I bought a Honda eu2000i a couple of months ago. Thus far there's probably only about 10 hours on it. I plan to use it for a few hours this weekend and next and then will be leaving to spend the summer in a National Park as CG Host with no hookups. Of course this means the genny will be used regularly, probably daily. Honda specifies changing the oil after 50 hours and then every 200 hours thereafter. My questions are:1. Should I do that first oil change before I leave? I know it won't have the 50 hours but I don't want to be changing the oil in the Park. 2. When I do change it should I use a synthetic?Thanks for your thoughts.

There a few good VIDEOs showing simple mainetnace on the EU20001 Honda Generators...I change my oil at the start of each camping on the road season.My 2KW generator sits secured in the rear tailgate corner of my truck under a secured folding hard plastic panel bed cover.Being with me all the time the generator gets used alot helping out stranded folks and proving power at the house when the power goes off...Also starts me up when I yak too long on my Ham radio while waiting on Momabear when she is shopping somewhere...A GREAT PLAN-B item to have with me at all times... Just rescued a Motorcycle a few days ago on the side of the road who had run down his start battery. Part of the ROLLING THUNDER bunch heading for Washington DC...Roy Ken

In an engine sans oil filter, I am inclined to FLUSH contaminants out of the crankcase, earlier than what OEM decrees, WHEN...The oil turns from yellow to amber or darkerSmell the oil. If it starts to smell like gasolineI installed a 22-liter oil pan, pickup, C-500-L Luber Finer bypass element, and belt driven tiny gear motor pump on my Kubota. It uses Delo-400 15W-40 petroleum lube oil.IMHO air-cooled engines can run "Hotter-Than-The-Hinges" in certain environments and loading combinations. This is where a good synthetic may be appropriate.

Either way you will be changing oil in the park. About 3 hours per day X 90 days will exceed 200 hours. Fully synthetic is a good idea.

bgum wrote:Either way you will be changing oil in the park. About 3 hours per day X 90 days will exceed 200 hours. Fully synthetic is a good idea.Yes but hopefully before I need to do it again "I'll know my way around. " when I last did this for the NPS there was a maintenance yard for the park and after we were known we could use that to get the dust off our truck and do minor maintenance. Hopefully after I'm there for a while I'll have access to a similar facility at this Park.

Eu2000i oil change question | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
May 27, 2014
And keep in mind, petroleum lube oil, the good brands, keep "upping" their API ratings and all improvements are aimed at more protection at higher operating temperatures.

You don't want to try to play the game of "Oh! Synthetic Is Expensive! I'll Just Run It A Lot Longer Between Changes"

The result:

High temperature rated valve grinding compound.
Huntindog
Explorer
May 27, 2014
ISBRAM wrote:
If you change it too often it will cost you an extra 5 or 10 bucks for oil each time. If you never change it 900 or so, seriously I’m of the opinion of changing oil after a few hours or few hundred miles on brand new equipment.
I’ve been running Mobile 1 5w30 since the 2 hour mark in my EU2000I, as it seems when I need it the most its very cold outside and synthetic oil helps ease starting a lot.
It only holds about 13 oz.
One qt. will change it twice ,with 6 oz. left over.

I change mine often while camping. There are tubes you can get that screw into the oil hole. This makes draining and refilling a super easy mess free task. I drain it directly into a plastic jug ( OJ, Milk etc.) and have a premeasured amount of new oil ready. Tilt the Honda so that the tube is pointed up, and pour the oil in.

I personally am not a fan of using synthetics to extend oil changes on a motor that does NOT use a oil filter. The only way the dirt comes out is to change the oil.... And I don't think it is 200 hours. Maybe 1/2 of that.
FLY_4_FUN
Explorer
May 27, 2014
service manual shows .42 quarts or .4 Litres depending on whether your a standard or metric guy....so im standing by the 400 ml I mentioned. I use a syringe to put 4 x 100ml and its always level with the fill port when the genset is level.

I buy 5L of quaker state 10w30 at walmart for $11.88 so that gives me 12 oil changes at a cost of aprox $1 each. Definitely one of the cheaper owner maintenance items with my rv.
NinerBikes
Explorer
May 27, 2014
My manual suggested the first oil change at 20 hours. and change every 100 miles. Page 43... Suggest you double check your owners manual and reread the intervals.

If you are camping in summer... I'd be inclined to go with a 5w-40 full synthetic, something like Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck. It's a motor oil that will go 100 hours, with good additives that handle the heat an air cooled motor can generate. It is both gas and diesel rated motor oil.

I generally start my motor up, do a battery charging with it, so it's good and hot, then turn the motor off, flip the vent on the gas cap, open the cover up with a quarter coin, and undo the top, pull the cover off, open the oil cap, and tilt the generator over on it's side to empty all the oil out while it's good and homogenized and hot, into an oil recycle container, for a trip to Pep Boys to recycle it. 400 ml sounds a bit shy, I thought the motor holds more oil than that? Closer to 500 ml? I usually fill it right up to the edge on level ground. Put the dipstick in.

Honda EU2000i Owners Manual and service recommendations.

Edit, yes, it is 400 ml of oil. Like others have stated, with no oil filter, extended oil changes on an air cooled motor is not a good idea. Stick the the factory intervals. Honda encourages more frequent oil changes in dusty, dirty environments, which included sitting on dirt in the forest, or desert, where the winds lift it and get in in your air filter and oil. Elevate your generator off the ground by 3 feet if you want to keep your oil and filters subjected to a less harsh environment.
ISBRAM
Explorer
May 26, 2014
If you change it too often it will cost you an extra 5 or 10 bucks for oil each time. If you never change it 900 or so, seriously I’m of the opinion of changing oil after a few hours or few hundred miles on brand new equipment.
I’ve been running Mobile 1 5w30 since the 2 hour mark in my EU2000I, as it seems when I need it the most its very cold outside and synthetic oil helps ease starting a lot.
FLY_4_FUN
Explorer
May 26, 2014
Its 400ml of oil, I would change it before you depart. Any name brand 10w30 oil will do the trick.

Daryll
bgum
Explorer
May 26, 2014
That being the case run it for the next two weekend outings, change it and then you will have a fresh 200 hours before you have to do it again. It does not have to be exactly 50 hours on it. 25 hours or so will be OK.
jmcgsd
Explorer
May 26, 2014
bgum wrote:
Either way you will be changing oil in the park. About 3 hours per day X 90 days will exceed 200 hours. Fully synthetic is a good idea.

Yes but hopefully before I need to do it again "I'll know my way around. " when I last did this for the NPS there was a maintenance yard for the park and after we were known we could use that to get the dust off our truck and do minor maintenance. Hopefully after I'm there for a while I'll have access to a similar facility at this Park.
bgum
Explorer
May 26, 2014
Either way you will be changing oil in the park. About 3 hours per day X 90 days will exceed 200 hours. Fully synthetic is a good idea.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
May 26, 2014
In an engine sans oil filter, I am inclined to FLUSH contaminants out of the crankcase, earlier than what OEM decrees, WHEN...

The oil turns from yellow to amber or darker

Smell the oil. If it starts to smell like gasoline

I installed a 22-liter oil pan, pickup, C-500-L Luber Finer bypass element, and belt driven tiny gear motor pump on my Kubota. It uses Delo-400 15W-40 petroleum lube oil.

IMHO air-cooled engines can run "Hotter-Than-The-Hinges" in certain environments and loading combinations. This is where a good synthetic may be appropriate.