Oil for the generator?

[hkreck]

Hope everyone is having a great Labor day week end and hope no one has any issues. I'm looking at the type of oil used in a generator, I have a Cummins Oran RV QG 3600 LP. It's a propane generator and I haven't used it much but I did change the oil a little over a year ago. At that time because I live in Iowa and the temps can get down in the single digits, I put a 10W30 weight oil in it, which is recommended by Cummins. I am wondering now if a synthetic oil could be used? Any thoughts out here about this?

[Bama Rambler]

Cummins says in the manual that the use of synthetic oils is not recommended during the warranty period. I'd take that to mean that they don't recommend it at all, but once it's out of warranty, use what you want.

As clean as LP burns, I wouldn't worry about using a synthetic oil. A god high grade dino oil is all you need.

[ilmor]

Originally Posted by hkreck

Hope everyone is having a great Labor day week end and hope no one has any issues. I'm looking at the type of oil used in a generator, I have a Cummins Oran RV QG 3600 LP. It's a propane generator and I haven't used it much but I did change the oil a little over a year ago. At that time because I live in Iowa and the temps can get down in the single digits, I put a 10W30 weight oil in it, which is recommended by Cummins. I am wondering now if a synthetic oil could be used? Any thoughts out here about this?

I would not switch to synthetic if the specifications don't show it.

[VinceU]

X3

[hkreck]

I was just wondering about this because I know synthetic oil flows easier in cold weather than regular oil. So I was thinking it might be better during the winter, if I needed to use the generator even.

[NMWildcat]

I've always used synthetic in all my generators and lawn mowers. As long as the specs match the manufacturers recommendations, you should be good.

[capav8r]

Most of the time, when a manufacturer doesn't recommend a synthetic, it is because they do not have one in their brand. They like to sell their own branded products.

I have been using Amsoil Formula Four Stroke small engine oil in my generator, lawn mower and snow blower for years. All run like new.

AMSOIL Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic Small Engine Oil

[larrysteimel]

With a liquid fuel engine the fuel splashing around inside the cylinders tends to wash the oil off of the cylinder walls. Propane is a gas and doesn't do that therefor the propane engines last a long time. I doubt if you will ever wear out your generator.

[hkreck]

OK, I just got an email answer back from Cummins They stated that synthetic oil is OK to use in my generator. So I guess that takes care of that question. Thanks everyone for your response.

[markb422]

have a new MH with onan cummins and manual said not to use syn. oil during the break in period then it is okay as long as it meets specs. The syn. oil lubes too good to allow the piston rings to seat so they want you to use dino until the rings seat.

[CHICKDOE]

I love this forum. it's amazing the responses you get. I asked this same exact question about 5 weeks ago and got all the yes and no answers from the forum. I sent an inquiry to cummins about it and here is their response.

-------------------------------
We have the following response:
-------------------------------

Thank you for contacting Cummins Onan.

Even though your manual says that it is okay to use synthetic oil we do not recommend it. We have found that it gums up the cross hatches in the cylinders. You are okay to use any brand of oil as long as it is 15w40 w/detergent.

If you have any further technical questions please call us at 574-262-4611 and ask for our in house tech.

----------------------------
Sincerely,
Cummins Onan Customer Service


so I guess the folks at cummins are as decisive about the topic as the forum members are.

which came first, the chicken or the egg?

[youroo]

Originally Posted by CHICKDOE

I love this forum. it's amazing the responses you get. I asked this same exact question about 5 weeks ago and got all the yes and no answers from the forum. I sent an inquiry to cummins about it and here is their response.

-------------------------------
We have the following response:
-------------------------------

Thank you for contacting Cummins Onan.

Even though your manual says that it is okay to use synthetic oil we do not recommend it. We have found that it gums up the cross hatches in the cylinders. You are okay to use any brand of oil as long as it is 15w40 w/detergent.

If you have any further technical questions please call us at 574-262-4611 and ask for our in house tech.

----------------------------
Sincerely,
Cummins Onan Customer Service


so I guess the folks at cummins are as decisive about the topic as the forum members are.

which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Are they "Cummins" going to send you a "Revised Edition Manual"? I use Synthetic in ALL our Generators some are "Standby Emergency" they come on Automaticaly "Winter?Summer" The cylinders also have "Cross Hatches" the engines don't Smoke or have Low Compression! Youroo!!

[hkreck]

It's interesting on the different responses that people get. I was told that the synthetic was ok to use in my generator which is a RVQG3600LP. Which is what I inform Cummins when I wrote to them. So maybe that's different in some of their other generators?