Honda 2000: surprisingly poor oil fill tube design

[profdant139]

Honda prides itself on being environmentally friendly. So it is odd (to say the least) that the oil fill tube on the Honda 2000 is so tricky – some spillage is almost guaranteed.

Look at this diagram, which is a screen shot taken from the owner’s manual:


Click For Full-Size Image.

On the right side, note that you have to fill the reservoir just to the upper limit of the threads in the tube. But the tube is essentially horizontal – see the left side of the diagram. So in order to fill the tube, you have to tilt the generator back with one hand, carefully pour in just enough oil (and not a drop more) with the other hand, and then slowly bring the generator back to a level position, hoping that you haven't overfilled the reservoir.

So far, I have managed to do all of this without spilling, but it was very demanding. It is a certainty that other folks (especially non-experts like me) have experienced oil spills due to this poor design.

I know that there are after-market toys that can mitigate this design flaw – things that screw into the oil tube. But this glitch was entirely foreseeable. Why didn’t they design an upright tube with a translucent fill window, for example? Didn’t they realize that the hassle factor would discourage owners from performing routine oil changes? Are other generators just as poorly designed?

(Head-shake and grumble.)

[SidecarFlip]

Seems as though every small engine has the same fill / level setup. Haven't you noticed your lawnmower is the same deal.

[mikestock]

Been using my pair for years. Measure the amount I put in every time. Use a long funnel. Never thought to complain. Do in my neighbor's driveway, just in case. JK

[Cummins12V98]

Drained mine today. First verified it was full. I propped up the back side to the point it almost tipped over. I had a pc of tin under the drain area. Had it up on a folding table. Drained into the measuring device filled it up with 13 OZ +old oil. Spec is 13.2 OZ. Cleaned out dispenser and refilled with 13 + OZ AMZ/OIL 15-40 Diesel Marine non LE oil.

[Cummins12V98]

" I did catch every last drop in my small pan"

THANK GOD!!!

[MFL]

My over fill/spill came filling first time when new. Mine was filled at factory, run/tested, then drained before shipping. I went by amount in manual, to fill, and second guessed a small amount of residual not drained at factory. I guessed right on after break in, when draining refilling, due to knowing exact amount, that was just a bit much. I did catch every last drop in my small pan, so yes, measuring the exact amount in pan would work well.

Jerry

[Cummins12V98]

Home Skillet wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Drain the engine, measure the exact ounces removed. Now add that exact same amount.

Nope.
What if the genny is burning oil?

Maybe next time you READ what i said. Maybe next time you quote you include EVERYTHING I said pertaining to the subject you are referring to!!!

THIS is what i said, THIS is what you should have quoted!!!

GOT IT????????

"More better way is to verify it's full before draining. Drain the engine, measure the exact ounces removed. Now add that exact same amount."

[Home_Skillet]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Drain the engine, measure the exact ounces removed. Now add that exact same amount.

Nope.
What if the genny is burning oil?

[NRALIFR]

profdant139 wrote:
OK -- now I get it. Suboptimal design is no big deal .........

Well, in my ever so humble opinion, it’s a more common issue than you think. At least based on my experience, it’s something that I’ve dealt with on so many small engines that the occasional good design gets my attention.

I’ve had many small engine driven devices that you couldn’t drain the oil without getting the used oil on stuff you really don’t want oil on (like belts). My Yamaha 1000 gen is just like your Honda, which is why I suggested the oil fill process I did. My Husqvarna lawnmower has no oil drain plug at all. If you do something less than brilliant like not get the dipstick cap twisted on right and you don’t notice that it was loose the whole time you were mowing the grass until you’re done, and you just KNOW dirt got down in there, you get to turn the lawnmower upside down to drain the dirty oil. My truck has the oil drain plug on the side of the oil pan instead of the bottom, and if you misjudge how far out the oil is going to shoot when you remove the plug you’ve got a big mess on the floor.

My tractor has a nice oil drain system. A valve rather than a plug, and a tube that stays connected to the valve to direct the old oil right into the pan without splattering.

:):)

[larry_barnhart]

our honda 1000i will get it's oil changed before we hit the road for Az. Not that hard but easy to have a little clean up. Not much of a chance It will be running but nice to keep it ready.

chevman

[profdant139]

OK -- now I get it. Suboptimal design is no big deal -- the end-users just develop after-market work-arounds and take a chill pill so we can ignore the glitch. You've heard of the notion that "the squeaky wheel gets the grease?" It looks like the new consensus is that "the squeaky wheel can be remedied with earplugs."

I'm not saying that the oil tube design on the Honda 2000 is the biggest problem in the world. But I am saying that it is an odd anomaly in an otherwise well-engineered product.

There are so many products and services (websites, for example) in which beta testing has been neglected prior to rollout. One would think that market pressures would "incent" (new verb!) enterprises to strive for excellence, but I guess "good enough" is good enough.

And if the glitch proves to be a significant problem, the company can just redesign the flaw in later releases, as Honda has apparently done in some of its most recent generators. Beta late than never.

[shum02]

I have a long oil funnel designed for small engine oil fills on my Honda and Champion gennies and power washers. Think it cost a couple dollars.

Oil Funnel

[noteven]

Oil changes are a conspiracy between Big Oil and Big Engines..... no wait... Big um....

Anyways I run a toilet paper roll filter on my Honda E2 somethin somethin so oil change interval is extended.

[NRALIFR]

SidecarFlip wrote:

NRALIFR wrote:
Make it easy on yourself and measure out the correct quantity of oil (yours is about 13.5 oz), tip the generator on it’s side and use a long neck funnel to pour it in. Put the cap on and don’t bother checking the level against the filler hole.

Your generator has a low oil level warning system on it that will shut the engine down before it reaches an unsafe level.

:):)

Could have sworn I said exactly that in the post previous to yours...lol

You didn’t say the low oil warning thing. 😛

LOL

:):)

[SidecarFlip]

You could be non pro active and never change the oil, kind of like maintaining the seals on any RV. Most people never do so why bother changing the oil anyway?

Run it until it pukes and buy another one.

Keeps the landfills operating.

[SidecarFlip]

NRALIFR wrote:
Make it easy on yourself and measure out the correct quantity of oil (yours is about 13.5 oz), tip the generator on it’s side and use a long neck funnel to pour it in. Put the cap on and don’t bother checking the level against the filler hole.

Your generator has a low oil level warning system on it that will shut the engine down before it reaches an unsafe level.

:):)

Could have sworn I said exactly that in the post previous to yours...lol