is 15w-40 too think for a mower, good reading there.

 

[KW]

Any good 30 or 40 weight will do. I agree with TooSlick that a 10W30 would be best. I have 0W40 in mine but it is used in the winter when the power goes out. This coming fall I'm changing the generators over to 10W30 so that everything will be running one of two oils I keep in the shop now.

 

[Cujet]

Well, the reason I went with the thicker 15-50 M1 is that it really is not that thick. It is a 15 viscosity oil that performs like a 50 at WATER COOLED operating temperatures. The air coooled generator engines really struggle to run a house after a hurricane. The engine operating temps can be well over 350 degrees. The oil is required to provide protection beyond what would be considered normal in a water cooled automotive engine.

I think about it this way. It takes about 10HP to push my car down the highway at 65MPH. The car engine is hardly working. The generator has a very high load (often making it's full 11HP) and runs far hotter.


M1 15-50 works very well for me.

Chris

 

[goofy8]

15w-40 it is....

I thank you all.