How to "Break In" Your New Portable Generator So It Lasts Years!...The Traveling Life
What you do when you first get a portable generator is critical to making it last. You must not simply add oil and run it until the next oil change. In this video I detail specific procedures to be followed to make your portable generator last. The most important thing is to run it for an hour, with no load, and then change the oil. Even a casual examination of this first oil will show it to be black and full of fine metal particles. These particles, if allowed to remain, would lead to premature wear. Instead of lasting for years, it may not even make it to one year.
Use an oil stabilizer, such as Lucas or Marvel Mystery Oil with your oil. It will prevent dry starts (no oil on the cylinder walls), a leading cause of engine failure. You should add a few ounces with every oil change along with a few ounces of Sea Foam in the gasoline. This will keep the carburetor and jets free of build up due to the terrible effects of ethanol. Of course there is no guarantee your generator will have a long life, but taking these steps will at least give you better odds! Thanks for watching!