Maintenance Mastery: Keeping Your Duromax XP13000EH and XP13000HX in Top Condition

Generator maintenance is critical to ensuring your DuroMax unit will perform when you need it.

DuroMax generators are among the top portable generators on the market. The XP13000EH and XP13000HX have the power of a stationary home standby unit in a portable package. They can keep your lights and appliances running safely in an emergency.

That is, they’ll keep your home running if you’ve been doing your home generator maintenance. The fuel, oil, and filters are just some items you should check.

Learn more about the generator service you need and why these maintenance tasks are so important.

Key Takeaways

• Regular Maintenance Is Crucial: Ensuring the performance of DuroMax XP13000EH and XP13000HX generators requires routine maintenance.
• Fuel Level and Quality Check: Before each use, verify the fuel level. For extended storage, drain the gasoline tank and consider adding stabilizers to prevent fuel degradation.
• Engine Oil Management: Regularly check and change the engine oil (after the initial 8 hours and then every 50-100 hours), adhering to the manufacturer’s recommendations to prevent unexpected shutdowns.
• Air Filter Maintenance: Inspect the air filter regularly for optimal airflow, cleaning it after every 50-100 hours of use or more frequently in dusty conditions.
• Spark Plug Care: Clean and adjust the spark plug every 50-100 hours to improve fuel economy and reduce misfires, replacing it if damaged.
• Checking Carbon Brushes and AVR: Inspect carbon brushes every 250 hours. The AVR typically doesn’t need maintenance but may require attention if the generator overheats or is overloaded.
• Annual and Long-term Component Checks: Perform annual maintenance on components like the spark arrestor, valve clearance, fuel line, fuel tank, and battery. Clean the combustion chamber every three years or 500 hours.
• Generator Exercise: Regularly run the generator (typically monthly for 30 minutes) to ensure reliability and battery health, especially in extreme climates or conditions.
• Maintenance Schedule: Keep track of maintenance activities using the manual or a custom calendar to ensure the generator remains in peak condition.

When Should I Check the Fuel Level?

You should check the fuel level every time you use your DuroMax generator. Checking the fuel line is also a good idea. Checking the fuel level is simple, with the fuel gauge on top of the tank.

Maintenance When Using Gasoline

The DuroMax XP13000HX and XP130000EH are dual-fuel generators. Gasoline has some additional maintenance requirements.

You need to drain the fuel tank before storing the generator for an extended time. Gasoline contains ethanol and other additives that can damage the fuel system.

Gasoline starts to degrade within months. If you want to store it for use next season, you may need to add stabilizers.

There are also Tri-fuel generators, check out our Tri Fuel Generator FAQ.

When Should I Check or Change the Engine Oil?

Before you turn on your generator, you should check the oil. The process is similar to checking the oil in your car with a dipstick.

DuroMax XP130000EH and XP13000HX generators have an automatic shutoff to prevent damage from low oil. Checking the oil before using the generator helps you avoid an unexpected shutoff.

The engine oil in your generator needs to be changed regularly. DuroMax recommends the first generator oil change after only eight hours of use. This is the break-in period.

After that, you should change the oil after every 50 hours of heavy use or 100 hours of normal use. Be sure to store enough oil and filters to last at least a few days in an emergency.

When Should I Check or Clean the Air Filter?

The air filter is another component to check before you use your generator. A functioning air filter is essential for giving the generator enough airflow. Good airflow gives you better generator performance.

You should check the air filter after the break-in period. You probably won’t need to clean it until after 50 hours of heavy or 100 hours of normal use. Clean it every 10 hours if the environment is very dusty.

When Should I Clean or Adjust the Spark Plug?

Spark plug maintenance should occur after every 50 hours of heavy use or 100 hours of normal use. The spark plug helps the generator engine work correctly.

Proper cleaning and adjustment contribute to better fuel economy (see Duromax Generator Fuel Efficiency Tips). Regular maintenance reduces misfires and helps ensure the generator starts easily.

Quick Tip: Here’s what to do if your Generator Won’t Start.

You can remove the spark plug using the wrench that came with your generator. You should replace the spark plug if it has any cracks or chips. Check the plug gap against the measurements given in the owner’s manual.

After cleaning the spark plug, you can re-gap it if necessary.

When Should I Check or Replace the Carbon Brushes?

You should check the carbon brushes after every 250 running hours. The carbon brushes and the automatic voltage regulator (AVR) regulate power from the generator. Carbon brushes wear over time and will eventually need replacement.

The AVR itself typically doesn’t need maintenance. But if the generator is overheated or overloaded, the AVR could be damaged and need replacement.

When Should I Check Other Components on My Generator?

Some generator components only need maintenance after 300 hours of use or yearly in normal conditions. The combustion chamber can usually wait three years or 500 hours. The parts that need service every 300 hours include:

• Spark arrestor
• Valve clearance
• Fuel line
• Fuel tank and filter
• Battery

The spark arrestor prevents sparks from coming out of the exhaust pipe. It will need cleaning but shouldn’t need replacement.

The right valve clearance between the rocker arm and the valve stem helps protect against engine damage. You can find out the optimal clearance measurements from DuroMax.

You should check the fuel line and replace it if necessary. Cleaning the fuel tank and filter should be part of your yearly maintenance.

You should also check the engine idle speed and adjust it if necessary. The DuroMax XP13000HX and XP13000EH have idle control. This technology automatically slows the engine speed when the engine isn’t under load.

The battery terminals should be clean and secure. You can use a multimeter to check whether the battery is holding enough charge. You can find the charge rating in your owner’s manual.

Combustion Chamber Maintenance

Every three years or 500 hours, you should clean the combustion chamber. This removes carbon deposits, which can cause engine knocking and overheating. Carbon buildup can also cause higher oil consumption.

Why Should I Run My Generator Periodically?

Exercising your generator helps ensure its reliability and prevents damage from sitting idle. Regular exercise helps avoid having a dead battery. Running your backup generator for 30 minutes once a month is usually a good schedule.

If you live in a region with extreme temperatures, you may want to exercise your generator more often. Other challenging conditions like marine air can be a reason to run the generator more frequently.

In general, generator exercise is performed without a load. You may want to perform occasional load testing as well, especially if you don’t need to use the generator very often. This helps ensure the generator will perform as expected in real usage conditions.

Set Your Home Generator Maintenance Schedule

Home generator maintenance is essential for the reliable performance of your DuroMax XP13000EH or DuroMax XP13000HX. You should check some items, like the fuel level and the oil, before each use. Components like the battery and the fuel tank need maintenance every 300 hours or yearly.

Exercising the generator monthly helps ensure that it will start and run when you need it.

Keeping track of your maintenance tasks is important. Your owner’s manual may have pages to record your maintenance schedule. You can also create your own paper or digital maintenance calendar to be sure you’re keeping your generator in peak condition.

Check out the DuroMax XP13000EH and the DuroMax XP13000HX on Amazon, or check them out on eBay.

We have other articles about DuroMax generators with useful tips, such as Best Accessories for Duromax XP13000EH and XP13000HX and Customer Reviews and Feedback on Duromax XP13000EH and XP13000HX.