• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

PortablePowerRoundup.com

Portable AC Power and Battery Powered Outlets

  • Dual Fuel Generators
  • Inverter Generators
  • Tri Fuel Generators
  • Gas Generators
  • Solar Generators

How Often Should I Change My Generator Oil?

June 22, 2022 by Portable Power Leave a Comment

Contrary to popular belief, the answer to the question “how often should I change my generator oil” is… there is no magic one-size-fits-all oil change interval for generators.

Unfortunately, the recommended generator oil change interval can change dramatically from manufacture to manufacture and from model to model.

Table of Contents

  • How Often Should I Change The Oil In My Generator
    • Duromax Oil Change Interval
    • Honda Generator Oil Change Interval
    • Generac Generator Oil Change Interval
    • Firman Generator Oil Change Interval
    • Champion Generator Oil Change Interval
  • How Often Should Generator Oil Be Changed
  • How Often Should You Change The Oil In A Generator If You Don’t Have The Manual?
    • How many hours has your generator been used since the last oil change?
    • Does your generator have an oil filter?
    • Do you run your generator in dusty, wet, or humid environments?
    • What kind of load does your generator typically operate under?
    • How long has it been since your last oil change?
  • Final Thoughts On How Often To Change Oil In Generator

How Often Should I Change The Oil In My Generator

Duromax Oil Change Interval

For example, Duromax generators recommend changing the oil in your generator after the first 6- 8 running hours to flush out the engine and then every 20 hours after that (or after every 50 running hours for the XP15000E and XP15000EH).

Honda Generator Oil Change Interval

On the other hand, the Honda EU2000i inverter generator recommends changing the oil after the first 20 hours of use and then every six months after that.

Generac Generator Oil Change Interval

While Generac recommends that you change the oil in your generator once a year or after 150 hours, whichever comes first.

Firman Generator Oil Change Interval

FIRMAN recommends changing the oil in your generator after the first 25 hours of use and then every 100 hours after that.

Champion Generator Oil Change Interval

Champion recommends changing the oil in a new generator after the first 5 hours of use and every 50 hours or once a year, whichever comes first.

How Often Should Generator Oil Be Changed

As you can see, there is a considerable variation in the recommended maintenance schedule for changing the oil in your generator.

This is why you should change the oil in your generator based on the maintenance schedule recommended by the manufacturer whenever possible.

You will typically find recommended oil change intervals in your owner’s manual or other operating instructions given at the time of purchase.

However, what do you do if you don’t have access to your owner’s or operator’s manual? Are there any “rules of thumb” you can follow when changing the oil in a generator?

How Often Should You Change The Oil In A Generator If You Don’t Have The Manual?

If you don’t have access to your owner’s manual, then…

How often you should change the oil in a generator depends on the answers to several important questions, including…

How many hours has your generator been used since the last oil change?

Changing the oil in a brand-new generator after the first 6 – 8 hours is generally recommended to flush out the engine. After that, you should change the oil in your generator every 20 – 50 hours, more frequently under extreme operating conditions.

Does your generator have an oil filter?

Generators with oil filters typically require fewer oil changes than those without. Changing your oil every 50 – 100 running hours is generally recommended if your generator has an oil filter.

Do you run your generator in dusty, wet, or humid environments?

If you operate your generator in dusty, wet, or humid environments, you should consider changing your oil significantly more often than recommended under “normal” conditions.

What kind of load does your generator typically operate under?

Operating your generator for prolonged periods under a heavy load can significantly stress your generator and your oil. So, if you run your generator under heavy loads… consider changing your oil more often.

How long has it been since your last oil change?

Even if you haven’t been using your generator, your oil will degrade over time, providing less protection to your engine. That’s why changing your oil at least once every 6 – 12 months is essential, even if you haven’t used it.

Final Thoughts On How Often To Change Oil In Generator

It comes down to this…

You should change the oil in your generator based on the oil change interval listed in your owner’s or operator’s manual.

If you don’t have your owner’s manual, then…

It is generally recommended that you change the oil in a new generator after the first 6 – 10 hours of operation and then every 20 – 50 running hours or every six months, whichever comes first.

If your generator has an oil filter, then you can probably get away with changing your oil every 50 – 100 hours of operation or every twelve months, whichever comes first.

However, if you run your generator for an extended period under a heavy load or in wet, humid, or dusty conditions… you should change the oil in your generator more frequently.

And while you’re at it…

Check out our Generator Maintenance Tips article to learn more about getting years of trouble-free service out of your generator.

Filed Under: Generator Maintenance Tagged With: How Often Should I Change My Generator Oil?, How Often Should You Change The Oil In A Generator, How Often To Change Oil In Generator

Featured Posts

Duromax XP12000DX

Duromax XP12000DX Dual Fuel Portable Generator

You'd be well advised to seriously consider the DuroMax XP12000DX if you're looking for a portable generator for your home or … [Read More...] about Duromax XP12000DX Dual Fuel Portable Generator

History of Duromax Generators

The History and Evolution of Duromax Generators

Generators have long been a staple for power generation in various circumstances, from emergencies to outdoor adventures. … [Read More...] about The History and Evolution of Duromax Generators

Honda EU2200I generator

Honda EU2200i Inverter Generator

Honda EU2200i Inverter Generator The Honda EU2200i Inverter Generator is a portable power solution perfect for various … [Read More...] about Honda EU2200i Inverter Generator

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Portable Generator Ultimate Guide
  • DuroMax XP13000X Portable Generator
  • The History and Evolution of Duromax Generators
  • Duromax Generator Fuel Efficiency Tips
  • How to Safely Use Your Duromax Generator
  • Top Duromax Generator Accessories for Enhanced Performance
  • Duromax Generator Troubleshooting Guide
  • Choosing the Right Duromax Generator for Your Needs
  • Duromax Generators: Setup and Installation Guide
  • Duromax vs. Competitors: In-Depth Comparison

Categories

  • Dual Fuel Generators
  • Duromax Generators
  • Gas Generators
  • Generator Maintenance
  • Honda Generators
  • Inverter Generators
  • Portable Generator
  • Portable Power Station
  • portable power tips
  • Solar Generators
  • Tri Fuel Generators

Resource Pages

  • Duromax Generators
  • Honda Generators

Footer

  • Contact Us
  • Opt-out Preferences
  • Terms of Use and Service
  • Privacy Policy
​
  • Notice of Security
  • Comments Disclaimer
  • General Disclaimer
  • Disclaimer & Legal Rights
  • Business Address
  • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

© 2023 Profitable Results Marketing, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Manage Cookie Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}