TL/DR: Two-Person Oil Change:
Even if you're trying to be 100% off-grid, having a gas or propane generator to use as a backup when plans A-F have failed is essential.
Trust us. Or you can learn the hard way to take a note from the Scouts and just always be prepared.
We've been lucky enough to acquire two generators for free, one propane and one gas. All three of which are pretty powerful but unfortunately they are also not the most environmentally friendly.
Despite both of us loving the Oregon Trail video game, we obviously learned absolutely nothing when we decided to move up to the mountain in January. You never load your wagon (or u-haul) in Winter! We ran into issues almost immediately with the oldest generator, our propane.
Propane Generators are normally great for cold weather as they don't usually freeze, which is an issue with gas generators. However, we were facing a lot of issues early on, including heating ourselves through our first snowstorm with all five dogs on the land. The propane generator is LARGE and requires a big wingspan to start in the cold. Each day it became harder to start and our shoulders were sore from the multiple start attempts. Desperate to find a way to power our wifi router (hey.. we work remote) AND to stay warm, we even resorted to using our Truck's AC plug as a generator a few times.
After about a week of fiddling with the generator (trying the same thing over and over expecting a different result), we caved and went out on a mission to get a more efficient easy-start gas generator.
Surprisingly enough, we don't have a lot of options up in the middle of nowhere. So we drove to town and at our major home improvement store, we were able to find a much smaller more efficient gas generator when compared to our other models.
With most generators, it turns out they need similar maintenance and similar small fixes can fix the issue of it not starting.
Why won't your generator start?
1) Is it getting fuel?
- Could be out of fuel, fuel is turned off (this is easy to do), or you might have a leak somewhere.
2) Is there GOOD oil in the engine?
- most have a little twist top oil test stick that can be screwed off and checked by wiping it off with a towel and sticking it back in. Make sure it hits the minimum level and isn't too dark.
Too low means add more oil (slowly!) & with an oil mat underneath.
Too dark? means you need to do an oil change!
Two-Person Oil Change:
Required Items:
Another human to help you lift your generator (don't throw out your back trying to impress someone!)
Ratchet set/Oil change tools
Oil-catch pan
Replacement oil - ours need 10w30
Shop towels - like paper towels but blue in the hardware section
Trash bag for those soon to be dirty shop towels
Some way to raise your generator
Suggested Items:
Funnel
Adjustable funnel - in case your fill spot is in a hard place
Oil change mat
Gloves
Here's What We Did:
With our small generator that we keep on a picnic table, we lift it with two stacked four by fours on one side and our 13-gallon oil pan underneath the other side, so it is slightly angled. Underneath everything we also use an oil change mat to catch any drips in case of accidents.
Our yellow medium-sized generator we typically lift it upon the base of a four-wheeled dump cart that happened to be the perfect height and size to support the generator.
Once you have the generator lifted but secured (this is again where the second person comes in handy), just take your ratchet set and loosen the nut that holds your oil. There is also a washer, so wipe both off and be extra careful not to lose either piece!
Give it a few minutes to let all of the oil drain into your pan, and replace your nut and washer. If your washer looks worn or dirty, you should replace it too at this time.
The next step is to fill your generator. Your instructions will tell you how much oil you'll need, or I'm sure you can look it up online, but you can also wing it like we do most times (although this isn't recommended!) Using your funnel, slowly pour in oil, monitoring how much you pour (usually through the side of the bottle), and fill just until you can see a little oil at the base of your funnel.
Then wipe off the oil stick using a shop towel before screwing the lid back on before you unscrew it to check the oil level. Your stick will usually indicate a minimum/maximum fill line that you want to make sure your oil level is between. Add more if you are too low and if you're too full, luckily you have that oil change mat underneath and shop towels ready!
Always be sure to properly dispose of any items with oil on them. Your oil-catch pan can be taken to most auto shops to be recycled, but call ahead first to be safe!
- peace, love, & dogs -
Sam + Jen
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