The lifespan of a Hyundai Generator
How long will your Hyundai generator last? Did you know that Hyundai diesel generators last a lot longer than petrol ones? Or did you go for one of the inverter generators that Hyundai Generators Australia has to offer and you’re not sure what its lifespan might be? In this article, we cover how long each type of generator can last, as well as the typical mistakes people make which shorten the lifespans of their generators and how to avoid them. And, if you’re new to generators and engines in general, there is a brief guide to the general care of your generator at the end.
How Long Generators Can Last For
Hyundai diesel generators can last for a gobsmacking 50,000 hours of usage. That would be a full 17 years of full 8-hour days of energy supply. This is an absurdly long amount of time and, to be honest, it’s the best-case scenario and would certainly require that you are taking the best care of your diesel generator. But even the more conservative estimate of a total running time of 15,000 hours is 10 years of 4 hours of energy supply every day.
These estimates vary greatly, depending on the source, from a minimum of 10,000 hours to other estimates of a max of 30,000 hours. Factors that can influence the running time of a Hyundai generator Australia include the size of the engine, with larger engines usually having a longer expected lifetime. Of course, the larger generators tend to all be diesel fuelled ones, since diesel is better for situations that require higher torque as well as being more efficient and cost-effective over longer runtimes.
On the other hand, how long do petrol generators last? The total running time of a portable petrol generator is claimed to be from 2,000 to 3,000 hours. It’s worth noting that this estimate is for portable generators which, to say again, have a shorter lifetime than the much larger fixed options. For the typical use case of running backup power for a few hours once every three months or so, these types of portable petrol generators will last at least a decade with proper care. This is also the case for inverter generators, which are the vast majority of our petrol generators.
Differences in Petrol vs Diesel
But why is there this big difference in lifespan between a diesel generator and a petrol generator? A lot of it comes down to the engine design differences. In a diesel engine, combustion is achieved by first warming the fuel-air mixture with glow plugs and then compressing this mixture in the combustion chamber to such a high pressure that it combusts. Petrol does not use this high air pressure and instead uses spark plugs which start the combustion process.
As a result of this difference, diesel engines are built with much thicker cylinder walls to contain the air pressure, whereas petrol engines can be built lighter. Another difference is that diesel engines usually have a larger stroke which is the distance the piston travels. This is because a larger stroke results in a better compression ratio inside the combustion chamber, which is good for diesel engines that need this compression to initiate combustion. This combustion is also relatively slower than in petrol engines. As a result, diesel engines don’t have as high an RPM count. Therefore, the engine doesn’t face as much wear and tear.
Typical Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
A mistake many people make is to not break into their generator. While some manufacturers will break in their engines, it’s still worth doing it yourself because of the negative consequences to generator lifespan if you don’t. Breaking in a generator consists of running it for a while to make sure all the machined parts slide past each other nicely without damaging each other but also while keeping a tight seal.
Usually, there will be tiny shavings of metal that end up in the engine oil as the parts wear grooves into each other. If you don’t break in your engine, these bits of metal can cause serious damage. The other consequence is that an engine that isn’t broken in can consume more engine oil, with it ending in the combustion chamber or creating a film on the cylinder wall which is not scraped away by the piston rings. This can end up contaminating the oil, prevent a proper seal, and cause engine damage and a loss in engine power.
To break in your generator, you will need to replace the engine oil several times to clear out the metal fragments, so make sure that you have a supply of it on hand. It’s worth checking your manual or following up with the dealer or manufacturer of your generator about which variety suits your generator best. On top of that, it’s worth getting some oil conditioner. Engine oil bought today will almost certainly have an oil conditioner in it already, if it’s from a reputable brand, but adding some more can help to prevent a dry start. A dry start occurs when an engine is started without fuel, oil, or lubricant and causes scrapes and scoring on the pistons and other components.
In a petrol engine, the first step is to remove the spark plugs and put a small amount of oil conditioner into the spark plug chamber. Then you can slowly pull the starter cord ten times to work the piston up and down the cylinder to lubricate it. Then remember to replace the spark plug. Add the required amount of engine oil, per your manufacturer’s specifications, as well as top up the fuel.
Now to run the engine. Run the generator for an hour with no load and then replace the oil. This gets rid of those metal fragments. Then, to get even more of them out, run it for a second hour with no load and replace the oil again. Lastly, run it for another hour at around 75% of its total capacity, to get the required heat and pressure for the break-in. This process should ensure a good seal on your pistons without any further metal fragmentation being likely. If your generator manual has instructions on how to break it in specifically, follow those. Or seek advice from your dealer or manufacturer for information specific to your machine.
Summarised Generator General Care Guide
The other mistake people make is not running their generators for months and months until they need them. Running your generator should be part of a maintenance schedule because it keeps the parts lubricated and moving. On top of this, make sure you don’t leave fuel in the generator for months as well, since it can spoil and cause engine problems if then used to power the engine. It’s always worth finding a schedule that you can keep to, so while a weekly check is ideal, monthly may have to do it. With these tips in mind, your generator should last you the full decade that the best of them promise.
