Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

Mineral oil being lighter than water just floats on the surface. When the battery charges and produces hydrogen the oil seems to stop them from bursting at the surface and releasing the electrolyte into the air as a mist. They seem to slowly pass throughout the oil. On my RV I have not added water in over a year and it is on the charger 24/7.

What kills batteries here is extreme heat. I saw 126* in August of 96. The high heat tends to cause more rapid evaporation of the electrolyte. I could check my batteries weekly for level, but I'd rather let a couple of ounces of mineral oil do it for me!

I don't see how it would reduce the CCA as it has no contact with the plates.

I follow your explanation. Been down with the flu for 2 days (that's my story ), so I hadn't yet thought to check the specific gravity of mineral oil - I was thinking of it mixing completely, and contacting the plates.

Next time I have a battery that needs topping up, I may well try that.

Rgds, D.

 

[TimberXX]

I need to store a generator for work for one year. I fogged the engine, changed the oil, etc. since the tank is metal I have removed the fuel but want to get the water vapor out of it.

Any recommendations?

 

[3930dave]

I need to store a generator for work for one year. I fogged the engine, changed the oil, etc. since the tank is metal I have removed the fuel but want to get the water vapor out of it.

Any recommendations?

I went to a Store Tank Full approach, before I got my recent gen with a metal tank, so I've never had to do that.

Stabil has a new 360 product, designed to protect exposed parts of the tank, but I think the idea is you treat the fuel, and as the fuel sits in the tank the vapours coat and protect the exposed parts.

STA-BIL 360 Protection

On my larger gen, I could probably get small bags of dessicant into and out of the tank because that tank has a large diameter fill cap. On my small gen, that would be a PITA to do....

If nobody else chimes in here, try sending Soundguy a PM - he restores a lot of old tractors and may have a suggestion.

You may have to follow the boss's orders about emptying the tank, but any decent fuel treatment should give you a year of stabilized protection.

Rgds, D.

 

[90cummins]

I performed a fuel consumption test on three of my generators; (2) Generac XL 4000's and 1 Yanmar L70 Diesel mated to a 5kw generator head.
The Generac XL4000 is 7.8hp and the Yanmar is 6.7hp which makes a good comparison.
I have never seen a head to head comparison of Gas versus Diesel and I thought it was time for someone to do it.
I wanted to know how long I could run my generators at various loads.
I did 3 tests on each; full load, half load and no load.
I obtained some interesting results and would like to post the results but when I load the data into the forum post it realigns the data so it doesn't make sense.
I tried pasting the Excel spread sheet and also tried copying it to word and loading the data.
I have posted in the past but I'm having trouble now...
I need some advice so I can share it with you!
Thanks
90cummins

 

[3930dave]

I performed a fuel consumption test on three of my generators; (2) Generac XL 4000's and 1 Yanmar L70 Diesel mated to a 5kw generator head.
The Generac XL4000 is 7.8hp and the Yanmar is 6.7hp which makes a good comparison.
I have never seen a head to head comparison of Gas versus Diesel and I thought it was time for someone to do it.
I wanted to know how long I could run my generators at various loads.
I did 3 tests on each; full load, half load and no load.
I obtained some interesting results and would like to post the results but when I load the data into the forum post it realigns the data so it doesn't make sense.
I tried pasting the Excel spread sheet and also tried copying it to word and loading the data.
I have posted in the past but I'm having trouble now...
I need some advice so I can share it with you!
Thanks
90cummins

That will be interesting to see !

Until somebody who has loaded xls on here comes along (I haven't myself):

1) Can you just attach the file separately, as in not Inline ?

2) On other applications, csv format used to be the dumbed-down route to try if other approaches failed.

Rgds, D.

 

[V1Rotate]

This might seem like a dumb way to do it but how about printing out your data, take a picture of it and post the picture?

 

[3930dave]

This might seem like a dumb way to do it but how about printing out your data, take a picture of it and post the picture?

With a decent camera, that would work.

My printer does a good job of scanning to pdf. Which reminds me........ 90cummins - if you use something like OpenOffice - its' spreadsheet tool should have an Export to PDF button built in. I haven't kept up with what the Microserfs are doing with Excel - it may have an Export to PDF function by now.... OpenOffice Calc will suck in and use most any standard xls file that you have already.

(edit - openoffice is a free download).

Alternately, just a screen capture of the displayed Excel file should work too.

Rgds, D.

 

[Fi-Q]

I need some advice so I can share it with you! Thanks 90cummins

If all your data fit on 1 screen, you can mostelikely do a print screen and paste it here ?? Or PM me and send via email, I should be able to post them.

 

[90cummins]

I tried last night to post the data & became frustrated but I'm not giving up.
looks like I need to post a photo of the data.
90cummins

 

[90cummins]

View attachment 4-3-14 Yanmar versus Generac calculations.pdf

I finally figured out how to post my data!

Review the data. I find it to be quite interesting. If you see any errors or have any questions/advice/ideas for a new test let me know! Also, the legends on the left for the units could not be moved further left as per microsoft excel (it comes off as a little misleading, SORRY).

Further consumption testing involves a turbocharged Ford 1720 with the 25KW Generac PTO generator.

The data in blue at bottom illustrates fuel consumption vs. cost @ various loads.

Enjoy!

90cummins