Hi,I joined the "dark side" last spring and bought a Yamaha 3000 sIEB generator.I'm going to need to run it at -30 c (-22 F). Any suggestions as to the viscosity of oil I should use?

At that extreme, I would definitely thumb thru all the pages in the manual before I would ask for opinions on it.

Geez, at those temps, you may not even want any oil:SOnly kidding.You may want to pull the oil out when it's not running....to keep it warm (the way Bush Pilots used to drain the oil from their planes up in Alaska), then add it just before you run it. A PITA for sure, but at least you'd know it was gonna start, and be lubricated properly. I'd think, if you did that, you could probably use the normal weight oil....but agree with Dave, you may want to check with Mfgr.To cold for me:BAnother thought....why say you have come to the dark side.....you just left it, now you have light!:)

Hi,The manual doesn't mention cold weather operation. It says 10-30.

I would go with a good quality full synthetic, either 5w-30 or 0w-30. I like Mobil 1, lots of people swear by Amsoil.

I would use a synthetic 5/30 or 0/30. So far the lowest temp i have used my Honda is 10f and i use 5/40 Rotella.

Oil recommendations cold weather generator | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

Sundance07
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
smkettner wrote:

-62c? was that Monday, February 3, 1947 Snag, Yukon? ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extreme_temperatures_in_Canada

No sir, It was Mile 115 of the Alaska Hwy then another 120 miles north of that. About 1998 or 99. Brrrrrr...........:E

Nice link.....thx :)
Learjet
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
My Yamaha EF2600 has a chart, and calls for straight 10w below 32f.

Might want to look in your manual again.
dddire
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
I would always use a full synthetic no matter what temps... but 0w30 Amsoil would be my choice here.
nevadanick
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
In -40f my old Ford wouldnt turn over fast enough to start no matter how many batteries and how good they were. Cold temps make its own rules.
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 05, 2013
No. IIRC never been below -10F. Truck started just fine. My old car used to have trouble with the carb icing up so it would not idle for 5 or 10 minutes. Still started.

IMO getting started has more to do with fuel, compression and ignition. Oil may come into play if the electric start system becomes marginal at those temps. Pull start should still work. Diesel is another set of trouble but does not apply here. But I have never owned a diesel either :R

At -30 overnight my generator would have been running all night and most of the day. It would never really get cold. Pianotuna knows his limits.

My concern would be less protection when warmed up and running for extended periods.

-62c? was that Monday, February 3, 1947 Snag, Yukon? ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extreme_temperatures_in_Canada
Sundance07
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013
smkettner wrote:
If the manual calls for 10w30 that is exactly what I would run.

Have you ever experienced -30 or colder temps?

If you've ever had to start equipment in those temps you would realize a 0w-30 vs a 10w-30 can mean the difference in getting it started vs just having a cold lump of steel to look at.

FWIW The coldest I have started our gensets have been -62c. Not gonna happen with 10w-30 without a heat source.
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 04, 2013
If the manual calls for 10w30 that is exactly what I would run.
mlts22
Explorer II
Oct 04, 2013
I'd consider a remote start kit as well. Just so that you don't have to go out in the weather to turn the key or yank the pull handle.

Of course, one nice thing about the Yamaha generator, if it won't start due to the battery being low from the electric ignition, there is always the pull rope.
Gulfcoast
Explorer
Oct 04, 2013
At those temps... I'd only shut it down to refuel and change oil. smile
pianotuna
Nomad III
Oct 04, 2013
Hi Paul,

I would be interested in a "remote stop". But if the price were right--yes it makes sense.