Wen 56380i inverter generator oil change, 108 hrs on OCI, 689 hrs on unit

[tnt_motorsports]

I shared in the small engine oil change forum that I changed the oil in my Wen 56380i inverter generator. I usually go ~100 hours on an oil change. This UOA says I could go much further given the TBN that was left. Other than the drop in viscosity I don't see much wrong with this sample. The recommended oil is 5w30, the oil used was F&F HDEO 5w40 synthetic.

Post your latest small engine oil change

Mobil1 15w-50 in the old MF16 yard mule. This was a rescue years ago, bound for the scrapper (just could not let that happen), that I tried my hand at restoring and is now used for turning trailers and non-drivable cars around a long, sloped and tight driveway. Nice Tractor!

bobistheoilguy.com

Just my $0.02

 

[scotty.honda.dog]

Thanks for posting, interesting for my Rato engine powered Chonda generators like yours.

Added - Why the HDEO?

 

[scotty.honda.dog]

I have a brand new Wen 2200 watt R80 powered generator ready for breakin. Any thoughts/suggestions on breakin oil and then long term oil? I have what I have done on my other generator but I dont want to bias the suggestions.

 

[ctechbob]

I have a brand new Wen 2200 watt R80 powered generator ready for breakin. Any thoughts/suggestions on breakin oil and then long term oil? I have what I have done on my other generator but I dont want to bias the suggestions.

I just ran mine for an hour with the oil they shipped it with, which was Wen branded 10W30, then swapped over to using my mixed bag 5W30, which is a combination of Havoline HM and Lifelong 5W30 (Leftovers from the 6qt boxes). Did a change at 21 hours, and will do another as I get nearer to 50. Usually takes a few to get the sparkles out. I'll keep on using the mix I have on hand long term.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

Thanks for posting, interesting for my Rato engine powered Chonda generators like yours.

Added - Why the HDEO?

Fair question. My logic is simple. The generator calls for 5w30. I use 5w40 because if it shears it will still be at least a 30 weight oil. Also I think the additive pack in HDEO is more robust and will not hurt OPE. I use HDEO in all my OPE.

Just my $0.02

 

[tnt_motorsports]

I have a brand new Wen 2200 watt R80 powered generator ready for breakin. Any thoughts/suggestions on breakin oil and then long term oil? I have what I have done on my other generator but I dont want to bias the suggestions.

My son got a Wen 2350 for Christmas. I helped him break it in on the F&F HDEO 5w40. His doesn’t have an hour meter so we ran it for a while and changed the oil. He took it RC racing one day and we changed it again. I think now he can do annual changes especially given my UOA.

I run a magnetic dipstick in anything without a filter.

Just my $0.02

 

[nomas]

I bought a Generac Inverter generator and the dealer told me to use straight 30 weight .

 

[fantastic]

Fair question. My logic is simple. The generator calls for 5w30. I use 5w40 because if it shears it will still be at least a 30 weight oil. Also I think the additive pack in HDEO is more robust and will not hurt OPE. I use HDEO in all my OPE.

Just my $0.02

Keep using the 40 then b/c this is what happened. It sheared to a 30 visc so If you're wanting to stay in a reasonable 40-30 range this 100 hour run appears to be the time to change.

 

[fantastic]

I bought a Generac Inverter generator and the dealer told me to use straight 30 weight .

Great advice if your gen stays down south in the warmer climate. Bad advice if your gen travels with you, for any reason, up north anywhere during the winter time.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

Keep using the 40 then b/c this is what happened. It sheared to a 30 visc so If you're wanting to stay in a reasonable 40-30 range this 100 hour run appears to be the time to change.

Yeah I did the UOA just to see if I should shorten the 100 hrs. It often runs in hot weather and for long runs (3 or 4 days at a time) powering my RV. I plan to stick to my ~100 hrs and hopefully this bad boy lasts many years.

Just my $0.02

 

[nomas]

Great advice if your gen stays down south in the warmer climate. Bad advice if your gen travels with you, for any reason, up north anywhere during the winter time.

That generator will never leave Louisiana .

 

[wpod]

Fair question. My logic is simple. The generator calls for 5w30. I use 5w40 because if it shears it will still be at least a 30 weight oil. Also I think the additive pack in HDEO is more robust and will not hurt OPE. I use HDEO in all my OPE.

Just my $0.02

HDEOs are the best oils on the market.

 

[VTECOverRated]

Id rather stick to westinghouse generators. dual fuel honda motors run for ever.
This looks nice though

 

[fantastic]

Yeah I did the UOA just to see if I should shorten the 100 hrs. It often runs in hot weather and for long runs (3 or 4 days at a time) powering my RV. I plan to stick to my ~100 hrs and hopefully this bad boy lasts many years.

Just my $0.02

How much more shearing will happen if you run it over this 108 we don't know w/o more testing but According to the link below a 30 Visc at 100c averages 10.895. A 40 averages 14.395. At your 10.70 it's right at that 30 visc average. However, since this gen might be spec. for 10-30 you could run the visc. all the way down to around 9.30. That would put you at the end of the road of a 30 for sure. You could run this for a bit longer IMO & still have the protection of the 40 weight in the beginning of the run at least. That's better than starting out w/a 30. If you want more of that 30-40 visc "cushion" this 10.70 is about perfect time for change. 110 hours seems like a good round number but if your generators are anything like mine there is really no "Perfect" number that it lands on with the convenient time to change it. So, 100-125 range gives you some time to plan for a change. This is a long winded version of what is on my mind. As always keep the rubber down & enjoy the outdoors while weather permits in your RV. Thanks!!

