Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

Grab some sleep while you can d..... looks like the wind has dropped back from Cat 4.

Rgds, D.

 

[not2old]

I had to chuckle at this, John Deere even has the ability to make things green that aren't....
I buy a tube of their green colored grease every once in a while when at the dealership.

If they would change the color of the dipstick to allow more contrast, that would really help. I have more than two dozen engines to maintain and I don't have this problem with any other motor.

Ran out of 5/30 synthetic so put in 10/30. Not like it's going to make a difference until the dead of winter, nights here are in the 70's.
Unit had 75 total run hours in three years. Third oil change for 75 hours. No wonder it looks so clean...overkill, but if there is one motor I really really want to run perfectly, it's this one. And so far it has done that, and so had the 20kw I had before.

It wouldn't be too hard to change the colour of the dip stick with a propane torch.

 

[100 td]

The funny thing is>> I've got a 10K watt Duel-Fuel STILL NEW IN THE BOX.. bought it last year when they went on sale for 499.00 {DuroMax}

Well I could say you'll likely be able to make some money by selling it to someone, but in preference maybe you could be nice and loan it to someone to help them out, but in greater preference, I hope the damage isn't too bad and you don't have to use either of them!

 

[daugen]

that would work, if I got it right the first time.

on backup gen since 8pm last night, almost before heavy rains started, not a good omen for when power will return.
Internet down, running off Verizon Mifi, handy little thing to have, others can use phone for hotspot.

I would love to have an oil temp gauge on that Generac...

 

[3930dave]

Well I could say you'll likely be able to make some money by selling it to someone, but in preference maybe you could be nice and loan it to someone to help them out, but in greater preference, I hope the damage isn't too bad and you don't have to use either of them!

For me, that would be a keeper/loaner. Duplicating that deal would be challenging, and I'd want it just for the propane option. Propane is attractive, and esp. for a longer term loan.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

that would work, if I got it right the first time.

on backup gen since 8pm last night, almost before heavy rains started, not a good omen for when power will return.
Internet down, running off Verizon Mifi, handy little thing to have, others can use phone for hotspot.

I would love to have an oil temp gauge on that Generac...

You and I think alike about instrumentation ..... but, no worries, as long as your enclosure vents are clear of leaves/debris, it will have enough room to "breathe".

Saying that.... I'm thinking of the oil dipstick my neighbour has on his Heritage Softail - can't remember exactly the dimensions, but it likely won't match up physically.

Amazon.com: -17 HARLEY FXST, FLST: Biker's Choice Oil Tank Dipstick With Temperature Gauge: Automotive

Just for kicks, I'd measure the temperature on your oil filter with an IR gun. If weather clears, and temperatures are high, I might run for a while in the daytime with the lid up.... but that's just a Nice to Do move..... these units should be designed to run in high-ambients, with the typical owner paying no attention.....

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

I'm headed out to turn gen off after 13 hours and check oil. I'm sure full as always.
I flip the house main breakers each way.

 

[3930dave]

Just food for thought, for all the tribe.... (not for loosing sleep d ...)

On the Gene Berg site, he had a solid sensor (car oil tube) that you could wire to a bulb to light at something like 220F. He's a VW air-cooled specialist.

Poking around that site, his note 2 comment reminded me of talking with a stock-car racer buddy of mine.....

GeneBerg.com Parts Catalog: Oil ..... re. heat xfer characteristics of conventional vs. synth engine oi.

Where I see this having some impact is with an oil-cooler in place (thinking modern boosted street production engines too.....).

One paper with some #'s/graphs below..... yep, conventional did seem to xfer heat a bit better.....

http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~mpfs/papers/articles/WTC2005/pdfs/t-3/WTC2005-64316.pdf

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

well I scared it...on my way downstairs to go to generator to turn it off, public power came back on after 13 hours.
Oil in gen still clear and same place it was.
Back on green ready for the next one
Awful lot of rain to go, so lot more trees to come down.
But nice, if only for awhile, to get full power back on.
picked up a lot of broken pine limbs but nothing big so far.
very happy this storm went other direction but look out below

 

[dragoneggs]

Just for kicks, I'd measure the temperature on your oil filter with an IR gun. If weather clears, and temperatures are high, I might run for a while in the daytime with the lid up.... but that's just a Nice to Do move..... these units should be designed to run in high-ambients, with the typical owner paying no attention.....

Rgds, D.

That’s a good idea. Love my little IR thermometer.