Repeating this advice: if you used your generator last week to keep power to your house in Southern California, it most likely needs an oil change. Do it before Monday. They need an oil change every 100 hours. 5w30 or 10w30 depending on your model, usually. #generators #backuppower #PSPS #poweroutages
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J.R. Orci
In response to this post@ai6yr What generator do you recommend? I’ve been considering getting one.
@orci I don't recommend a generator, they are quite fiddly, actually. If you do get one, a propane one is far better than a gasoline one. Gasoline generators gum up, carbs clog, and their fuel lines tend to degrade quickly. If you can get away with battery ("solar generator") it's a far better option, one that recharges from the wall. That said, a generator can put out a lot more power than most batteries still.
by AI6YR Ben ;
@orci @ai6yr The movie industry uses the Honda inverter generators when they need small amounts of power. There are a lot of Chinese imitations but the real ones must be more reliable.
by mike805 ;
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j_angliss
In response to this post@ai6yr and while you're there, replace the air filter as well.
@j_angliss
Or at least knock the chunks out.
@ai6yr
by John Timaeus ;
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Trouble
In response to this post@ai6yr some recommend oil changes as low as 25 hours. Check your manual.
@trouble 25 hours?! Wow.
by AI6YR Ben ;
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Jean-Baptiste "JBQ" Quéru
In response to this post@ai6yr fairly obvious math, but, for comparison, 100 hours of driving at highway speeds (i.e. while generating continuous power) is over 5000 miles, so 100 hours would be a good time of thumb for oil changes in a car, which means it's not outlandish for a generator.
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Michael K Johnson
In response to this post@ai6yr Most of these small generators don't have oil filters. Only a few even have magnetic dipsticks. Some recommend oil changes much more frequently than 100 hours; mine recommends oil changes (of synthetic oil) every 25 hours.
It's kind of wasteful.
I have imagined, as an aftermarket option, an alternative plug with a pickup that goes into the sump and a return, a small electric pump powered by the generator, and a filter. Not only could it circulate oil through the filter when running, it could also be used to pump out the oil for oil changes more cleanly and easily. I haven't found such a thing for sale though.
Is anyone aware of such a part available for sale? Maybe I just don't have the right search terms.
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