Thread: Honda EU20i Generator problem

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Kev, what's a recommended oil then? Preferably Castrol as it's easy to obtain.

Manual recommends any 10W/15W-40 for temps where I live so would Castrol Magnatec be OK as I know this is supposedly OK for my Honda mower (model 196D)???

We use Honda's 10w/30 .. that's rated for -20 to +40 in this application. Hottest temps we get here are maybe 42-45 at the extreme extremes. Maybe 35 is our usual HOT summer temp'. a 10w/40 would be my choice for your hotter temps.

The magnatec should be fine if your using it without problems in the 196D, but a 15w maybe be a little heavy for the southern / colder regions. There a 5w/30 would be a better choice imho.

You must remember, that in a little 4 stroke air cooled engine like used in the EU20is, the oil plays a big part in cooling ... the faster the oil moves (and it is only a splash lubrication system) the better the heat exchange. If your oil can't flow and drain fast enough, that engine is going to run hotter.

Kev..

Derek
The ones I saw only had 2 leads to connect from memory.Cant be that hard to instal???
Would be handy if you came to sell being able to say the hours done.
I will be dropping the oil after every camp trip or reasonable work period.
For the cost of half a litre of oil its nothing.
Andrew

I bought an EU10i late last year after I threw my Kipor over the fence.
I installed an hour meter simple as winding a wire around the plug lead works a treat.
Gives me total hours and Hours since last Oil Change very impressed

Originally Posted by Fluids

We use Honda's 10w/30 .. that's rated for -20 to +40 in this application. Hottest temps we get here are maybe 42-45 at the extreme extremes. Maybe 35 is our usual HOT summer temp'. a 10w/40 would be my choice for your hotter temps.

The magnatec should be fine if your using it without problems in the 196D, but a 15w maybe be a little heavy for the southern / colder regions. There a 5w/30 would be a better choice imho.

You must remember, that in a little 4 stroke air cooled engine like used in the EU20is, the oil plays a big part in cooling ... the faster the oil moves (and it is only a splash lubrication system) the better the heat exchange. If your oil can't flow and drain fast enough, that engine is going to run hotter.

Kev..

I wonder if the 5W-30 Castrol Edge would work then. Will look in to it further.

The hour run meters are a peice of cake to install. We use the SenDec single wire meter. It's sealed for life and doesn't require a battery change.

We mount them just to the left of the spark plug cover. 2 x small holes to screw it to the top case, and a 3rd hole to run the single wire through the top cover (under the meter) to the HT lead just near the spark plug. The wire wraps around the HT lead 3-4 times and is tied off with a cable tie.

The meter auto activates when the machine runs, but always dispalys total hrs run.

I reckon they should be fitted ex the factory on stuff like generators. You know it takes XX Hours to mow the lawn, x so many mows/year ... not so easy to track with the generator ... was that 15hrs on ECO, or 4hrs with ECO off ??

Maybe 15 min's to fit.

Kev..

Did you have the vent on the fuel cap open? I remember when the bush fires went through last year, I borrowed my old mans, as I was powerless for a few days, it ran for hours then berrrr, stop

I checked fuel, still had some, restarted fine, then realised I'd left the vent closed

Its a 10i, but done well over 40hrs, I'd be willing to say this is whats happened, as your restarted fine

Originally Posted by dm_td5

I'm probably OK with hour meter as I only clock up 40 hours a year with power outages. 4 - 8 hour outages. But it wouldn't hurt to have one if it's an easy fit.

So, that would be 1 oil change per year by hours, or, 2 x oil changes per Honda's spec' of every 100Hrs OR 6 months ...

.. whichever comes first.

Kev..

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

I will be dropping the oil after every camp trip or reasonable work period.
For the cost of half a litre of oil its nothing.
Andrew

EXACTLY !

Oil's cheap ... and pulling down an EU series generator is NOT a quick 5min job . Trust me.

Kev..