I have a Devilbiss Generator and it has a 10HP Briggs and stratton engine with a Cast Iron sleeve. I run FP60 in the Fuel and Mobil 1 Extended Performance 5w30 for the oil. This thing may see severe dity since with all of these rains stroms power has been off for about 3 days now and the generator is still runing I changed the oil after 50 hours of use.
How long do Generators usually last ?
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My Dad has an Echo with well over 2,000 hours. Mostly Pennzoil HD30 with Pennzoil 10w30 in the winter.
I think there is some point where the brushes wear out and then need to be replaced, but I believe the cost isn't too high on those. The engines will probably last quite a long time. I wouldn't worry much if it's a standby generator that only gets used during storms. It's not a bad idea to fire it up at least once per season to make sure it runs well and keep some fuel stabilizer in there. I usually run every tank with some fuel stabilizer and then run the tank dry when done.
its the brushless type so that shouldn't be a problem and yeah its used during storms when the main power is knocked offline,In hoping this thing will last I did get a pretty good deal on it tho. $100.00 and it was still in the box brand new.
Since you started a generator thread, and I am glad you did since it is nearing hurricane season for us coast dwellers, I have an oil question.
Robin EX30 OHC on a 5KW generator- What would be the best oil to break it in on, and the best for normal operation in 90F+ temps? I have Havoline 5w30, 30wt conventional, 15-40 DELO, 5-30 M1 in stock here. No idea who makes the Coleman oil (straight 30)supplied with the generator. I am assuming Hav 30wt conventional will do well with the recommended OCI on this, but I would like some other suggestions Thanx.
Robin EX30 OHC on a 5KW generator- What would be the best oil to break it in on, and the best for normal operation in 90F+ temps? I have Havoline 5w30, 30wt conventional, 15-40 DELO, 5-30 M1 in stock here. No idea who makes the Coleman oil (straight 30)supplied with the generator. I am assuming Hav 30wt conventional will do well with the recommended OCI on this, but I would like some other suggestions Thanx.
Can't personally imagine using anything but high quality 30HD. Larger gensets run at 1,800rpm. small sets run at 3,600 with gear reduction to keep actual generator turning 1,800. Any rpm other than 1,800 will not produce 60hz cycle (clocks really get confused). I'd expect any 3,600rpm genset to be a disposable, 1,800rpm engines often last over 10,000hrs.
Bob
Bob
Ummm, not quite accurate there. An 1800 rpm unit uses a four-pole configuration for 60 hz, a 3600 rpm generator requires a two-pole setup. A six-pole gen will need to run at 1200 rpm, and you could design an eight-pole, etc.
I know that my generator turns at 3600.
Joe
If you keep your fuel fresh, clean and well-tuned (not running rich or lean causing all kinds of problems) and you maintain your OCI on a regular basis (say, 50hrs~100hrs, using HDEO or similar), it would not be surprising to see gasoline 4-stroke iron-sleeved engine lasts in excess of 10,000hrs, given it's load (even if you are 100% loaded on your gen, it would still be roughly 80% of the total spec'ed hp output on your engine if it is of conservative ratings and designs.
The biggest enemy on these generator engines are mainly to do with moisture, or bad/aged fuel that would have caused major issues...
The biggest enemy on these generator engines are mainly to do with moisture, or bad/aged fuel that would have caused major issues...
Joe,
Kinda stepped on my ---- about gearing
Instead of pole configuration. Still expect 1,800 engine to outlast 3,600 engine by quite a large margin. My only real experience with gensets is the Westerbeke units on several friends (and my own) houseboats. Watercooled 4 cyl. Mitsubishi (I think) running at 1,800rpm. Only thing better would be diesel. Our previous houseboat has the same Kohler (Continental engine)generator Noah used on the ark! Leaks oil like every other Continental I've ever seen, but she puts out a full 12.5kw and just keeps on tickin!!
Bob
Kinda stepped on my ---- about gearing
Bob
I have seen some Chinese built diesel generators that are reputed to run over 50,000 hours. One fellow ran his over four years continuously, only shutting it down for oil changes. My neighbor has one, very well built, uses very little fuel. It is a single cylinder, water cooled unit.
1800 rpm units will definitely outlast 3600, all else being equal.
Joe
1800 rpm units will definitely outlast 3600, all else being equal.
