New Pulsar Generator With Ducar Engine Keeps Shedding Metal

[Ang]

Got a brand new Pulsar 5000W, did an hour of conventional at eco idle and had tons of metal. Hour of conventional at non eco idle and below 700w load had tons of metal. Did 2 hours of conventional with a 1600w load and the oil was dark and again tons of metal. Mostly small but there's some bigger pieces too.
I just put in some synthetic blend this time, I was planning on doing like 5 hours of regular use before changing it now rather than running it just to break in. Should I really be seeing this much metal still 4 hours in?

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

It sounds like you are getting very close to find out how good of a dealership you have.

 

[thastinger]

What type and weight of oil are you using for the break-in?

 

[Cujet]

I truly hate to say this, but this is normal with lower end Chinese engines. Quite often, they go on to live a normal service life.

Although I'd not expect 10,000 hours like you might get from a well maintained Honda

 

[cptbarkey]

Its normal.
I have a 9000w predator that has about 14 hours now. I changed every 5 hours. The first few changes looked terrible, but the last one at 10ish hours looked fine.

 

[demarpaint]

I truly hate to say this, but this is normal with lower end Chinese engines. Quite often, they go on to live a normal service life.

Although I'd not expect 10,000 hours like you might get from a well maintained Honda

My feelings exactly.

 

[JavierH19]

The chinese have the machining down for the most part but not the metalurgy with ope engines. If you wanna help the cheap metalurgy use full synthetic 15w-40/50. I'd suggest these.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvolin...Engine-Oil-1-GA/15111574478?classType=REGULAR
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-De...llon/319665447?classType=VARIANT&from=/search
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Chevron-...4?classType=VARIANT&athbdg=L1600&from=/search
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-...7?classType=VARIANT&athbdg=L1300&from=/search

 

[Ang]

What type and weight of oil are you using for the break-in?

Craftsman 4 stroke conventional 10W-30 3 times, I just put in Mobil Delvac 10W-30 Synthetic blend now.

 

[nascarnation]

Curious what your engine oil temp is running at the high duty cycle.

 

[oldcodger]

My Pulsar PG12000B looked something like that, but cleared up. By the third load of conventional 30 wt (total of 3 hr run time) the trash was gone. These engines are splash lubed so the pieces are not being circulated under pressure. If I were you I would run one more 2 hour break in run and call it good.

 

[Ang]

My Pulsar PG12000B looked something like that, but cleared up. By the third load of conventional 30 wt (total of 3 hr run time) the trash was gone. These engines are splash lubed so the pieces are not being circulated under pressure. If I were you I would run one more 2 hour break in run and call it good.

I just put in synthetic blend, but I can do it with that.

 

[Exhaustgases]

If you think that is "Tons of metal", then you should start gold mining, with that positive tons of metal attitude you will enjoy it, but not make much money doing it.

 

[Cas8101]

Normal. I’ve got a predator 9500 inverter. First several changes had glitter. I’m at 20 something hours now and about to do a change on it tomorrow and hoping the disco glitter party is gone. She runs like a top though and starts every time I fire her up which is only a few times a year

 

[Cas8101]

I use 15w40 in all my small engine equipment. Occasionally 20w50. South TX and it’s hot so I’d say if you live somewhere warm ditch 10w30 next and go for a diesel rated 15w40. My 2 cents

 

[Ang]

I use 15w40 in all my small engine equipment. Occasionally 20w50. South TX and it’s hot so I’d say if you live somewhere warm ditch 10w30 next and go for a diesel rated 15w40. My 2 cents

I Plan to go to full synthetic 5w30 after the synthetic blend for an even wider temperature range.

 

[Cujet]

Craftsman 4 stroke conventional 10W-30 3 times, I just put in Mobil Delvac 10W-30 Synthetic blend now.

I Plan to go to full synthetic 5w30 after the synthetic blend for an even wider temperature range.

Give some consideration to T6 Rotella 5W-40. It is a robust shear stable oil with a high HTHS about 4.0-4.2 IIRC, and works very well in hard working air cooled engines. FWIW, hard working air cooled engines do very well with an HTHS around 3.8. Few if any 5W-30's have this level of high temperature protection.

I use M1 15W-50 in my older air cooled generators. Post hurricane ops put hard loads on small generators. People want hot water, they want AC, they want the water well to work. Etc. The humid and stagnant air that is asked to cool an air cooled engine, coupled with high loads can be tough on oil.

 

[Ang]

Give some consideration to T6 Rotella 5W-40. It is a robust shear stable oil with a high HTHS about 4.0-4.2 IIRC, and works very well in hard working air cooled engines. FWIW, hard working air cooled engines do very well with an HTHS around 3.8. Few if any 5W-30's have this level of high temperature protection.

I use M1 15W-50 in my older air cooled generators. Post hurricane ops put hard loads on small generators. People want hot water, they want AC, they want the water well to work. Etc. The humid and stagnant air that is asked to cool an air cooled engine, coupled with high loads can be tough on oil.

I have a lot of 15W40 from them but i do have some rotella 5W-40 Full Synthetic. i could use that instead for sure if its actually going to be better. technically the generator could be used in about 0F to 100F ambient temp plus hotter with the sunlight.

 

[Cujet]

I have a lot of 15W40 from them but i do have some rotella 5W-40 Full Synthetic.

Both are good choices.

 

[walterjay]

It does take around 8-10 hours and two or three oil changes to get things cleaned up.

 

[Bullet]

In the last 10 years I've owned like 7 different generators with no oil filter. Each new engine I've ran a few minutes and dumped the oil. Then ran them like another five minutes and dumped the oil and repeated until the oil was clean.