Generator oil change question

I usually change mine about every year. Only 3 qts and a filter so not much expense.

The is a guy here who posted an oil analysis of Mobil 1 from his generator after a couple years and it was fine. My own feeling is a good oil will last more than a year under low hour use. But that is based on any usage run long enough in warm enough conditions to drive moisture out of the oil. Here in so. CA that is easy enough to do. Analysis is reasonable so you could take that path. Or just change it-easy and cheap.

Personally I use Mobil 1 0W40, run my exercise under load in warmer weather, and drain it every two years or so (at low hours).

:h If it is like my 200i, it only uses a smidge of oil to fill the crank case.

On the other hand I do not exercise my generators so I do not do the annual oil change.

I am not convinced it is necessary, although as someone said it is cheap insurance.

I live on a beach and a lawn mower will rust out about 5-7 years no matter how often you change the oil. I never change the oil in my mowers. The wheels will fall off or deck rust out before the engine ever goes. I do check the oil level and add if needed ( rarely )

I've got a 8-10 year old power washer with a 5 HP Honda engine. Think I did change the oil once. Runs like new.

Maybe if I had a 1000.00 dollar genny I would be more concerned about oil changes.

I personally think keeping good fuel / fuel stabilizer is much more important.

JMO

NinerBikes wrote:
Moisture, condensation, in the oil, forms acids, forms rust or acts in a corrosive manner. Hence the R&R of motor oil.

OP here..

Good info.

Yes, I was going to change the oil either way.

The only thing I could think of for changing the oil was something to do with moisture. The corrosive part, I never even thought of before.

Thanks

Generator hours are not like car miles. Small engines require more frequent oil changes as they operate at higher RPM's and under more severe loads. There is also the difference in quantity of oil in the crankcase, 1/5 in some situations. The annual change is like Niner says, because of those reasons.

They could be in cahoots with big oil to get you to waste your money but most likely they are trying to save you from expensive repairs because the oil has broken down.

Change the oil. It's cheap insurance.

Moisture, condensation, in the oil, forms acids, forms rust or acts in a corrosive manner. Hence the R&R of motor oil.