Honda EU200i issue

[jstaffon]

I've had an intermittent problem with my Honda EU200i. It's happened since new but couldn't reproduce the problem. Finally, this fall we were camping in the mountains of Idaho. When the temperature dropped below 45 degrees outside during the evening, I had troubles getting the generator started in the morning. I would go through the normal startup procedure but it would only run for about 5 - 10 seconds then the Oil Alert Indicator would come on and it would shut off. I would repeat the process 2 or 3 times until it would start and run normal. Oil level is normal. My question is whether others have experienced a similar behavior and what to do to resolve the issue? It's time to change the oil this fall and was wondering if a different blend of oil may resolve the issue? Thanks in advance.

Jeff.

[NinerBikes]

Castrol 0w-30 German, for cold weather (0-50F) in Honda Eu series generators.

I had Castrol "made in Germany" PAO 0w-30 in my Honda Generator up in Montana on Sept 11, 2014, and the temps were down to 17F in the morning when my Eu2000i started right up, first pull. Steam was coming out the pipes for exhaust that morning, whole time the motor was charging my battery.

If you know you'll be in real cold, switch to a true full synthetic 0w-30 for that trip, if it's important to you.

I almost always start it up on ecothrottle, and let it warm up 2,3 ,4 minutes before putting the motor under load.

Cold engine parts need time to warm up gently, expand, and take up the tolerances in the motor that the cold temps exacerbate, due to differences in expansion rates... aluminum shrinks more than steel in cold temps. Your piston is aluminum, your bore in an Eu2000i, is steel, so take it easy on the motor, let it warm up, since it's air cooled, before working it hard.

[ktmrfs]

jstaffon wrote:
I've had an intermittent problem with my Honda EU200i. It's happened since new but couldn't reproduce the problem. Finally, this fall we were camping in the mountains of Idaho. When the temperature dropped below 45 degrees outside during the evening, I had troubles getting the generator started in the morning. I would go through the normal startup procedure but it would only run for about 5 - 10 seconds then the Oil Alert Indicator would come on and it would shut off. I would repeat the process 2 or 3 times until it would start and run normal. Oil level is normal. My question is whether others have experienced a similar behavior and what to do to resolve the issue? It's time to change the oil this fall and was wondering if a different blend of oil may resolve the issue? Thanks in advance.

Jeff.

AFAIK it is very common. and different oil doesn't solve the problem at real low temps. Lighter oil will help down below freezing. Tried 5W-30 synthetic and had the same problem down around 0 as the std oil, but it helped in the 40F range. Virtually everyone I know, including myself, has this problem with the honda 1000 and honda 2000 when temps get below about 45 degrees.

what can help is to keep it on eco throttle for a few minutes and don't put a load on it for a few minutes. That doesn't eliminate the problem but eliminates one or more "restarts".

[enahs]

Has this issue and fixed it some time back. It has never repeated. Cleaned and flushed tank with brake clean. Shot it in with a small tube from the hardware store. Added a bit of new oil to clean it and finally and dumped it. Then began using 5-30 Mobil 1 synthetic. Problem solved never to return. Just fired it up at a cool 33 degrees. One pull on a ten year old Honda eu2000.

[Rbertalotto]

Had exact same problem in early spring in Vermont. 34 degrees and cold thick oil fooled the low oil indicator and shut gen off after running a few seconds. On the 5th or 6th pull it finally ran fine. There are instructions on the Internet on how to add a switch to disable this function until generator comes up to temperature.

[Homeless_by_Cho]

arto_wa wrote:


Are you saying they have a pressurized lubrication system :h

No, I am not saying pressurized oil system. I am only saying that whatever signal system (pressure, optical, float) Honda uses is not seeing solid oil. When you have this problem, immediately after it shuts down, dump out some oil and you will see that it is very foamy (aerated).

LeRoy

[MEXICOWANDERER]

It'll cool down to the high 70's at dawn soon. I'm looking forward to it.

[Ron3rd]

2oldman wrote:
Yes, I do have some starting issues when cold, so I stay away from cold!

True, and I had that problem one time in Death Valley in the winter, but the temp was more like 20 degrees. Hard to start in very cold temps is known issues with these gennys.

[jake2250]

We camp at the coast during the fall and winter, always cool down into the mid 40s at night. I have found that running Fresh 91 octane helps, Starts easy and runs consistently. I also use 10-30 Mobile one synthetic.

[2oldman]

Yes, I do have some starting issues when cold, so I stay away from cold!

[arto_wa]

Homeless by Choice wrote:
Jeff,

I had the same problem. The stiff oil was aerating (full of air bubbles) which causes the oil pressure to be very low. LeRoy

Are you saying they have a pressurized lubrication system :h

[jstaffon]

Thanks LeRoy, I was hoping someone saw similar problems. I was also hoping a different oil would resolve. I'll give that a try. Thanks.

[Homeless_by_Cho]

Jeff,

I had the same problem. The stiff oil was aerating (full of air bubbles) which causes the oil pressure to be very low. The "Oil Alert" lite comes on and immediately shuts off the gen set. I changed to 5W30 oil and that instantly solved the problem. Per the owners manual:

SAE 10W-30 is recommended for general, all-temperature use. Other
viscosities shown in the chart may be used when the average
temperature in your area is within the indicated range.

LeRoy