Generator Maintenance Tips

Portable generators are a lifesaver in situations where you can’t rely on the local power grid for whatever reason. Of course, you need to make sure that your generator itself is reliable. That’s why the experts at Honda of North Carolina have created this generator maintenance guide. 

Oil and Filters

If you just bought a new portable generator, you should change its oil for the first time after about 30 hours of usage and change the oil again every 100 subsequent hours of usage. Be sure to swap out the oil filters with every oil change as well. We also recommend changing your generator’s oil at the beginning of each new season, even if it’s been used less than 100 hours since the last oil change. 

Routinely Run Your Generator

A generator that goes unused for too long can build up oil and other lubricants. Avoid this by running your generator about half an hour every two months if you’re otherwise not using it. 

Fuel Storage

Fuel that sits inside your generator’s tanks for too long can cause deposits to form on vital components. If your portable generator isn’t going to be used for a period of a month or longer, be sure to add some fuel stabilizer to the tank and run it for 10 minutes in order to get rid of some of the gunk. You should then allow the generator to cool and drain the fuel tank completely. You can then restart your generator and allow it to run until it stops due to running out of fuel, and then safely store your generator. 

Ensure Proper Wattage

Your portable generator’s manual will list two capacity ratings. The first rating represents continuous watts, meaning that it represents how much power the generator can put out on a typical basis. The second rating, which will be higher, is how much power the generator puts out when it starts up. A generator only puts out this much power for a few seconds after you turn it on, so it’s very important not to confuse the two numbers. If you try to get your generator to put out as much power as the second number implies on a continuous basis, it will soon burn out. When shopping generators, use the first rating as a guide. 

Shop generators at Honda of North Carolina. Visit us online or at our dealership in Granite Falls, North Carolina. We’re proud to serve communities like Hickory and Newton, North Carolina. We hope to see you soon!