In a power outage, a generator is often one of the essential pieces of equipment you can have. Not only does it keep your lights on and your fridge running, but it also ensures that you have access to critical appliances like your stove and oven.
One of the main concerns people have with generators is how to change the oil. Luckily, it’s not as scary as it sounds. In this post, we’ll walk you through the process step-by-step.
So whether you’re a first-time generator owner or looking to brush up on your skills, read on for all you need to know about how to change oil in generator.
Items That You Need
- New oil
- Drain oil canister
- A correct type of oil filter
- Clean towel and brush
- Protective gloves
- Protective goggles
- Oil filter wrench and ratchet
- Socket wrench
- Flat and Phillips screwdriver
- Oil funnel
How to Change Oil in Generator- Step by Step Guide
1. Start by Heating the Previous Oil
Heat the old oil inside your engine to make it drain out more quickly. Hot oils have a much easier time flowing, so you just need to start and let your generator run for five minutes or so before turning it off.
2. Put Your Generator on Blocks
After getting at least a couple of identical blocks, place them on an even surface for placement. You mustn’t put any weights or other heavy objects onto these pieces since they will be resting directly against your generator’s oil drain plug. Just be sure that your generator is stable and well seated.
Read: How often should I service my generator?
3. Remove the Spark Wire
To ensure that your engine doesn’t start without oil and cause severe damage, be sure to unplug the spark plug.
This is usually easy for most people but can get tricky if you face some tough odds like those found on certain models from brands that hide their plugs underneath plastic covers. If this is the case, check your generator’s manual.
If you have located where your spark plug is installed, grab onto its wire with one hand and twist gently until it releases. Then pull up at an angle to remove safely even if there’s some corrosion on the wires.
4. Be Ready to Drain the Previous Oil
The spark wire should now be in a safe place. Find the oil drain plug and remove it with either square or hexagonal heads, depending on what type of generator you have – but don’t forget to read through your owner’s manual first.
5. Disconnect the Oil Plug
Once the drain pan is in place, you’ll need to remove the oil plug and use a ratchet or adjustable wrench with a 3/8″ socket to help you loosen the plug.
The moment you remove the plug, old oil will start draining out of your engine. Be sure to collect and save every last drop not to contaminate our environment with this harmful substance. You should take it to a nearby recycling facility to protect the environment.
Read: Generator engine oil capacity
6. Place a New Oil Filter
Wear gloves and be careful not to burn yourself when removing the old oil filter. Make sure you have a pan ready in case of any leaks from this point.
Consult your owner’s manual for instructions on how often it needs replacing and what type of wrench fits best with their specifications.
This is the easy part! Immediately you remove your old filter, just take a moment to apply some fresh engine oil around your new filter’s gasket before screwing it back into place.
7. Make Your Plug Tight and Pour Your New Oil
When you get your new filter, just put it in place and screw it back on with a socket wrench. Then take off that oil fill cap before pouring oil slowly but surely into the generator.
Many factors determine the right type and amount of oil for your generator. For example, some generators need more than others depending on manufacturer specifications, while other models may be suitable with any grade or type found at convenience stores near you.
Read through the owner’s manual carefully before starting up to determine how much you should pour into your generator. All that is left is removing the funnel and closing your generator’s oil fill cap.
8. Connect the Spark Plug Wire
Simply reconnect your spark plug wire and put the cover back on when you’re finished. You will either feel or hear a click as it gets into position; then reattach any plates removed to get at this part of the engine bay.
The generator should be started and run for some minutes to allow the clean oil time to get into every part. After that, turn down your engine and check if you have reached an appropriate level of liquidness to prevent any malfunctions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should I Change the Oil in My Generator?
The longer you use your generator, the more risk that oil will leak and cause problems. That’s why it is essential to do an automatic full-service inspection after every 100 hours of continuous operation, especially if this happens multiple days in a row or over extended periods while running continuously without stopping for breakage time.
What Happens if You Overfill a Generator With Oil?
When you fill your generator’s engine with oil, the excess may be transferred to certain parts like air cleaners and filters. This can cause them to wear out prematurely, which in turn leads to permanent damage for both components of this system as well as a possible failure on its own.
Changing the oil in a generator is not always easy, but it is necessary, especially if you want your generator to run at its best and last as long as possible.
Follow the above steps from start to finish, and soon enough, you’ll have fresh, clean engine lubricant flowing through your generator again.
Remember, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the level of your generator engine’s oil, so you don’t get stuck somewhere where there isn’t anything nearby to help you drain or fill up the old fluid.
We hope this post has helped you grasp the easy and quick way of changing the oil in a generator.
Read: Generator for when power goes out
