Take it back or run 40W??? Help!

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Von

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Dec 22, 2003
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Mississippi
Hi, I just bought a XP8000E Generac generator with a Briggs full pressure lube engine (has an oil filter) from Lowe's. It won't run in the heat because of apparently an over-aggressive low oil pressure engine cut off switch. It quit on me twice and restarted later when cool. I verified this by dumping the 30W oil that comes with it and putting in 15w40 Rotella. Ran fine. Air temp in the mid 90's with no breeze to help. Won't ever be run below 70 degrees (south MS for hurricanes). As has been noted on the other threads, Briggs doesn't recommend anything but max 30W. I don't see how an air cooled engine with no radiator and no fan wouldn't need a higher vis, but wouldn't Briggs know about oil thinning at high temps? Is there any issue with the thick oil, or should I return it for another one?
Thanks in advance,
Von
 
Sounds like something is defective. Either the pressure switch, oil pump or something is leaking oil internally. Put the correct oil in it and take it back.
 
I've been expecting some of these Florida users of generators during and after the hurricanes to chime in. They do not have good experiences with running their generators for many days at a time using XW30 and XW40 oils, but the ones using M1 15W50 oil seem to have no problem with them wearing out prematurely. If I had to run my generator day and night for many days, that, or a good 20W50 is what I would be using.
 
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What does your manual call for based on the expected ambient temps?

Is your genny set up in a place where there is plenty... like beaucoup!!! .... space around it? These things really need plenty of air.
 
I have used previous generators with 15-40 without problem.
I used the same generator with 20-50 and could hear the difference - not good, and see bubbles when it drained (it was a Powertrain).
The new engine is rated for 30W unlimited temp.
B&S says 5-30 synthetic is best through 120 degrees.
I am sure 15-40 would have been OK IF there wasn't a problem with the oil pump like XS650 said. So back it went.

Anyway, thanks to you guys, I have a new, new generator, and this one works fine so far (about 2 hours and running).
 
I've done disaster relief work following hurricanes in VA, FL, MS, LA, and TX and have seen lots of failed generators. These are mostly in the 5.5 KW range and do not usually have oil filters or low pressure sensors. It is my (unscientific) observation that they have failed largely because of operator ignorance or indifference. They've been run without changing or topping up until the oil has run so low the engines have seized. The grade or brand of oil has little to do with it. A numbskull will find a way to ruin a generator even if it's got Mobil 1 in it.
 
Originally Posted By: marco246
I've done disaster relief work following hurricanes in VA, FL, MS, LA, and TX and have seen lots of failed generators. These are mostly in the 5.5 KW range and do not usually have oil filters or low pressure sensors. It is my (unscientific) observation that they have failed largely because of operator ignorance or indifference. They've been run without changing or topping up until the oil has run so low the engines have seized. The grade or brand of oil has little to do with it. A numbskull will find a way to ruin a generator even if it's got Mobil 1 in it.


Truer words have not been spoken!
 
Well.....this one quit at 3.1 hours.....on an 85 degree day.

I'm going to look and see what my money buys in a Honda or Yamaha (probably not much).

If I don't get high enough in the Honda/Yamaha food chain to meet my needs, I'm going to run this one with the 15-40.

I'll post updates.
 
Let me ask you guys another question.
I don't know how long Lowe's will let me bring this back with no questions asked, but it has to be a couple of weeks??
SO, if it is a bad oil pump/mechanical problem and not the low pressure cut-off switch being too aggressive, how long would it run before it died???
In other words, if I run it for, say, 3 days, and it has no problems with 15-40, is it pretty much a switch problem??? Mechanical problems would have to show up by how many hours??
And I'm still within the Lowe's return policy.
Just thinking.
I just looked at Honda/Yamaha, and I can't afford much at all for this price.
Von
 
What price range are you at right now? If you're stuck at that price, I might take it back, get my money back, and try another brand genset at that wattage/price range.

Two duds in a row would raise quality control concerns in my head.
 
Originally Posted By: 1999nick
I've been expecting some of these Florida users of generators during and after the hurricanes to chime in. They do not have good experiences with running their generators for many days at a time using XW30 and XW40 oils, but the ones using M1 15W50 oil seem to have no problem with them wearing out prematurely. If I had to run my generator day and night for many days, that, or a good 20W50 is what I would be using.


I have a cheap 5.5K Troy-Bilt that I bought just before the 4 Cane season in 2004. Has a low oil shut down. Only saw B&S 30wt during the heavy usage that summer. Details in this post. Previous Post

dave
 
I've learned my lesson (from hundreds of others around here in S. FL).

My entire neighborhood was generator powered (about 4500 homes) for months. Friends and neighbors had generator failures galore. Sure, some of them "forgot" to change or even check the oil.

However, my co-worker, who dismisses synthetics as unnecessary lost his genset after a few weeks. He changed the oil every 2 days with Penz 10-30. The rod was worn beyond belief and finally liberated itself. Common story. I lost 2 Honda water pumps on Penzoil too. I tried to tell him....

I now use only Mobil 1 15W-50 in my gensets and water pumps. My JD tractor with Kawasaki engine also had oil pressure problems when new. I changed the oil to Mobil 1 5W-40 Turbo Diesel Truck and problem solved. It was a combo of sheared oil, fuel dilution and heat that caused the JD to have issues.
 
Consider this: Water pumps and generators powering Southern homes in Summer are working harder than nearly any other applications for small engines.

Lawn mowers are not asked to provide 2 hours at 100% load (heating hot water) then running 3 window units and lights/well etc at 60% load. For weeks on end. They actually get time to cool off and run at low loads.

Nor are "construction" site gensets. They are simply at low load most of the time.

My point is that oil is important in such conditions.
 
I'd be leary-- that's a lot of coin. Generac may not have included a properly-sized engine for that application.

I bought two tiny 4-strokes this weekend. One has SAE 30 stamped on it, oem provided a bottle of 20-50. The other as a 10-30 sticker on it, the oem provided straight 30.

These engines should not be that picky on oil.

1. take it back... you have other brands to choose from. Look for a robin-subaru powered unit, I think coleman was using them last time I checked, and IMO those are more robust than the hondas. The gen head is likely the same manufacturer.
2. if you intend to keep it, 15-40 or even a x-40 syn, with a mechical pressure gauge...
 
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