synthetic oil help generator start better???

[namesray]

I have a champion generator that starts hard during colder temps (and I mean starts hard!). This summer it started up pretty easy, so I was wondering if I switched to a synthetic oil, would that help it start easier when the temps get colder? Over last winter I went from conventional 10w 30 to conventional 5w 30 and didn't notice any difference.

If switching to synthetic oil, is there anything I should do such as a flush or something?

 

[whistlepig]

Buy a good plastic spray bottle from Ace Hardware. Put some fresh gas in it. Take your spark plug out and spray a couple of squirts in the spark plug hole. Screw the plug back in and start it.

 

[ray66v]

Buy a good plastic spray bottle from Ace Hardware. Put some fresh gas in it. Take your spark plug out and spray a couple of squirts in the spark plug hole. Screw the plug back in and start it.

What is even easier is, spray some WD-40 in the spark plug hole.

It if the choke is set up properly, and it closes all the way, the engine will start on the first pull.

 

[whistlepig]

Synthetic oil would be of small comfort to me for cold starting a generator in the winter.

 

[groundcover]

Sounds like what you need is synthetic gas ! I have been very happy with SEF94, pretty spendy though!

 

[two4spooky]

Would it help, maybe??? Hard to turn over or just not firing? How cold? If hard to turn over it might. How much oil does it hold, a quart or so? Super Tech synthetic from Walmart is not very expensive. Try it and see.

 

[V1Rotate]

I have a champion generator that starts hard during colder temps (and I mean starts hard!). This summer it started up pretty easy, so I was wondering if I switched to a synthetic oil, would that help it start easier when the temps get colder? Over last winter I went from conventional 10w 30 to conventional 5w 30 and didn't notice any difference.

If switching to synthetic oil, is there anything I should do such as a flush or something?

It's probably not the oil causing the hard starting. Try installing a new spark plug and some fresh fuel with some type of additive that will clean the fuel system such as Sea Foam.

 

[vrmnthntr]

Would it help, maybe??? Hard to turn over or just not firing? How cold? If hard to turn over it might. How much oil does it hold, a quart or so? Super Tech synthetic from Walmart is not very expensive. Try it and see.

What he said. Does it not turn over easy or not fire?

I have a champion log splitter that sits outside under cover and when its below freezing and it doesn't fire as well. Turns over easy. I have synthetic in it. Just takes a few or 10 extra pulls. New plug doesn't matter.

If it gets really cold and I know I'm going to use it. I put it in the garage.

The champion generator I have stays in the garage so I'm not sure on that.

 

[DEWFPO]

Describe "starts hard". Otherwise we're shooting in the dark.

DEWFPO

 

[namesray]

Describe "starts hard". Otherwise we're shooting in the dark.

DEWFPO

I pull and pull and pull and pull...... have to keep moving the choke back and forth and it will almost start to fire, but then in an instant still be turning over but seeming to not be firing. once I do get it started it runs fine and i can shut it off and wait 10 minutes and it will start fine in the cold weather.

I have had it for 3 years and year 1 and 2 it started easier in cold weather then it does now, but why does it start ok in the summer. so I thought something is causing hard starts that thick oil is complicating. I am not knowlegable enough to fix an engine issue myself, so since it still ran fine and started ok in the summer, I would try synthetic oil first if you guys thought synthetic would help cold starting over conventional oil.

 

[ray66v]

I pull and pull and pull and pull...... have to keep moving the choke back and forth and it will almost start to fire, but then in an instant still be turning over but seeming to not be firing. once I do get it started it runs fine and i can shut it off and wait 10 minutes and it will start fine in the cold weather.

I have had it for 3 years and year 1 and 2 it started easier in cold weather then it does now, but why does it start ok in the summer. so I thought something is causing hard starts that thick oil is complicating. I am not knowlegable enough to fix an engine issue myself, so since it still ran fine and started ok in the summer, I would try synthetic oil first if you guys thought synthetic would help cold starting over conventional oil.

Air is thicker in the winter, so more air means the air fuel mixture is leaner, than in it would be in the summer. That can make it harder to start, if it is not getting the proper amount of fuel.

Make sure the choke is closing all the way. The choke enriches the mixture, by reducing the amount of air. A common reason small engines start had, is if the choke does not close completely. Even a small gap, will add air to the mixture.

The choke also helps the engine suck the fuel out of the carb.

Synthetic oil is usually a good idea in a generator. But, it is not going to make any real difference, until the temperature gets below zero. So, don't look for it to help you here.

Some Sea Foam in the fuel, will not hurt either. If you don't close the fuel valve, and run your generator out of fuel, when you a finished with it, there could be some deposits in there. Sea Foam can help remove them.

