re: How long can a Generac run before I need to change the oil?

What do y’all think about letting a generator run out of gas at full load? I don’t see where my generator’s manual advises against it, but reading a lot of stuff online that says you shouldn’t.

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Would it help if I put a fan on it with the box closed? Just trying to help that little baw all I can.

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I will put it this way. Go take your riding mower and remove all the air shrouds and blow a fan on it while you cut the grass. The average fan is not going to move the CFM that the unit needs to cool properly. You are also not just cooling the engine, you are also cooling the generator head, controls, and exhaust. Cooling air usually is sucked in through the generator head first to cool it then over the motor and blown out over the exhaust. You are cooling three separate parts. Open the doors and something is not going to get cooled properly.

It’s also an air cooled engine, it will run hot as F period. Keep it closed, or not, it’s your $4,000.

I have not read a generjunk manual, but I can assure you the Cummins/Onan manuals say to run their air cooled units with the access panels closed or overheating will occur.

Or get a water cooled unit. My 30 KW runs at 180 under full load normally, but I have hit 195 on really hot days. Engine is quiet as can be, it’s just the massive radiator fan that screams like a banshee.

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I will put it this way. Go take your riding mower and remove all the air shrouds and blow a fan on it while you cut the grass. The average fan is not going to move the CFM that the unit needs to cool properly. You are also not just cooling the engine, you are also cooling the generator head, controls, and exhaust. Cooling air usually is sucked in through the generator head first to cool it then over the motor and blown out over the exhaust. You are cooling three separate parts. Open the doors and something is not going to get cooled properly.

It’s also an air cooled engine, it will run hot as F period. Keep it closed, or not, it’s your $4,000.

I have not read a generjunk manual, but I can assure you the Cummins/Onan manuals say to run their air cooled units with the access panels closed or overheating will occur.

Or get a water cooled unit. My 30 KW runs at 180 under full load normally, but I have hit 195 on really hot days. Engine is quiet as can be, it’s just the massive radiator fan that screams like a banshee.

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i dunno about cummins or onan but i do know that the generac doesnt do anything specific with its housign and I dont give a frick what they say. Proof is in the pudding. After laura on the older 20kw models....leaving the housing on = burnt stepping motor over and over. pulling the housing helped.

on the generac, the housing is just there for sound damping. there is nothing special about it.

the new 22kw generacs with the stainless stepping motors dont seem to have that problem.

and yea water cooled is the way to go. Which one do you have?

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Any experience with bad brushes on 18-22kw Generac air cooled?

Is it a part that can just be replaced repeatedly as it fails until Generac can replace the unit under warranty (I guess they will do that anyway).

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im not. only saw one generator after laura doing that and we couldnt get parts to work on it.

ftr im just a dumbass plant engineer but had a lot of expierence after laura on teh air cooled generacs.

i would imagine though you could just keep replacing them. But i would imagine if you replace them once correctly that it should be fine.

also everyone needs to understand that generac does not reocmmend air cooled for warm climates anymore. so if you are looking for the future...get air cooled.

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generac does not reocmmend air cooled for warm climates anymore. so if you are looking for the future...get air cooled

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liquid cooled. Which means 2700w or larger now, but they are coming out with smaller liquid cooled models.

The 2700w has a 4 cylinder automotive engine with a full radiator. I think it's a Mitsubishi engine.

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iquid cooled. Which means 2700w or larger now, but they are coming out with smaller liquid cooled models.

The 2700w has a 4 cylinder automotive engine with a full radiator. I think it's a Mitsubishi engine.

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I have an old coleman 25kw liquid cooled ford 4 cyl truck engine. Love how quiet it is compared to an air cooled generac.

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I have no idea what Im doing, but I'm going to take apart the entire thing.

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That’s a can do attitude.

My 60 year old wife needs lubricity

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have a Kohler and it needs to be changed after 100 hours. We checked it today(72 hours at 7pm tonight) and it was almost a quart low. Filled and tech will be out to change tomorrow.

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Im also running a Kohler and we just hit 72 hours continuous. I plan on shutting it down tomorrow early AM and change the oil. Luckily it was just serviced last month.

Not sure which size or model Generac you are referring to. My dad runs a 20KW air cooled standby, company he hired to install it told us 250hrs(10 days) between oil changes. Dad can’t get around much, they offered to come do the oil change for him.