Generator oil change after 73 hours continuous use?

[6.7 CTD]

Power was out in SW PA most of the week. I ran my Champion 8750/7k open frame inverter generator for 73 hours straight. Oil in use is 1 quart of HPL 5w30 NO VII and 0.2 quarts of HPL PCMO 5w30. The only time it was shut down was for refueling twice per 24 hour period (before and after work). I feel compelled to change the oil as it has only had one previous oil change after a 5 hour break in with valvoline daily protection 10w30. The generator has 78 total hours on it. Opinions? To change or not to change? I kind of want to send a sample off just for the heck of it.

 

[Rand]

What kind of loads were on it.. and what was ambient temp?
less than 100 hours isnt much but 1.2quarts of oil isnt much either if you wanted to change it.
I'm a fan of 5w40 or 15w40 in heavily loaded generators
but you have literally the best 5w30. So it wouldnt bother me even in high temps.

 

[factorytuned2012]

definitely change it. it doesn't care what you use conventional or synthetic my preference would be a synthetic 5w or 10w30.

 

[John Galt]

In my mind I convert run hours to miles. A air cooled gen is to my thinking like driving 65mph. 73x65 is just about 5000 “miles” and so my recommendation is change it, especially since it only holds a bit over a quart.

 

[Zee09]

Change it....10w30

 

[factorytuned2012]

In my mind I convert run hours to miles. A air cooled gen is to my thinking like driving 65mph. 73x65 is just about 5000 “miles” and so my recommendation is change it, especially since it only holds a bit over a quart.

good analogy

 

[6.7 CTD]

What kind of loads were on it.. and what was ambient temp?
less than 100 hours isnt much but 1.2quarts of oil isnt much either if you wanted to change it.
I'm a fan of 5w40 or 15w40 in heavily loaded generators
but you have literally the best 5w30. So it wouldnt bother me even in high temps.

Maybe 50-60% load at times but when we weren’t home load was likely 25-30%. Max temp was around 80 but mostly 60’s-70’s

 

[6.7 CTD]

Change it....10w30

Given my climate I could certainly run a 10w, as it calls for, but I chose to run a 5w30 because this winter we hit lows of around -8F and I had the HPL left over.

 

[Zee09]

Given my climate I could certainly run a 10w, as it calls for, but I chose to run a 5w30 because this winter we hit lows of around -8F and I had the HPL left over.

Can't go wrong with HPL

 

[dnewton3]

If you really want to know for sure, then a UOA would be in order. Obviously, that's kinda expensive relative to an OCI.

If it were "normal" (conventional or semi-syn) oil, I'd say change it.

But HPL's lubes aren't "normal" ... We're talking top-tier HPL here, guys. That lube isn't anywhere near the end of its useful life. And what's he likely to OCI with? Probably more HPL? Why spend money on a premium product, and then treat it like it's "normal"? If you're going to OCI every 100 hours, just get some ST syn and be done with it. Otherwise, use the HPL for its intended purpose ... living past the "normal" life. Even Dave Ward would tell you that using HPL for "normal" OCIs is a waste of his product.

 

[Nessism1]

No oil filter on that beast, so change the oil to get out any wear metal particles. The HPL may not be broken down, but doesn't matter.

 

[spasm3]

If you are in a power outage prone area like florida or LA, and run a genset a lot. A uoa would be worth it to get an idea how long you can run HPL.

 

[6.7 CTD]

No oil filter on that beast, so change the oil to get out any wear metal particles. The HPL may not be broken down, but doesn't matter.

That was my thought too. No filter despite the oil being top tier.

 

[RhondaHonda]

Change it this time since you only have one prior change. I’d feel okay going longer the next time with a quality oil in it.

 

[dnewton3]

If particulate matter in the oil is of concern (and I'm not saying it's not), then it's foolish to run HPL, or any oil that's expensive.
If the OCI is driven by concerns about contamination and no filtration, then the cheapest API syn makes more sense.

The OP did indicate that it was OCI'd at 5 hours; so much of the "break-in" residual probably got flushed out.

 

[spasm3]

If you are in a power outage prone area like florida or LA, and run a genset a lot. A uoa would be worth it to get an idea how long you can run HPL.

Change it this time since you only have one prior change. I’d feel okay going longer the next time with a quality oil in it.

I'm going to agree with RhondaHonda and amend my suggestion, with only 1 previous change, a uoa will still show break in metals.

 

[dnewton3]

I will note that the OP also lives in PA. The temps his genny will see are akin to mine. Potentially below zero in winter and above 90 in summer.
If he does not OCI with the seasons (and who would ....) then a PAO may make sense, for easy starting in the cold and better cold-flow in a splash lubrication engine.

Generally, I believe that PAOs are wildly under-utilized by the BITOG faithful. But in this case, OPE which is a critical "on demand" piece of equipment during an emergency can justify the use of a PAO if cold storage or cold use is possible.

 

[6.7 CTD]

If particulate matter in the oil is of concern (and I'm not saying it's not), then it's foolish to run HPL, or any oil that's expensive.
If the OCI is driven by concerns about contamination and no filtration, then the cheapest API syn makes more sense.

The OP did indicate that it was OCI'd at 5 hours; so much of the "break-in" residual probably got flushed out.

Valid and makes sense. I will likely change it this time being that it’s only the second oil change. I think I would be more comfortable extending the next oci, after the second oil change, since it actually got worked during this oci.

 

[Nessism1]

Manual for this generator says change the oil at 50 hours for hard use, or 100 hours otherwise. Seems to me that continuous use for several days is relatively hard use. I use 10W-30 Delvac Extreme for my generator and yard equipment.

 

[RDY4WAR]

In the aftermath of hurricane Helene, I ran our generator for 158 hard hours with HPL Bad Ass Racing 5W-30. The HPL No VII PCMO 5W-30 in yours likely still has plenty of life left. You're fine.