 

[namesray]

Air is thicker in the winter, so more air means the air fuel mixture is leaner, than in it would be in the summer. That can make it harder to start, if it is not getting the proper amount of fuel.

Make sure the choke is closing all the way. The choke enriches the mixture, by reducing the amount of air. A common reason small engines start had, is if the choke does not close completely. Even a small gap, will add air to the mixture.

The choke also helps the engine suck the fuel out of the carb.

Synthetic oil is usually a good idea in a generator. But, it is not going to make any real difference, until the temperature gets below zero. So, don't look for it to help you here.

Some Sea Foam in the fuel, will not hurt either. If you don't close the fuel valve, and run your generator out of fuel, when you a finished with it, there could be some deposits in there. Sea Foam can help remove them.

ok. I will try some sea foam first. I have been putting star tron gas treatment in it religiously and even tried some "heet" water remover treatment. I will try the sea foam.

if I do get the carb apart enough to see the choke, which I presume from past visions, is a round "coin" looking piece of metal that pivots 90 degrees for open and closed="choked"???? I just look to see if it looks like it is closing the full perpendicular angle when choke is applied????

 

[ray66v]

Just make sure the linkage is adjusted in such a way that the choke disc blocks as much air as possible.

They usually do not close at a 90 degree angle anymore. But, the disc should touch, or nearly touch the sides of the opening, when it is closed.

 

[namesray]

Just make sure the linkage is adjusted in such a way that the choke disc blocks as much air as possible.

They usually do not close at a 90 degree angle anymore. But, the disc should touch, or nearly touch the sides of the opening, when it is closed.

ok thanks. some day when I have time and feel bold, I will open it up and take a look at choke and linkage and report back.

 

[PILOON]

On my champion I help the choke do its job by manually tripping it to 'full throttle' by pushing the lever over with my finger as I crank the engine.
I have electric start.
I also use synthetic oil as well which seems to help even at minus 25.

 

[whistlepig]

I always do a trial run on my portable generator before winter. Cables and all. Pitch dark in an ice storm at 3:00am with no heat is not a good time to figure out that things aren't working. If you can't walk out to your generator and get it to start right now you have some work to do.

 

[ray66v]

I can say my Generac engine on my generator, will start on the first, or second pull every time.

I always turn the fuel off, set the choke half way closed, (so it will suck harder, getting all the gas out of the carb), and let it run out of fuel, before putting it in storage.

 

[Gator6x4]

I have three generators. 1, 12000, 1, 6500 and 1, 1,000. The 12000 and 6500 are four cycle and the 1,000 is 2 cycle. I use synthetic oil in all of them. Nothing like yanking on a pull rope, late at night with the wind whipping snow around in 20 degree weather. Dino oil thickens up when it get cold. Synthetic oil will not and I want the least resistance possible when I yank on the start rope.

Now with all that said. It is your equipment, you are the one who will be starting it, so use the type and kind of oil in it you want to.

 

[Texasmark]

Air is thicker in the winter, so more air means the air fuel mixture is leaner, than in it would be in the summer. That can make it harder to start, if it is not getting the proper amount of fuel.

Make sure the choke is closing all the way. The choke enriches the mixture, by reducing the amount of air. A common reason small engines start had, is if the choke does not close completely. Even a small gap, will add air to the mixture.

The choke also helps the engine suck the fuel out of the carb.

Synthetic oil is usually a good idea in a generator. But, it is not going to make any real difference, until the temperature gets below zero. So, don't look for it to help you here.

Some Sea Foam in the fuel, will not hurt either. If you don't close the fuel valve, and run your generator out of fuel, when you a finished with it, there could be some deposits in there. Sea Foam can help remove them.

Good answers and I support most of them. On cold weather and syn. I'll disagree. I do notice the difference and I'm down here in N. TX. I have a Generac 11kw fixed installation and use 0w-30 Mobil 1. Have it plumbed into a propane tank so there are no fuel problems. It is on an internal timer and runs about 10 minutes once a week to keep things ready for the time it's needed.

Mark

 

[ray66v]

Good answers and I support most of them. On cold weather and syn. I'll disagree. I do notice the difference and I'm down here in N. TX. I have a Generac 11kw fixed installation and use 0w-30 Mobil 1. Have it plumbed into a propane tank so there are no fuel problems. It is on an internal timer and runs about 10 minutes once a week to keep things ready for the time it's needed.

Mark

Many people "feel" they can tell a definite difference between synthetic oil, and mineral oil.

But, from a scientific standpoint, if you look up the specifications, there is not a significant viscosity difference between a quality mineral oil, and a synthetic oil, until it gets really cold. (Or, really hot).

There is also no longer a significant difference in lubricity either.

If it gets really cold, or really hot, there is a basis for there to be a difference. In normal conditions, there is not. And. that has been what I have experienced.