Your last generator Maintenance Run

[mrmikey]

When I got my 7kw Briggs, it was the first one I've had with a screw-in dipstick.

My old Coleman had a BS engine with the screw in dipstick. Everything else I owned you just put the dipstick in, unscrewed, and read the oil level that way. I realized my mistake when it started smoking after running about 5 minutes and soaking the air filter. Amazing what you can learn when you read the manual LOL.

 

[3930dave]

I’m sure that setting a generator level, corner to corner to corner, is imperative whether equipped with a dipstick or screw cap/dipstick.
Yes, a fully pressurized lube and filter system would add significant cost to a small engine. But if Honda GX small engines can last for thousands of hours with regular maintenance, why bother?! It proves that quality design and build really matters…

Changing the oil..... on the small stuff, even people that know better, can tend to ignore small utility equipment.

Since much of this equipment takes hardly any more that 1 L/quart, it not a $ issue.....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

My old Coleman had a BS engine with the screw in dipstick. Everything else I owned you just put the dipstick in, unscrewed, and read the oil level that way. I realized my mistake when it started smoking after running about 5 minutes and soaking the air filter. Amazing what you can learn when you read the manual LOL.

At the risk of Losing Their Man-Card..... Real Men Don't Read Manuals !!!

It works fine as a dipstick on my 7kw BS, but your story illustrates what introducing that variable can do. At least on yours, the result was highly visible - as opposed to an overfilled non-smoker, that ended up running on aerated oil for xyz hours.....

Devil, meet Details.....

Rgds, D.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

At the risk of Losing Their Man-Card..... Real Men Don't Read Manuals !!!

It works fine as a dipstick on my 7kw BS, but your story illustrates what introducing that variable can do. At least on yours, the result was highly visible - as opposed to an overfilled non-smoker, that ended up running on aerated oil for xyz hours.....

Devil, meet Details.....

Rgds, D.

The problem with reading manuals is that sometimes the manuals are written by someone who shouldn't have been a technical writer in the first place.
I have seen multiple maintenance and operation manuals over the years written with errors. One error that cost the manufacturer millions of dollars in warranty repairs, just because the oil specified for an in line oiler was the wrong type.
Having good training and common sense to use that good training trumps reading a manual in a lot of cases.
"Real men do read maintenance and operation manuals"!

 

[WinterDeere]

if the unit isn't perfectly level, readings are not very exact

This comes down to design. A bad design with the dipstick in the corner of the pan, will be badly affected by measuring on an un-leveled surface. But if dipstick is aimed toward middle of the pan, then small errors in machine leveling won’t have as much effect on measured oil level.

 

[Robin Veerman]

Not necessarily a bad design though. A generator with an oil level sensor also needs to be level for the simple reason to detect the proper/safe oil level or it will shut down or not shut down as required, in order to save the engine…

 

[3930dave]

"Real men do read maintenance and operation manuals"!

I didn't take the time to find a Heavy Sarcasm emoticon in that post....

To your point about Tech Writing (altho, IMO, it applies much more broadly than that)..... modern "communication" doesn't help this issue. In the Olden Days..... a Printed document/book/catalog typically had much more editorial-review, before going to press <--- was there Never any mistakes, No, but IMO, less than today's documentation..... as long as the Safety/Liability Warnings @ front of document gets signed-off by Legal, it seems what follows gets less attention.

IIRC, it was MercBenz who ended up replacing a # of gas motors in cars.... that was back-when port fuel-injected engines were pushing waaaayyyyy out on OCI, and they didn't spec the oil correctly in the Owner's Manual. (and.... Canadian Winter is usually classed as Severe-Service, under most Manuf olde-school MTCE categories).

Agreed..... it's All Data..... pull it in from various sources (on anything critical.... but the problems can set in when you don't realize What is Critical), cross-check, and plan your MTCE.....

When I'm chasing oil data (or, it's just a long Canuck Winter, and I've run out of things to read) I will spend some time on BITOG (Bobistheoilguy), looking at relevant oil analysis reports, both New and Used. I'm a bit of an oil-geek, but spending time on there can be somewhat like taking a juvenile deliquent on a tour of an active Jail..... Joking aside, BITOG has good info to wade through, esp. on new/emerging problems @ a specific engine level.....

He has others I like, but this is one of my favourite Will Rogers quotes

A quote by Will Rogers

(Re-post by me, but I'm a slow-learner, and need to be reminded about that electric-fence often.....)

Rgds, D.

 

[daugen]

having generator envy?
your gen just not putting out enough?...
now you can buy a new Ram pickup and also have the biggest
generator of them all.
real bragging rights too, 130kw.

Ram's new "hybrid" is all electric, and a standalone generator powered by
their 3.6 V6 engine. Just like heavy equipment and trains.
want to power your house?
wonder if you can tap into that 130kw...

let's see, V6 engine generator maintenance
this should get interesting
Dave, start studying OBD codes....

All-Electric Ram REV Full-Size Pickup Isn't Arriving in 2025

Meanwhile, Ram is accelerating the launch timing of its series-hybrid Ramcharger pickup.

www.autoweek.com

 

[Patrick Herd]

you need to run it for awhile on a hot day and see what the exhaust temps are around the wood. me, id feel better if that was metal support, like my fireplace uses.

