Bought my first generator, so I have some ??'s

[Bullet]

Guess I lucked out getting this a few weeks before the Hurricane. When the power went Sunday out it ran for about 48hrs only stopping for fuel. After that I I stopped it for about 3 - 4 hrs when I left the house. I ran a 5000BTU window unit, large refrigerator, fan, and TV. Keep in mind you have to check the oil because the low oil shut-off did keep it from running when I ran it low on oil.

 

[Cujet]

What ever you do, don't go thinner on the oil. Generators are air cooled and oil temperature can be a problem under certain conditions. Use a quality oil and consider a Heavy duty diesel engine oil.

I've written about this from time to time. There were many generator failures here in Florida after the hurricanes. Heat was the enemy of the engines. I've switched to M1 15W-50 with excellent results (as has the local shop) .

Also, I use 100LL Avgas for storage. It is rated to last 5 years without degradation. It will last much longer (often 10 years or more) and stabil is not necessary. I simply use 1 or 2 gallons, as a storage fuel. That way it has enough in it to start and run. I "test run" mine from time to time, and run the carb out of fuel on shut down.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: Bullet
...Keep in mind you have to check the oil because the low oil shut-off did keep it from running when I ran it low on oil.


Yikes!

I've never heard of someone 'testing' that feature on so new a machine! Was that on the factory-fill oil or did you have to supply your own initial fill?

Joel

 

[eljefino]

My chonda horizontal shaft has a rep of "testing" the low oil shut off just by being tilted in normal day to day use. It's like it was intended for stationary apps.

 

[Bullet]

Originally Posted By: JTK
Originally Posted By: Bullet
...Keep in mind you have to check the oil because the low oil shut-off did keep it from running when I ran it low on oil.


Yikes!

I've never heard of someone 'testing' that feature on so new a machine! Was that on the factory-fill oil or did you have to supply your own initial fill?

Joel


No oil from factory. I used Havoline 10w30. The engine didn’t actually shut down from low oil, its when I restarted after refueling. It started than shut down.