Viscosity Charts - Bob is the Oil Guy

Viscosities can be related horizontally only Viscosities based on 96 VI single grade oils. ISO are specified at 40°C AGMA are specified at 40°C SAE 75w, 80w, 85, 5w, & 10w specified at low temperature. Equivalent viscosities for 100° & 210°F are shown SAE 90 to 250 and 20 to 50 specified at...

bobistheoilguy.com

 

[thastinger]

Wonder if a 15/40 would shear like that. Looks like you could go a lot longer on the present oil though, but if the shear bothered me I might try 15/40 or even M1 15/50. I usually run either rotella 15/40 or M1 15/50 in my "portable" gens, of which I have 2 Yamahas and 2 Hondas but I've never done a UOA on any of them, but they all have several hundred hours on them without issue.

 

[tnt_motorsports]

Wonder if a 15/40 would shear like that. Looks like you could go a lot longer on the present oil though, but if the shear bothered me I might try 15/40 or even M1 15/50. I usually run either rotella 15/40 or M1 15/50 in my "portable" gens, of which I have 2 Yamahas and 2 Hondas but I've never done a UOA on any of them, but they all have several hundred hours on them without issue.

That is a valid question and I have debated doing just that. I have also considered 10w40 HDEO as well. My concern is the starting of my other OPE with 15w40 in them. For the winter I have a snow blower on my JD LT150, so the 15w40 might be a bit much... The win with 15w40 would be 1 oil for all my OPE and my Ram! I might just have to try it after my current run of 5w40 is gone.

FWIW, a few years back I switched my Ram from 5w40 to 15w40 due to shearing issues. I have continued to have good success with 15w40 even in the Iowa winters. My truck is garage kept so seldom sees daily temps below 5F, and if it does I drive the wife's T&C because she sure ain't leaving home in those temps...

Just my $0.02

 

[tnt_motorsports]

How much more shearing will happen if you run it over this 108 we don't know w/o more testing but According to the link below a 30 Visc at 100c averages 10.895. A 40 averages 14.395. At your 10.70 it's right at that 30 visc average. However, since this gen might be spec. for 10-30 you could run the visc. all the way down to around 9.30. That would put you at the end of the road of a 30 for sure. You could run this for a bit longer IMO & still have the protection of the 40 weight in the beginning of the run at least. That's better than starting out w/a 30. If you want more of that 30-40 visc "cushion" this 10.70 is about perfect time for change. 110 hours seems like a good round number but if your generators are anything like mine there is really no "Perfect" number that it lands on with the convenient time to change it. So, 100-125 range gives you some time to plan for a change. This is a long winded version of what is on my mind. As always keep the rubber down & enjoy the outdoors while weather permits in your RV. Thanks!!

Viscosity Charts - Bob is the Oil Guy

Viscosities can be related horizontally only Viscosities based on 96 VI single grade oils. ISO are specified at 40°C AGMA are specified at 40°C SAE 75w, 80w, 85, 5w, & 10w specified at low temperature. Equivalent viscosities for 100° & 210°F are shown SAE 90 to 250 and 20 to 50 specified at...

bobistheoilguy.com

all good insight @fantastic. My real quest with this UOA was to see if the HDEO could withstand ~100hrs. I think the answer is yes. FWIW the recommended OCI for this unit from Wen is 25hrs. I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing undo harm by going so long. I suspect I wasn't but $45 is a minor expense on a $800 generator.

That said, I do wonder about the early days in this generators life running Mobil Super Synthetic 5w30... . I was pretty thin when drained. I feel much better with the HDEO solution.

Just my $0.02

 

[fantastic]

all good insight @fantastic. My real quest with this UOA was to see if the HDEO could withstand ~100hrs. I think the answer is yes. FWIW the recommended OCI for this unit from Wen is 25hrs. I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing undo harm by going so long. I suspect I wasn't but $45 is a minor expense on a $800 generator.

That said, I do wonder about the early days in this generators life running Mobil Super Synthetic 5w30... . I was pretty thin when drained. I feel much better with the HDEO solution.

Just my $0.02

Right! This 40 gets you x4 the recommended ODI w/o looking like water when drained.

My old 1994 2500 LPG Cummins Onan recommends 150 hours on Single-30 as priority & Multi-15w-40 as a secondary viscosity. (Currently running Mobil 10w-30 but plan to switch over to 5w-40 Rotella T6 I have leftover). This gen is rated 3600 RPM.

My 2019 Harbor Freight 3500 Gasoline Generator recommends 100 Hours on 10w-30. (Although I've ran 10w-30 since new this last fill was leftover 5w-30 Oreilly's Auto Full synthetic but same plan to switch over to 5w-40 or 15w-40). This Gen is rated 2600-3100 RPM.

Not typical so far but the farthest I've gone was 170 hours on the HF Gen on 10w-30 Quaker State "Ultimate Durability" (Untested). Neither of these have an Oil Filter as I'm sure yours doesn't as well.

Onan



Harbor Freight below