Your last generator Maintenance Run

[90cummins]

Long runs with tiny gens may sound daunting, but IMO it's mostly down to maintenance, and access to clean fuel (some gas stations were forced to close recently, after re-opening post flooding with contaminated gasoline tanks). 50hr oil changes come up fast, in a 1week+ outage. Probably also worth have one or more spare spark plugs for the little gens on the shelf too.... it's not like they expire/get stale.

grs has posted at least a few times about big residential systems he has serviced that were severely neglected. Preaching to the choir :soapbox: , I know, but big or small, they all need some TLC.....

Rgds, D.

I acquired a well used Honda EU2000i a couple years ago and after I installed new rings I gave it several (HOT SUPPERS) to verify proper operation.
During that testing I was amazed at how it performed. I recorded close to 10 hours with a light load and 4 to 5 hours at rated load of 1500 watts.
I was so impressed with the performance I started looking at the Honda EU line of generators.
I found several forums and was reading of several RV'ers getting 20 to 50,000 hours from them.
Looking at reviews there are thousands of reviews with 5 star ratings.
One feature they have is the use of a fuel pump because the engine sits above the majority of the fuel.
This feature allows you to use a remote fuel tank for extended runs. All you do is connect the auxiliary tank to the Honda using a modified gas cap (ebay).
This allows unattended operation of up to 50+ hours with a 5 gallon reserve tank.
The primary purpose of the Honda is to operate my furnace and living room TV, computer & lights during the winter or any situation where minimal power is needed.
My backup plan uses a 4kw battery backup, 4kw diesel 120/240 generator, 5kw 24 volt military DC APU to directly support my battery's and the Honda.
I like the ability to use multiple fuel sources.
Propane and diesel store indefinitely and I also keep 5 gallons of treated non ethanol gas on hand.
90cummins

 

[dragoneggs]

I acquired a well used Honda EU2000i a couple years ago and after I installed new rings I gave it several (HOT SUPPERS) to verify proper operation.
During that testing I was amazed at how it performed. I recorded close to 10 hours with a light load and 4 to 5 hours at rated load of 1500 watts.
I was so impressed with the performance I started looking at the Honda EU line of generators.
I found several forums and was reading of several RV'ers getting 20 to 50,000 hours from them.
Looking at reviews there are thousands of reviews with 5 star ratings.
One feature they have is the use of a fuel pump because the engine sits above the majority of the fuel.
This feature allows you to use a remote fuel tank for extended runs. All you do is connect the auxiliary tank to the Honda using a modified gas cap (ebay).
This allows unattended operation of up to 50+ hours with a 5 gallon reserve tank.
The primary purpose of the Honda is to operate my furnace and living room TV, computer & lights during the winter or any situation where minimal power is needed.
My backup plan uses a 4kw battery backup, 4kw diesel 120/240 generator, 5kw 24 volt military DC APU to directly support my battery's and the Honda.
I like the ability to use multiple fuel sources.
Propane and diesel store indefinitely and I also keep 5 gallons of treated non ethanol gas on hand.
90cummins

I will again sing the praises for my EU3000iS generator. It's sort of portable and powers the lights, fridge, freezer, and TV during power outages. I can take with me and it is very fuel efficient. Electric start is great for my better half when I am away on business.

 

[3930dave]

I acquired a well used Honda EU2000i a couple years ago and after I installed new rings I gave it several (HOT SUPPERS) to verify proper operation.
During that testing I was amazed at how it performed. I recorded close to 10 hours with a light load and 4 to 5 hours at rated load of 1500 watts.
I was so impressed with the performance I started looking at the Honda EU line of generators.
I found several forums and was reading of several RV'ers getting 20 to 50,000 hours from them.
Looking at reviews there are thousands of reviews with 5 star ratings.
One feature they have is the use of a fuel pump because the engine sits above the majority of the fuel.
This feature allows you to use a remote fuel tank for extended runs. All you do is connect the auxiliary tank to the Honda using a modified gas cap (ebay).
This allows unattended operation of up to 50+ hours with a 5 gallon reserve tank.
The primary purpose of the Honda is to operate my furnace and living room TV, computer & lights during the winter or any situation where minimal power is needed.
My backup plan uses a 4kw battery backup, 4kw diesel 120/240 generator, 5kw 24 volt military DC APU to directly support my battery's and the Honda.
I like the ability to use multiple fuel sources.
Propane and diesel store indefinitely and I also keep 5 gallons of treated non ethanol gas on hand.
90cummins

Those suitcase gens are very popular, for good reason. Didn't realize that they have a fuel pump.... thanks for that tear-down info....

They are a nice physical size/format, easy to move. Reasonable output, for many basic needs.

Obviously, in an emergency any working gen is valuable. With (maintained, ready-to-go) choices available, it's often nice to be able to scale up/down in generator sizing to fit needs, or have the smaller gen fill in when the larger one needs maintenance or just basic checks done.

I like the capacity of my 7kw, but for transporting, my 2kw is an easier haul.

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

Propane and diesel store indefinitely
Propane for sure, for reliable power, I'd sure not put indefinite on diesel fuel.
Non ethanol premium should be usable for at least a year, diesel for two or three.
I wouldn't want to run diesel that's older than that. My understanding among other things there is
loss of cetane. Damage to injectors and fuel pump from old bad fuel always a possibility from my reading.

am very happy to have propane on big generac. Their operation has been flawless now for me over ten years at two homes.
It's remarkable how much cleaner propane keeps the carburetor and I believe also the combustion area. Particularly the plugs, which I never find
wear on.

