best generator break in method?

[The motor guy]

I bought a Honda eg6500 watt generator. 6500 watts is the maximum output and 5500 is the rated watts. I generally have been running it at around 50 percent load since new. It now has 4hrs on it. Should I break it in with a heavier load? I've altered the loads a little bit. I have a 1400 watt worklight so I'll alternate the load a little bit between 1400 and 3500 or so watts. I have some 1500 watt space heaters I run also. I just want to make sure it has a good enough load on it to seat the rings. I put the worklight on and it barely even boggs down. So far it hasn't burned any oil. Also what is the least amount of load you want to run on a generator? I've heard it's bad to let them just run with hardly any load. Also it says to change the oil after the first 20hrs but I'm going to change it a couple times before then.

 

[lawman1909]

I always change the oil at 5 hours, either a conventional or synthetic blend. Then again at 20-25 hours. After the second oil change, I would recommend at least a synthetic blend, might as well go full synthetic. I would also run it on the rated watts for a while too. Best way to break in ANY engine, from a lawn mower to a car is to not let it run in the same range of rpm for an extended period of time. Just vary it and don't overdue it for the first 10 hours and you'll be good!

 

[The motor guy]

It runs at full rpm all the time so the only thing I can change is the load.

 

[lawman1909]

Then change the load and vary it. My generator has a throttle adjuster so if I am only needing say 2000 watts, I put it to about 40% throttle and it runs like that. Efficient to say the least.

 

[The motor guy]

Ok I see. That's about all you can do I suppose. I'll probably run it at the house next Friday since I am off that day so that way I'll just pull out my space heaters and a couple other things and run it between the house and fence so my neighbors don't think I'm a weirdo. lol That way I can get a few hours on it so it gets broken in correctly.

 

[Whimsey]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I bought a Honda eg6500 watt generator. 6500 watts is the maximum output and 5500 is the rated watts. I generally have been running it at around 50 percent load since new. It now has 4hrs on it. Should I break it in with a heavier load? I've altered the loads a little bit. I have a 1400 watt worklight so I'll alternate the load a little bit between 1400 and 3500 or so watts. I have some 1500 watt space heaters I run also. I just want to make sure it has a good enough load on it to seat the rings. I put the worklight on and it barely even boggs down. So far it hasn't burned any oil. Also what is the least amount of load you want to run on a generator? I've heard it's bad to let them just run with hardly any load. Also it says to change the oil after the first 20hrs but I'm going to change it a couple times before then.


Nice genset! Sounds like you're doing good on the break in. Though I'd make sure I try to balance the loads on the two plug receptacles. What oil does Honda recommend? I have a Briggs & Stratton 5500 Watt genset and they say to change the factory fill at 5 hours, then every 50 hours. I did it at 2 1/2 hours and it was black and "glittery" to say the least. I refilled with Briggs & Stratton 5w30 synthetic oil. I've run an additional 7 hours on that oil under load and have used no oil and it's still golden. Of course I don't know what's lurking in the bottom of the oil sump till I drain it. I think I'll change it at 15-20 hours the next change and not go 50 hours till the 3rd change.

Whimsey

 

[The motor guy]

10w30 I use the Honda SJ rated GN-4 or whatever it's called. I bought a few quarts to do a couple changes then i'll switch to amsoil small engine oil which is synthetic.

 

[Plumber]

I bought a 3500 watt generator for sump pump operations. I ran it for 3-4 hours with no load, then 2-3 running a sump pump continuous and intermittent. I would also plug a drop light in as well.

After doing that, I changed the oil and it was gun metal grey. I added Shell 10w30.

The biggest problem I see with generators and homeowners? They let them set for long periods of time, or they never break them in, they go straight under load.

 

[JHZR2]

Since these run at constant rpm, the only thing you can do is vary fuel flow and cylinder pressure. That said, you've already run it for hours.

If I were doing it, I'd start it, run it under very low load for maybe 10 minutes to get the idle warm, and then put variable loads (preferably a variety that have different power factors) on it including some time at max.

I'll bet that the max rating isn't continuous, and the design is for like 50% in order to have 100% duty. Just look into it so you're aware, I wouldn't want to be stressing at the value the sticker says if that's really just supposed to be what kind of a transient inrush it can support for a few cycles. Also realize that power quality is really poor on most of these, so when you're excess isn't it, don't run stuff you care that much about...