Generator oil?

[Dutchy491]

Just remember "pour points" mean little to a splash oil system. When oil pours like molasses, it's not going to "splash" anywhere until it warms up. In the meantime it's chugging away at 3,600 RPM without much oil getting to where it needs to be.

Get your mind off of old petroleum based oil…

 

[billt460]

Get your mind off of old petroleum based oil…

Put a quart of Mobile 1 in your freezer overnight. When you pour it out with your morning coffee, tell me how well it "splashes".

 

[Dutchy491]

My Amsoil will splash just fine thanks

 

[Astro_Guy]

I bought a predator 5000 generator that uses some kind of really common small engine. Any suggestions for a generator oil.
99% likelihood of this being run in the fall or winter. Will be running off propane.

I have a Champion 4000/3500 with a Chonda 196 cc engine. It started with 10w-30 M1 HM but has been switched to 5-40 RT6. This unit hasn't been called upon to save our bacon in the last six years. I believe it has between 50 and 80 hours on it.

I also have a Predator inverter 3500/3000 unit with a 212 cc Chonda and 80 hours on it. This one also started out with 10w-30 M1 HM but has been switched to 5w-40 RT6.

Presently my thoughts are to go back to a quality synthetic 10w-30 and call it a day.

 

[oil pan 4]

Is it pull start or electric start?
Whatever 0w or 5w oil you pick you probably aren't going to be able to pull start it once it cools down and gets thicker than 500 to 1,000 cP.

 

[factorytuned2012]

I have a Champion 4000/3500 with a Chonda 196 cc engine. It started with 10w-30 M1 HM but has been switched to 5-40 RT6. This unit hasn't been called upon to save our bacon in the last six years. I believe it has between 50 and 80 hours on it.

have the same generator. it was used like crazy back during hurricane Irene & sandy. always on a steady diet of 10W30 few times full synthetic 5W30

 

[z71bill]

My Amsoil will splash just fine thanks

How much does a gallon - or 5 quart jug of Amsoil cost?

 

[NiwradND]

5w40 in mine

 

[z71bill]

I am in Houston --

I usually store my generators with 5W30 (5W40) - if I lose power in a winter freeze I am GTG.

If I lose power after a hurricane and it is 100 degrees I am still GTG - I just change the oil out after a few hours.
Since I am in Houston most of my OPE oil inventory is "heavy" SAE30 - 15W40

But if I ever face a cold loss of power - even say 10 degrees - lowest I have had is 12 degrees.

I can always swap out the 5W30 that has been running for hours with 15W40 that has been stored inside the house at 70 degrees - into a hot generator during an oil change and it will start right up.

Cold start only matters on a cold start up - after the engine is hot and you are doing a 5 minute oil change while you fill up with gas it doesn't matter.

Changing to 15W40 in a hot generator with 70 degree oil when it is even 0 degrees is not a problem.

Just realize if you shut it down for 10 hours it will be IMPOSSIBLE to start.

 

[The motor guy]

There is a Taco truck not far from me that runs one of those generators. They run super tech 10w-30 in it..I don't know how often they change the oil but that thing ran all summer in 110+ heat 4 days a week from 11a to 9p.

I would not worry too much about oil in yours but I would upgrade the spark plugs.

That's like 10 tacos a day to pay for gas

 

[Rat407]

Question when exercising the generator for about 30 minutes every two months or so, can you just run it or is it best to have something plugged into it as well?

 

[The motor guy]

Question when exercising the generator for about 30 minutes every two months or so, can you just run it or is it best to have something plugged into it as well?

It's best to exercise the generator head too.

 

[billt460]

Question when exercising the generator for about 30 minutes every two months or so, can you just run it or is it best to have something plugged into it as well?

I usually put a load on it. I have 2 of those oil filled electric heaters. They vary from 600 W to 1500 W each. With both hooked up I can split the load to 1500 W for each side. My generators are 9500 W each.

In the heat of Summer, I'll also hook up one of those box fans, and run it on high, and have it blow through the unit. They only pull about 55 W, and help with cooling the unit.

 

[Mainia]

I myself run any brand I have of 5w-40 Euro oil or 5W-30 Euro I can get at Walmart IF I don't have it around for my cars. I had to run a generator at my daughters 1884 house when I install a new panel and full electrical to kill the knob and tube. The 3000 Generac inverter had 5w-40 Motul 8100 Clean Gen 2 running in it to power a 10,000 btu A/C unit and fridge.