I'd like to know the secret on those very high hour Honda gens. May I assume they were running at 1800 rpm?
Not sure anything will last for a long time at 3600 rpm.
Today gas Briggs engines are labeled proudly as one thousand hour engines. Folks at Honda must get a chuckle out of that.
The GX340 in the aging Gravely wing mower I am renovating likely has multiple thousands of hours but it starts right up.
Probably was designed to run for 5000 hours. 20K hours is amazing. If used off the grid, I'd put the best oil I could find in there.
Whoever is getting those kind of hours has to be maintaining those machines very well. Like adjusting the valves which I bet most folks don't.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You "read" that older diesel fuel will ruin injectors and other things??

I bet you I have burned at least a couple hundred gallons of 10+ year old diesel fuel, both #1 and #2... And more than that of 5+ year old diesel...all without problems!

I bought it all from folks that switched to nat gas and had old tanks of fuel, I'd pay 50 cents a gallon and most times get a FREE tank in the deal, the home owners were ecstatic!

NOW, there's some "first hand" experience for you...

SR

 

[ultrarunner]

The trend here is for large generators to run everything anytime.

I'm on the other side of things and powered the essentials for 4 homes using my 5000 Honda during the aftermath of the Loma Predia earthquake...

No A/C around here so a few lights and refrigeration and good...

 

[dragoneggs]

The trend here is for large generators to run everything anytime.

I'm on the other side of things and powered the essentials for 4 homes using my 5000 Honda during the aftermath of the Loma Predia earthquake...

No A/C around here so a few lights and refrigeration and good...

One gen did four homes? Please explain. Adjacent condos?

 

[daugen]

I bet you I have burned at least a couple hundred gallons of 10+ year old diesel fuel, both #1 and #2... And more than that of 5+ year old diesel...all without problems!

in what? Your waste oil heater?
I actually have substantial experience dealing with old fuel in marine diesels that had sat too long. Loss of cetane, loss of lubricity, natural attraction for moisture and algae. Old diesel fuel always spelled lots of problems on sea trials, engines smoked, would not make power.
And that is my personal hands on experience.

Now I'm sure there are certain engines that might run on old fuel without injury. Old construction equipment and tractors, yeah I bet
they would. But would you put this old stuff in a new common rail diesel?
I sure wouldn't. Maybe it will run fine in an old MF 135 or such, but new engines, I sure would be careful.
Your experience Rob may not be the norm, so please don't assume I'm ignorant here.

You "read" that older diesel fuel will ruin injectors and other things??
I do a huge amount of reading btw, like to stay informed. And because I maintain 26 engines including three diesels, this is
important to me.

 

[90cummins]

I bet you I have burned at least a couple hundred gallons of 10+ year old diesel fuel, both #1 and #2... And more than that of 5+ year old diesel...all without problems!

in what? Your waste oil heater?
I actually have substantial experience dealing with old fuel in marine diesels that had sat too long. Loss of cetane, loss of lubricity, natural attraction for moisture and algae. Old diesel fuel always spelled lots of problems on sea trials, engines smoked, would not make power.
And that is my personal hands on experience.

Now I'm sure there are certain engines that might run on old fuel without injury. Old construction equipment and tractors, yeah I bet
they would. But would you put this old stuff in a new common rail diesel?
I sure wouldn't. Maybe it will run fine in an old MF 135 or such, but new engines, I sure would be careful.
Your experience Rob may not be the norm, so please don't assume I'm ignorant here.

You "read" that older diesel fuel will ruin injectors and other things??
I do a huge amount of reading btw, like to stay informed. And because I maintain 26 engines including three diesels, this is
important to me.

I'm a land lubber and know for a fact that diesel (heating oil) if properly stored in a dry temperature stable environment such as an in home heating oil tank will remain usable for many years.
A marine environment is totally different. Moisture is a huge issue and will promote bacterial growth that will plug filters at a minimum and quickly damage any newer common rail diesel.
I live in Massachusetts at an elevation of 1895' and have never had nor heard of an issue locally with diesel that was properly delivered and stored.
I did have a barrel of diesel once that had water in it and it went bad, it plugged my tractor fuel filter and the engine started skipping. Had to drain my tank & flush the system.
You make a good point here on your experience in the marine world.
Your engines are large state of the art modern common rail diesels that have little tolerance pertaining to fuel quality.
Todays diesels have fuel filters that are rated at 2 microns or less the filter on my 1990 Dodge Cummins is most likely 10 microns.
In any situation there is always an exception to the rule and you pointed it out.
Proper handling and environment is the key to long term storage of fuel.
I'd like to mention that all my diesels are older with no electronics and from a preping point of view they will be happy running on any fuel that is clean.
To ensure the fuel is clean I use a goldenrod water block then a 10 micron filter followed by a 2 micron filter.
90cummins

 

[3930dave]

One gen did four homes? Please explain. Adjacent condos?

I suspect long extension cords. If I recall (?) ur's description of the event, it was older detached homes.

My read on what he's touching on is - What is "essential" ? If you live in a geography with year-round mild climate (no severe heating or cooling needed), don't need to pump water (potable or sump drainage), and don't have big industrial/ag/livestock requirements, then emergency needs (yes, one can get by w/o these too....) really only come down to refrigeration and lighting.

In that scenario, I can see a 5kw Honda doing the job. Chances of 4 refrig compressors all trying to start at the exact same time are slim, and I can't see his Greatest Generation neighbours being daft enough to pull out hairdryers during an emergency.

Historically, us **** sapiens were well adapted to wide swings in temperature. Many people aren't today, so the comfort and convenience of emerg backed up heat and AC are well liked by many. That, and all the electronic modcons we like to have are part of today's lifestyle; but they don't take much power, and most of us recognize them as "wants".

Rgds, D.