Kohler (Gas) Generator Oil Change?

[rbihn2]

Do you change the gen set oil & filter at the end of the season regardless of run time? I've only logged 3 hours on the generator this season! Logic (and the manual) says treat the same as my engines - but it seems like overkill?

 

[bluebelly]

It is important because over the season your oil will surely have accumulated moisture. In fact the lack of hours on your generator is probably harder on your oil than if you had used the gen regularly during the season. If used regularly, the moisture will burn off every time the generator reaches normal operating temperature. I would say if you use the generator 2 times per month for about 4 hours each time, you wil see a much longer life out of the generator rather than just putting 3 hours on it for the entire season.


Hope this helps

 

[rbihn2]

Big help, thanks for the tips - we didn't avoid use - just or use paterns and ultimate need for the generator changed alot with the weather & some personal things got in the way. Eventully I cancelled my big trip this year which would have driven some usage.

 

[mrsrobinson]

We don't, but maybe we should. In 3 years we have put probably 30 - 40 hours on the genny. We did a tune up/oil change/antifreeze flush/change last year.

 

[skolbe]

I try to use my generator for at least 4 hours a month minimum. Just to keep everything working well. At 3 hours - I think you can skip the oil change and be fine. But, it so inexpensive that you might as well handle it while dealing with the engines.

Our friend bought a used 96 - 330 and the generator only had 40 hours on it in 2007. He had to rebuild it that same year when the generator hit 100 hours. After the rebuild everything works great.

 

[280 SeaRay]

Do you change the gen set oil & filter at the end of the season regardless of run time? I've only logged 3 hours on the generator this season! Logic (and the manual) says treat the same as my engines - but it seems like overkill?

Kohler recommends exercising the generator at least once per week (see manual). With on the clock 3 hours I am guessing you do not follow this procedure. It may be a decent idea to start the genset up and load it down for a bit and bring the thing up to temperature once a week as recommended. I would log an additional vote for changing the oil. It is cheap and rids the crankcase of any acids, water, etc.

 

[Skip]

When I start my mains I start the gen set, let it warm up, then put it under load. I change the oil, filter, and primary and secondary fuel filters annually, along with the zinc in the heat exchanger. Oil and filters are cheap insurance.

My .02

regards
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