re: Generac generator crapping out

if you need oil I gotcha. No filters tho.

I’ve had a 48KW Generac for 11 years with no real issues. I have a maintenance plan. The switch over switch failed once and I had a low coolant alarm shut me down this week. I think the shutdown alarm is a bit too sensitive. I added maybe 6 oz of coolant and started it back up.

I think people get sold or buy units that are too small for their houses. The rep recommended a 36KW unity to me back in 2009 but i opted for the bigger unit. Initial cost was more but I’ve had no issues and it runs my whole house and you’d never know Entergy was off. Don’t buy one for LA weather unless it’s liquid cooled. Many ones i see are ok for a tailgate party but not for a house.

I admit Generac is 75% marketing and probably not enough quality. I also have a John Deere Diesel 40KW. It’s good too. It came with the property i bought. It doesn’t maintain the voltage as accurately as the Generac natural gas unit however. I may have a fuel filter issue. Now that power is restored I’ll check it tomorrow.

Bottom line is I think most people get oversold or choose to believe a 26-30 KW unit will run their whole house. It won’t unless you are really careful with what you put online.

Generac is the bottom of the line garbage of generators. Kohler or caterpillar.

This thread has inspired me to do some more investigating and the Cummins keeps leading the pack in many areas. I like the idea of the liquid cooled for the climate, not so much the price but I can be convinced. The potential problem is the increased physical size of the liquid cooled as I live in the burbs with very little space to play with. Also, Cummins only makes the lc in the larger kW category, 25kW and above. Every calculator I use says I need between 10-14kW so I've been looking at the 20-22kW size to give it some margin. Cummins makes a 20kW but it's air-cooled. Still it gets good reviews and it would fit into the space I have planned for it. Manual says 18" from house - I couldn't find what the larger units require. Thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

17kW air cooled Generac here. Change oil regularly and have twice this week. Shut it down 4 hours a day.

This afternoon it crapped out with an “underspeed” alarm. Not sure what to make of it. May be a low May gas pressure issue? My neighborhood is still completely out of power and everyone has a generator. I’m at the very back of the neighborhood at the end of the line so I wonder if that could be the issue. I hope it is and not an engine valve issue. Ugh