Joe
I was wondering Lazy JW if you remember or know what the name of the brand of those chinese built diesel generators
I have two gensets: a diesel-fueled 3-cylinder Alaska Diesel with a Japanese-built Shibaura engine, liquid cooled, 10 HP, 6 KW, and which runs at 1800 rpm. I use Delo 400 15w40 in it. It just turned 4600 hours, with an OCI every 200 hours. Brushes on the generator have been replaced twice, a cheap and easy job. I am told the engine will need to be rebuilt somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 hours, with the latter number being exceptional.
The other is a gas-fueled Generac 1-banger, air cooled, 14 HP, 7 KW, running at 3600 rpm. It is essentially the backup to the diesel and has about 120 hours on it. I run it at least monthly for an hour with a load on it. It has a useful feature that idles the engine at low rpms when there's no load. Chevron Supreme SAE 30 is what it gets, with OCI every 50 hours. I don't know how long it will last, but I'd like to get 2500 hours out of it. . . .
The other is a gas-fueled Generac 1-banger, air cooled, 14 HP, 7 KW, running at 3600 rpm. It is essentially the backup to the diesel and has about 120 hours on it. I run it at least monthly for an hour with a load on it. It has a useful feature that idles the engine at low rpms when there's no load. Chevron Supreme SAE 30 is what it gets, with OCI every 50 hours. I don't know how long it will last, but I'd like to get 2500 hours out of it. . . .
Here's a link to the genset I purchased a couple of days ago. I've been reading various threads to decide what crankcase oil to use. They are the NA importers located in Buffalo, NY:
http://www.eliminternational.com/products/powergen.htm
Here's a dealer near Toronto:
http://www.auroragenerators.com/
Regards, Paul.
inHaliburton
http://www.eliminternational.com/products/powergen.htm
Here's a dealer near Toronto:
http://www.auroragenerators.com/
Regards, Paul.
inHaliburton
$100 for a 5kw generator, that's a great deal. I have the same genset with the Tecumsah engine, used it during the outage with hurricane Katrina, one month later I used it during the outage with hurricane Rita. Not a single problem.
I do find that the Tecumsah engine makes a lot of noise, it is loud, very loud.
With the genny I power my water well pump, fridge, freezer, TV, microwave, and a small window A/C. Naturally not all at the same time, but it does the job.
Presently my maintenance program consist of, running the generator for 1 hour every month. Every other month I hook the small A/C unit to it and run it with the genny. I keep the fuel tank full, with the fuel treated with Stabil and a 128-1 mix of Lucas fuel treatment. I change the oil every six months or 24 hrs of service if the genny is supplying service to my home. Right now I am using Havoline Ursa HD 30. Prior to using the Ursa I used Exxon Uniflow 5w30, it did use a slight amount of oil, however when I switched to the Ursa this stopped.
Over the years I have found it a good idea to keep a spare sparkplug, air and fuel filter. Along with a set of spare shock absorbing motor mounts. The most often changed parts are the motor mounts, I think this is due to the stress put on them while starting the genny. They are readily available from Devilbiss at a cost of $5 each. One other item is kept handy and that is a can of starting fluid, my wife may be called upon to start the genny and pull starting a 10hp is a little hard for her.
How many hours do I have on this unit? All I can say is probably less than 1000 but more than 500.
By the way how do you guys pronounce Devilbiss?
Do ya'll say Devil-biss or De-vil-biss?
I do find that the Tecumsah engine makes a lot of noise, it is loud, very loud.
With the genny I power my water well pump, fridge, freezer, TV, microwave, and a small window A/C. Naturally not all at the same time, but it does the job.
Presently my maintenance program consist of, running the generator for 1 hour every month. Every other month I hook the small A/C unit to it and run it with the genny. I keep the fuel tank full, with the fuel treated with Stabil and a 128-1 mix of Lucas fuel treatment. I change the oil every six months or 24 hrs of service if the genny is supplying service to my home. Right now I am using Havoline Ursa HD 30. Prior to using the Ursa I used Exxon Uniflow 5w30, it did use a slight amount of oil, however when I switched to the Ursa this stopped.
Over the years I have found it a good idea to keep a spare sparkplug, air and fuel filter. Along with a set of spare shock absorbing motor mounts. The most often changed parts are the motor mounts, I think this is due to the stress put on them while starting the genny. They are readily available from Devilbiss at a cost of $5 each. One other item is kept handy and that is a can of starting fluid, my wife may be called upon to start the genny and pull starting a 10hp is a little hard for her.
How many hours do I have on this unit? All I can say is probably less than 1000 but more than 500.
By the way how do you guys pronounce Devilbiss?
Do ya'll say Devil-biss or De-vil-biss?
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