7 Maintenance Tips for Petrol Generators
A good well-built generator can last for a long time, but just like any machine, it requires regular proper maintenance. Just as people exercise and eat healthy food to keep themselves trim and fit, generators also have to be maintained to ensure safe and proper operation.
The higher the quality of the maintenance, the longer your petrol generator will last without the need for repairs, which could easily translate to higher costs due to the purchase of expensive parts and even the unit's replacement.
Here are a few maintenance tips to ensure your petrol generator can run safely and properly when you need it.
1. Plan a 6-month maintenance cycle
The bulk of the maintenance work if your petrol generator will be done within a six month period. Many of the simplest tasks involve a visual inspection, such as checking whether there is enough fuel, oil, coolant and so on. Other routine tasks such as air filter cleaning occur weekly or monthly, depending on the size and load of the generator.
Replacing some parts such as the oil filter have to be done every few months. One of the gravest mistakes people commit is installing a part and forgetting about it. While petrol generators are supremely hardworking machines, a simple mistake can lead to catastrophic failure.
2. Don't use a generator indoors
Petrol generators give off noxious fumes, the kind that will render you unconscious before you even know you've been hit. A generator must always be placed in a well-ventilated area. Even generator enclosures are designed to ensure maximum air circulation. You also risk generator damage if it can't breathe due to poor air circulation, so make sure the area is ventilated.
3. Change the oil regularly
Generators use a lot of oil and require frequent oil filter replacements. Just like an ink cartridge for your printer, an oil filter for a generator won't last very long. You have to change the oil filter for every four days of operation. Check the user manual or the supplier for the correct interval as the frequent replacement can become costly fast.
Some people refuel by feeding the petrol directly into a working generator. Not only is this extremely dangerous, it can also damage your expensive generator. While there are generator models and scenarios which permit direct refuelling, those are exceptions rather than the rule.
Turn the generator set off before refuelling it. You should also wait for the generator to cool down prior to refuelling it. Diesel generators don't require a cool down period, but a petrol generator should be handled with extreme care.
Not all power cords are made equal. They vary in terms of their power load capacity and environmental exposure limitations. Put simply, if your power cord has to be exposed to rain and snow or the like, you should get one that can take it. Not only outdoor-rated power cords last longer, you also reduce the risk of accidental electrocutions.
6. Keep spare fuel on hand
Petrol generators produce electricity by rotating magnetic coils along each other. One of the worst things that could happen to a generator is the coils becoming demagnetized. This happens if the generator runs out of petrol.
Even though the generator has stopped producing electricity, the devices drawing power from the unit will suck the magnetism out of the coils. The result is an extremely expensive refurbishment or even the purchase of a new generator. If you must run a generator dry, you have to make sure it is not connected to anything. Consult the user manual.
Petrol doesn't last forever. It ages and degrades, and even becomes foamy, which means you cannot leave petrol in the fuel tank indefinitely. If you turn on a generator with degraded fuel, it can cause serious problems.
While there is no definitive answer on how long a type of fuel can last, it pays to know that petrol ages faster than diesel and additives can extend the life of a fuel. When in doubt, throw it out. Fuel is cheaper than buying new spare parts.
