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Oil for generator?

Old Sep 1, 2003 | 11:31 AM
  #1  
PADZZ's Avatar
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From: SW Utah
Oil for generator?

What is a good oil for my Generac Generator? 50G is the model. It's built into my toy hauler and now has 26 hours on it. I just don't know on oil for this and I can't locate an owners manual-meaning there wasn't on that came with it. Synthetic? Can I use Honda motorcycle oil, small air-cooled engine..... :http://www.guardiangenerators.com/pr.../pp_series.asp
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Old Sep 1, 2003 | 02:14 PM
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From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Re:Oil for generator?

I just use Castrol 20W50 in the sunmmer & 10W40 when the temp drops on my portable Generac 8000 watt powermaster.

You don't want to use motorcycle oil in anything but a motorcycle, they don't have friction modifyiers that could make a wet clutch slip (That's why you need to change oil so often in bikes & quads).

Synthetic would work OK but wait till you have at least 100 hours on the engine, that'll give it plenty of time to break in.

How do you calculate your hours?
I put on a hour meter from Yamaha (Less than $30), it just has a wire that wraps around one of the spark plug wires, that way I know when to change oil.

You can probably find an owners manual on line at Generacs web site, if not you can e-mail them & they'll send ya one.
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Old Sep 1, 2003 | 04:26 PM
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Re:Oil for generator?

Thanks Moose...Inside the trailer it has an hour meter, elctric start and gas gauge; pretty fancy if you ask me. So just regular oil, nothing fancy. That'll work.
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Old Sep 3, 2003 | 01:13 AM
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Re:Oil for generator?

I run the same Dello 400 15-40 I run in everything else that goes vroom or rattle. FYI the oil Onan sells is 15-40.
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Old Sep 8, 2003 | 09:41 PM
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From: Central VT
Re:Oil for generator?

[quote author=Rattletrap1 link=board=11;threadid=19075;start=0#msg179934 date=1062569639]
I run the same Dello 400 15-40 I run in everything else that goes vroom or rattle. FYI the oil Onan sells is 15-40.
[/quote]

haha i like that but i prefer everything rattles! can't go wrong with delo 400.
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Old Sep 9, 2003 | 11:02 AM
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Re:Oil for generator?

I have the same gen panel in my trailer. I use AMSOIL in everything I have, it has works great for the past 10 years or so. For my gas cars, generators, welder, lawn mowers, ect I use 0-30 series 2000. For the deisels, it's 5w-30 series 3000. I had a dragster, that was turbocharged, and on a health dose of nitrous, I ran AMSOIL in it. Every time I tore it down, It was extremely clean on the inside. Wear was great, usually there is alot of rod, and main bearing wear. The nitrous puts a huge load onthese areas, but I never had a problem with it. Also, the turbocharger bearings stayed very clean, not the "coking" you would expect to get. Alot of people make oil choices based on brand loyalty, like "my dad used this brand, and me had good luck". But I look for results, I have used other brands before, when something better came along I switched, if I find something else that works better (results I can see, that are better), I will switch. Till then I'm sticking with the AMSOIL. Also, when I switched form the dodge trany fluid, to AMSOIL ATF, I lowered my trans temps by 30-40 degrees, nothing else was changed, just the fluid. 30-40 degree drop, from reduced friction, tell me it doesn't work
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Old Sep 9, 2003 | 04:13 PM
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Re:Oil for generator?

[quote author=y-knot link=board=11;threadid=19075;start=0#msg182503 date=1063123326]
tell me it doesn't work
[/quote]

Ok, it doesn't work.

j/k...unfortunately I don't know of an Amsoil dealer near me and I don't want to pay outrageous shipping costs to get it here..
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Old Sep 10, 2003 | 10:15 AM
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Re:Oil for generator?

[quote author=PADZZ link=board=11;threadid=19075;start=0#msg182671 date=1063141982]
[quote author=y-knot link=board=11;threadid=19075;start=0#msg182503 date=1063123326]
tell me it doesn't work
[/quote]

Ok, it doesn't work.

j/k...unfortunately I don't know of an Amsoil dealer near me and I don't want to pay outrageous shipping costs to get it here..
[/quote]

FYI:

Everyone pays shipping doesn't matter if you're a dealer or not, unless the dealer drives to the closest wharehouse to pick up the product(but from Utah, I"m sure all the savings in shipping will go into fuel as the closest wharehouse is in Las Vegas)

My wharehouse is in Richmond, VA about 100 miles and I don't pick up either, shipping is cheaper.

I don't think the shipping is outrageous anyhow, Heck I usually pay between $5-7 to mail order stuff from bicycle catalogs.

On a case(25lbs) shipping comes out to $8.25. Order through me and your are getting the best prices(dealer cost).

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