I'd also suggest doing the same hot day load test with the generator at or near full load: Diesels get a lot of cooling from excess combustion air when running lightly loaded.

 

[Patrick Herd]

having generator envy?
your gen just not putting out enough?...
now you can buy a new Ram pickup and also have the biggest
generator of them all.
real bragging rights too, 130kw.

Ram's new "hybrid" is all electric, and a standalone generator powered by
their 3.6 V6 engine. Just like heavy equipment and trains.
want to power your house?
wonder if you can tap into that 130kw...

let's see, V6 engine generator maintenance
this should get interesting
Dave, start studying OBD codes....

All-Electric Ram REV Full-Size Pickup Isn't Arriving in 2025

Meanwhile, Ram is accelerating the launch timing of its series-hybrid Ramcharger pickup.

www.autoweek.com

Our new MG4 can output around 7kW using the V2L mode, really handy feature. Only bummer is that it's a vehicle stationary only feature. No running the coffee machine while driving.

 

[3930dave]

having generator envy?
your gen just not putting out enough?...
now you can buy a new Ram pickup and also have the biggest
generator of them all.
real bragging rights too, 130kw.

Ram's new "hybrid" is all electric, and a standalone generator powered by
their 3.6 V6 engine. Just like heavy equipment and trains.
want to power your house?
wonder if you can tap into that 130kw...

let's see, V6 engine generator maintenance
this should get interesting
Dave, start studying OBD codes....

All-Electric Ram REV Full-Size Pickup Isn't Arriving in 2025

Meanwhile, Ram is accelerating the launch timing of its series-hybrid Ramcharger pickup.

www.autoweek.com

Looked the Ramcharger over, when it first was up on the Ram site. As a MotorTrend writer put it, in their byline "Ram has found the cure for Range Anxiety - An Engine". Inline Hybrid - I think of it as a Chevy Volt, with a helluva lot more towing capacity......

I have an old 3.7L still on the road. Haven't compared the 3.6 to the 3.7 - I'd expect some efficiency gains, and I seem to recall some top-end 3.6 issues, but those should be addressed by now. No engine OBD (knock wood) with my 3.7, just the chronic Evap code issue common to Chrysler of that era (clear code, and drive with no-more than a 1/4 tank, if you needed to pass an emission test).

I like the design, but it's going to be a v. expensive 1500. Being an oldster, the name messes me up, as it has me thinking of the 80's suv version....

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I'd also suggest doing the same hot day load test with the generator at or near full load: Diesels get a lot of cooling from excess combustion air when running lightly loaded.

Good point.... easy to forget dzls don't restrict air the way gas motors do......

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Our new MG4 can output around 7kW using the V2L mode, really handy feature. Only bummer is that it's a vehicle stationary only feature. No running the coffee machine while driving.

Had to look that up.... didn't realize MG was still "alive".....

Looks like the Ramcharger has an option for 7.2kw; being an inline hybrid, you could/should be able to run the coffee-pot etc while driving....

Rgds, D.

 

[Patrick Herd]

Had to look that up.... didn't realize MG was still "alive".....

Looks like the Ramcharger has an option for 7.2kw; being an inline hybrid, you could/should be able to run the coffee-pot etc while driving....

Rgds, D.

The only things MG about the car are a: the badge. And b: the indicator clicker has been made to sound like an ancient Lucas electromechanical flasher of yesteryear.

 

[3930dave]

The only things MG about the car are a: the badge. And b: the indicator clicker has been made to sound like an ancient Lucas electromechanical flasher of yesteryear.

Cute !

What, they didn't want to keep the rest of The Prince of Darkness electrics ?

Rgds, D.

 

[WinterDeere]

Being an oldster, the name messes me up, as it has me thinking of the 80's suv version....

Same. I spent much of my 20's working on and off-roading in a late-1970's Ramcharger. Big vehicle for trail use, so we also carried chainsaws, to widen paths as needed. The Jeep CJ guys used to get a real kick out of that.

 

[Popgadget]

Cute !

What, they didn't want to keep the rest of The Prince of Darkness electrics ?

Rgds, D.

Remind me, why do the English drink warm beer?

 

[3930dave]

Remind me, why do the English drink warm beer?

Too many of those Lucas lines..... ...... The other one I remember.....

Lucas....Making Electricians, Out of Ordinary Men !

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Same. I spent much of my 20's working on and off-roading in a late-1970's Ramcharger. Big vehicle for trail use, so we also carried chainsaws, to widen paths as needed. The Jeep CJ guys used to get a real kick out of that.

Jeeps haven't gotten to ur Ramcharger size (yet), but as a young guy I know said, after seeing a restored early-Jeep, "Wow, compared to that thing, my Dad's new Wrangler looks like a school bus".

IIRC that platform correctly, you must have spent plenty of time wrenching - they needed a lot of work, just driving On-road......

Rgds, D.

 

[WinterDeere]

Remind me, why do the English drink warm beer?

They don't. They generally prefer "cellar temperature", say 55F.

That said, some brew pubs do store their beer in traditional leather bags, upstairs in the tap room. Most complain if it's warmer than 60F, though.

I'll admit, most of the brews they prefer over there do taste good around 55F, and lose all flavor when chilled way down to 40F. The colder temperature is great for lager or pilsner, but less so for low-ABV English ales.