Kohler Generator use oil

check · Nov 29, 2015

Our 17 kW Kohler standby generator seems to use a lot of oil, and I thought I would check and see if anyone else has this problem.

It really hit home this past week, when there was a 3 day power outage while we were gone, during which time the generator ran full time. (We have an automatic transfer switch, so we do not have to be around to start the generator. ) It did it's job, but then when I arrived back at the cottage a week later, there was a low oil pressure warning on the display. As well, the generator would start but then quit after a few seconds. I checked the oil, and sure enough it was down 2 quarts!

So it seems that, after running only 72 hours or so, it went through almost 2 quarts of oil. This is very surprising to me and should not happen. Has anyone else notice that these Kohlers use a lot of oil? (Mine is a propane model.)

Ken · Nov 29, 2015

Seems to be excessive amount of oil use. How many hours does it have .
Used to maintain microwave radio sites with Kohler, U.S. Motors and Onan most all were air cooled engines oil use was the last worry in keeping engine running.
Some times would get a fill with butane instead propane a tank would not have enough pressure to keep engine running.

What caused it to start the oil usage or since new has burned this amount. If still in warranty would call the provider and discuss problem
ken

check · Nov 29, 2015

Ken said:
Seems to be excessive amount of oil use. How many hours does it have . Used to maintain microwave radio sites with Kohler, U.S. Motors and Onan most all were air cooled engines oil use was the last worry in keeping engine running. Some times would get a fill with butane instead propane a tank would not have enough pressure to keep engine running. What caused it to start the oil usage or since new has burned this amount. If still in warranty would call the provider and discuss problem ken

Unfortunately the warranty has expired, so no joy there.

The generator has 461 hours, and it has always used oil. I check the oil fairly frequently, but I don't think it has ever used oil this fast before. I have a call into the people who will service it for me, partially because the exercise cycle has stopped working. That issue, however, maybe rodent related, so I will have to wait and see what they say when they come to do the service.

I am wondering if anyone else has a Kohler generator that uses oil up quickly. It may also be simply because the generator ran for three days straight. This of course rarely happens, and I was surprised that the power was out for that long. The cost of the propane for those three days was… Ouch!

grsthegreat · Nov 29, 2015

Any air cooled generator can burn oil. May or maynot be a problem. Generac even states in their repair manuals that the first 200 hours of use can result in lots of oil use as the valves and rings are setting. Since yours has so many hours on it, there may be an issue.

After 200 run hours excessive oil use may indicate a problem.

is there any indication of oil on the outside of the engine? You can also add some UV dye to the oil and check engine body for signs of leakage from oil seals or crankcase breather. This requires a uv light source.

these kits can be purchased from most auto parts stores.

RandyT · Nov 29, 2015

The standard for small engines concerning oil usage for most brands and most engines is one oz per hour. A few years ago chevy customers were complaining about oil using on their new pickups, and chevy said a quart every 3000 miles was normal, when most engines at the time didn't use more than about 2 oz in that same time period.

charlz · Nov 29, 2015

RANDYT said:
The standard for small engines concerning oil usage for most brands and most engines is one oz per hour. A few years ago chevy customers were complaining about oil using on their new pickups, and chevy said a quart every 3000 miles was normal, when most engines at the time didn't use more than about 2 oz in that same time period.

I think it was Consumer Reports that had a write up about new cars burning oil... sometimes a quart or two between oil changes. IIRC it was possibly attributed to the use of low viscosity, usually synthetic, oil to help meet mileage standards.

check,
What type/viscosity of oil are you using in the generator?

Opti-Mist · Nov 29, 2015

The low oil shut down does interrupt the exercise cycle. Once the oil is replenished the exercise cycle can be reset according to the operating instructions.

Ken · Nov 29, 2015

400 hour Has always burned more than normal ? There is a compression check to see if lower pressure may be broken oil ring or valve seat allowing oil to be sucked into the cylinder. If you have done engine repair removing plug and seeing if there is a oily residue on plug may tell you 1 cyl. has the problem .
I recently sold a 4 cyl Kohler Generator must of been 50 years old and running 24 hours a day for weeks never burned oil enough to worry.
Have a 6kw Generator Kohler air cooled. we use to power shop to far away for elec. and 55 Gallon fuel tank seldom need to add oil.

ken

hr3 · Nov 29, 2015

Have you ever had the valves adjusted.. air cooled engines need it every 200 to 300 hours,,, and yes if not adjusted right they will suck the oil right out of the motor..