Shopping for a generator

[doxford jim]

Hunter,

I have 10w30 diesel rated oil in my Kubota - I would go fully synthetic if it wasn't so darned expensive. Up here they want something like $115 for a 5 gall pail (20 litres). In my other diesel engines I use 15w40 diesel oil - seems to do just fine. If the engines are plugged in (block heater etc.), the oil seems to be thinner due to the warmer block and starter easier of course.
For fuel, my fuel is what is known as artic diesel or winter diesel up here in Canada. The fuel sits in a 250 gallon tank inside a leanto shed and is not heated in any way. Seems to do just fine - at least so far anyway.

 

[farmer2009]

I run a 15w40 year around in my deisel generator. I also keep the block heater plugged up year around so everything is good and warm because it starts wide open. Mine exercises every week for about 20min. then has a 20min. cool off cycle. My exercise is controlled by my automatic switch gear and it actually switches over to generator power for that cycle.

 

[techman]

I run Biobor in my diesel, but what I am asking is motor oil, do you run 10w 30 15w 40 ect?

I have been using a 15w40 oil. No problem in the winter

paul

 

[CWebster]

Not to drag up an old thread, but I have been looking into generators and whilst reading thru the replys on this thread noticed that no one mentioned that the Kubota is a 3600 RPM diesel while the Perkins is an 1800 RPM diesel. I would be surprised if the Kubota ran as efficient as the Perkins or that it would last as long....

edited to add....the Kubotas shown on the Generatorjoe website are 3600 RPM The original post kubota is an 1800 RPM diesel...

 

[Hunter29]

Not to drag up an old thread, but I have been looking into generators and whilst reading thru the replys on this thread noticed that no one mentioned that the Kubota is a 3600 RPM diesel while the Perkins is an 1800 RPM diesel. I would be surprised if the Kubota ran as efficient as the Perkins or that it would last as long....

Not sure what your talking about, only the Kubota Low Boys are 3600 RPM, I would stay away from 3600 RPM units...

 

[CWebster]

I edited before you busted me...lol..

 

[techman]

The Kubota built units are 3600. I got a Kubota powered set from Central Maine that is an 1800 unit

paul

 

[daybreak1998]

Howdy,

It is not so much the manufacturer. It depends on the amount of poles in the gen head. a 2-pole head will need to spin internally around 3600rpm to give you a 60Hz cycle, a 4-pole head would need to spin at 1800rpm to maintain a 60Hz cycle.

Kubota, Perkins, Deere, Isuzu, and others all make different engines for generators. It really just depends and what gen head it is mated too.

 

[C5010]

Hello Jim:
What is the distance from the Kubota and the back wall? I'm looking at a Kubota (30kw) installed in a out building. You have a nice set up, can you post a few more pictures?