Your last generator Maintenance Run

[Alan46]

We have a Generac 22KW 2014 air cooled in the Pacific Northwest.
We had to evacuate for 11 days because of fire it ran the whole time except for oil check every few days, and never an issue with overheating and it was in the summer months, it runs on propane! Still has the original battery!

 

[DarkBlack]

If you go with a 3600 rpm liquid cooled… better be far from the house. There way way more noisy than any 22 kw air cooled running same rpm.

Why would a liquid cooled engine of the same power, running the same rpm, as an air cooled engine, be noisier?

 

[TMGT]

Why would a liquid cooled engine of the same power, running the same rpm, as an air cooled engine, be noisier?

I'm kind of confused also, I had a 17kw air cooled previously and a 25kw water cooled that I'm about to install, the 25 is definitely quieter then the 17.

 

[5030]

Why would a liquid cooled engine of the same power, running the same rpm, as an air cooled engine, be noisier?

Because the water cooled engine has a sound absorbing water jacket whereas the air cooled engine only has cooling fins cast into the cylinder block and they amplify the sound of combustion as well...and usually the valve clearances on an air cooled engine are greater than a water cooled engine and that also contributes to increased mechanical noise.

On my 21KW air cooled Generac up by the house, I will say the cooling fan noise overcomes everything else.

My 32KW diesel powered Generac is much quieter actually.

 

[TMGT]

Because the water cooled engine has a sound absorbing water jacket whereas the air cooled engine only has cooling fins cast into the cylinder block and they amplify the sound of combustion as well...and usually the valve clearances on an air cooled engine are greater than a water cooled engine and that also contributes to increased mechanical noise.

On my 21KW air cooled Generac up by the house, I will say the cooling fan noise overcomes everything else.

My 32KW diesel powered Generac is much quieter actually.

Agreed, however grsthegreat said that the water cooled was noisier then the air cooled.........

 

[groundcover]

As a rule the liquid cooled are 4pole and run at half the RPM (1800, not 3600)

 

[TMGT]

Not necessarily, there are a lot of 3600rpm liquid cooled units out there. My 25kw is 3600, uses a Mitsubishi 1.5L 4cyl, same engine that was put in the Mirage.

 

[grsthegreat]

Why would a liquid cooled engine of the same power, running the same rpm, as an air cooled engine, be noisier?

Its 3 times the size, and moves a tremendous amount of air. I can stand next to a 22 kw running, with lid closed and talk to the customer. Absolutely impossible on the 45, even if you yell. Its horrible.

 

[grsthegreat]

As a rule the liquid cooled are 4pole and run at half the RPM (1800, not 3600)

Exactly, alot of the liquid cooled still run at 3600

 

[5030]

As a rule the liquid cooled are 4pole and run at half the RPM (1800, not 3600)

Not right exactly. Diesel gensets are 4 pole / 1800 rpm. Gas is 2 pole / 3600 rpm. I own both btw. Gas can be water or air cooled but diesels are almost always water cooled. In fact I don't know of any major producer that uses an air cooled diesel engine.