Refilled the engine with supertech 15w40 conventional diesel oil and ran the generator another two ish hours under the same.
Synthetic oil for generator break in.
For the 5500 model that time limit is.
Our best choice in this category is the full synthetic motor oil by generac.
Since generators usually take little oil i think a better way would be to get a 5l bottle of cheapest mineral oil you can find or better yet proper break in oil do a few flushes break ins then drain and fill with synthetic.
After the 5 hour break in period change the oil.
This allows the internal parts to break in or wear together to proper fit before switching.
The goal is to use an oil which will allow enough friction for the rings to bed in correctly.
Should i break it in with a less expensive oil and then go to an exotic synthetic.
The honda 10w30 is nothing fancy conventional oil.
However it is better to use synthetic oil in a generator because motor oil cannot match the performance or protection given by synthetic oil.
For year round use synthetic high mileage oil 10w30 or 0w40 is a good option.
Onan generator oil change frequency 4000 5500 different generator models have different oil change deadlines.
I ve heard it said that one should not use synthetic oil during break in because it can impair proper wear in of the rings and other moving parts.
Another type of oil that is very often recommended by owner s manuals is the sae 5w 30.
Some generator users were able to go over 500 hours using synthetic oil and did not make a change.
I would run the engine on conventional oil for the first 100 hours or so then switch to synthetic.
This oil will keep the engine lubricated so that it does not break down quickly.
This oil is perfect for generators that will be used in slightly colder climates as it ensures easier start and better viscosity at lower temperatures.
Common high performance synthetic oil is so slippery it will actually inhibit the wear required to bed the rings in.
I don t have experience with that brand but it is from china and that tells me all i need to know.
But it is recommended that for the 4000 model you should change the oil every 100 hours or so.
So you don t want to use super slick full synthetic oils to break the engine in reveals simon.
During the break in period stay at or below 50 of the running watt rating and vary the load occasionally to allow stator windings to heat and cool.
The first 5 hours of run time are the break in period for the unit.
