We picked up a new Champion 3500/4000 with remote start yesterday. There are no break in instructions in the manual so I don't know if it will make a difference if I run it for a while with a reduced load or not.Any suggestions?

I broke in my new generator last year by starting it and running no-load for 5-10 minutes, than 15-20 minute "runs" at 20% load, 40%, 60%, 40%, 20%, no load, 40$, 60%, 80%, etc. I did this for about five hours total, including full load runs during the last hour.I wanted to convert mine to run on propane so I did the breaking in on gasoline using an external tank - thus my integral gas tank has never had fuel in it.I made the propane alteration and ran in the generator at varied loads for an additional couple of hours.I then changed the oil - carefully straining the old oil.I suspect there are many great answers to your question, but my main thought was to not run at one load exclusively and not to approach full load until the generator had some hours on it.YMMV

No break in for mine - fired it up and worked it.Never a cough 4 years heavy camping and farm work.SeaFoam in the tank in the winter.Good Luck, Mike

Salti dawg has the correct approach.Charge some low batteries with it first. After 2 hours, turn on the electric water heater. When that stops cycling, let it run 1/2 an hour doing the battery only. Then turn everything else off and run the AC for an hour. Then try to run the AC and the microwave at the same time. Or do the AC and the electric portion of the water heater at the same time, the next day. That should do it.That should do it.

Just curious, what is the rationale behind this? I can understand needing to break in a $40,000+ truck with its 1000s of moving pieces, but a cheapy generator?

Would it be better if I were breaking in a expensive generator? It may be just a cheap generator but I expect it to last for years. Allowing everything to wear in and seat before the generator is put under stress can lengthen it life and improve its performance over the long run. I know it has with the other small engines I've used even though there is nothing in the Champion manual. It also allows me to run it for a while and make sure it will stay running before I take it camping.The procedure mentioned is much like I use for my RC plane engines, basically bring up the stress/ load/ temp and then reduce to cool down, then repeat until you bring up to full speed. The only difference there is I can also control the mixture and lubrication too.

Breaking in a Champion 3500/4000 | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

popeyemth
Explorer
May 05, 2014
No break in for mine - fired it up and worked it.
Never a cough 4 years heavy camping and farm work.
SeaFoam in the tank in the winter.
Good Luck, Mike
SaltiDawg
Explorer
May 05, 2014
I broke in my new generator last year by starting it and running no-load for 5-10 minutes, than 15-20 minute "runs" at 20% load, 40%, 60%, 40%, 20%, no load, 40$, 60%, 80%, etc. I did this for about five hours total, including full load runs during the last hour.

I wanted to convert mine to run on propane so I did the breaking in on gasoline using an external tank - thus my integral gas tank has never had fuel in it.

I made the propane alteration and ran in the generator at varied loads for an additional couple of hours.

I then changed the oil - carefully straining the old oil.

I suspect there are many great answers to your question, but my main thought was to not run at one load exclusively and not to approach full load until the generator had some hours on it.

YMMV

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Breaking in a Champion 3500/4000

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