As much as you might want your diesel generator to run forever, it also requires maintenance, like most things. Think about how hard your generator works most of the time; it’s only natural that it will be subject to wear and tear. But how do you know when it’s time to give your generator a little TLC? Here are some signs that your diesel generator needs a service or that some parts may be damaged.
1. It may have leaks
A common sign that your generator may have an issue is if you notice any leaks. Generators may sometimes have coolant leaks, fuel, or oil leaks due to wear and tear or damage done to the generator. The good news here is that you can generally avoid this with regular maintenance. When the generator goes through services, make sure that all the pipes and seams where the pipes connect are still good. If you notice any wear and tear around these areas, you may want to fix them to avoid a problem developing further down the line.
2. No fuel
You may think this sounds silly, but it may surprise you how often people think their generator is broken when it’s actually just out of fuel. Put simply, if your generator doesn’t have fuel, it won’t work. However, if you notice that your generator is using more fuel than it should, this might cause concern. You may have a fuel leak, or the system may simply have wear and tear that makes it more difficult to function, requiring more fuel to put out the power.
3. Generator failure
There could be several issues if your generator is simply not starting. The first thing to do is check that all the liquids are at optimal levels. This includes the fuel, coolant, and oil. If all these are full, there may be air in the fuel system, a leak somewhere in the fuel line, or issues with the valves. Either way, if your generator fails to start or keeps cutting out, we recommend taking it to a professional to check.
4. A dead battery
If you’re using a generator with an electrical ignition system, you might find that after a few years, the battery stops working. This is natural. Batteries usually have limited cycles they can run before they give out. Thankfully, this is an easy fix, as batteries aren’t overly expensive. You can also measure your battery health when your generator goes in for a service. This can at least give you an idea of when the battery may need replacing so you can plan for it.
5. Faulty controls
Modern-day generators usually have a control panel from which you can control the amount of power they give off and track any performance issues that may require maintenance. This control panel will generally display important information like oil pressure, fuel levels, coolant temperature, battery health and voltage, and any other relevant information you may need. Unfortunately, if the control panel gets faulty or has issues because the owner tried to change settings, you would need to get a technician in to fix it.
6. General maintenance
General maintenance should never be overlooked if you own a generator. Whether this is a diesel generator or petrol generator, the better you look after it, the longer it will last you. Diesel generators are usually the go-to for business owners because they’re hardier. On average, they require a service once every 400 hours of runtime or every six months. Petrol generators, on the other hand, might need maintenance more often as they have electrical components that need to be replaced more often, like spark plugs.
Where to buy a new generator
General maintenance is the key to ensuring your generator lasts. But nothing is built to last forever, and there may come a time when you have to buy a new one. We suggest looking at Renteca for generators for sale in Australia. As professionals in the industry, Renteca only sells generators that have been tried and tested, ensuring that you get quality that will last you for years to come.
Final thoughts
The sooner you catch the issues above, the sooner you can have a professional inspect, repair, or service your generator so it continues to give you a return on your investment. However, if not, you may need to look at other alternatives, like buying a new diesel generator if yours can’t be fixed. Either way, the more prompt you are with maintenance, the longer your generator should last you.
