Be honest. Did you study your generator’s owner’s manual when you bought it? No? We didn’t think so! We understand that it’s not the most exciting thing to do. However, it is incredibly important to know how much oil your generator takes to keep it ticking over healthily.
Why? Because it will keep you, your family, your property, and your neighbors safe. Not to mention that it will save you money in the long run.
Don’t worry, we are here to help you. The whole oil business can get pretty confusing, so we’re going to give you the rough guidelines to follow.
Although, we should state right away that you need to always check the owner’s manual before going ahead. You don’t want to accidentally ruin your precious generator!
Anyway, let’s get right into the details, shall we?
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Contents
How Much Oil Does a Generator Take?
Ideally, you need to be checking your oil regularly. If you’ve noticed that your generator seized up a few days after use, it’s usually because you’ve neglected to check the oil level.
Thankfully, modern generators come with a low oil shutdown feature that can prevent any real damage from occurring. So, if it has stopped, your first port of call should be to check the oil.
As a general rule, change your oil every 100 hours of use. Of course, make sure it has had a chance to cool down before you actually make the change. We don’t want any catastrophic injuries or accidents occurring!
You will find that most generators take between 500 to 800 millimeters of oil. But this depends on the size and the brand. While we aren’t going to be able to give you specifics per brand, we’ll do our best to answer your “how much oil does a generator take?” question.
Sound like a plan? Excellent!
Suitable Oils
Last update on 2024-04-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#1 Westinghouse
| Westinghouse Generator Model | Oil Capacity |
| iGen2200 | 350 ml |
| iGen2500 | 350 ml |
| iGen4500 | 600 ml |
| WGen2000 | 600 ml |
| WGen3600 | 600 ml |
| WGen3600v | 600 ml |
Disclaimer: Of course, you should always check the manual of your specific generator to know exactly how much oil to put into your model.
No, this isn’t all the generators that Westinghouse makes. The brand sells larger ones too, however, we’re not going to be covering all the models of every brand.
Also, bear in mind that the user manual stipulates the importance of not overfilling it. Doing so can lead to lots of problems like fires, serious engine damage, and damage to surrounding property. So, before filling, ensure the generator is on a level surface. This way, the oil level reading will be as accurate as possible.
#2 Briggs & Stratton
| Briggs & Stratton Generator Model | Oil Capacity |
| P2200 PowerSmart | 500 ml |
| P2400 PowerSmart | 500 ml |
| 3200A Portable | 500 ml |
| 1200A SPRINT Portable | 500 ml |
Disclaimer: Of course, you should always check the manual of your specific generator to know exactly how much oil to put into your model.
#3 DuroMax
| DuroMax Generator Models | Oil Capacity |
| XP1300E | 1200 ml (1.2 L) |
| XP10000E | 900 ml |
Disclaimer: Of course, you should always check the manual of your specific generator to know exactly how much oil to put into your model.
DuroMax generators are a bit different when it comes to finding the specific oil capacities in the owner’s manual. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t list it. Instead, you have to refer to the sticker on the generator itself. We found this a little strange and were hunting around for ages!
#4 Champion
| Champion Generator Model | Oil Capacity |
| 170cc Inverter | 560 ml |
| 224cc Inverter | 560 ml |
| 2000 Watt Inverter | 370 ml to 470 ml |
| 3500 Watt Inverter | 560 ml |
Disclaimer: Of course, you should always check the manual of your specific generator to know exactly how much oil to put into your model.
Champion is very helpful as their Customer Service Center tells you exactly how many quarts are required for all of their models. We’ve converted a few of the most popular ones to ml here for you. But take a look in your owner’s manual to read the specific instructions too.
#5 Firman
| Firman Generator Model | Oil Capacity |
| P03602 | 600 ml |
| ECO 4000 | 620 ml |
| ECO 4000RE | 620 ml |
Disclaimer: Of course, you should always check the manual of your specific generator to know exactly how much oil to put into your model.
Just like the Westinghouse, Firman emphasizes the importance of ensuring your generator is on a flat and level surface before filling to improve accuracy.
#6 Ford
| Ford Generator Model | Oil Capacity |
| FG11050PE | 1200 ml (1.2 L) |
| FG2500iS | 350 ml |
| FG3050P(E) | 600 ml |
| FG4050P(E) | 600 ml |
| FG4650P(E) | 600 ml |
Disclaimer: Of course, you should always check the manual of your specific generator to know exactly how much oil to put into your model.
If you’re looking for your Ford generator’s oil capacity online, be careful not to fall into their cars’ oil capacity category. It’s quite easy to do, so make sure you check the headings before trying to cram 3.5 L of oil into your portable generator!
#7 Honda
| Honda Generator Model | Oil Capacity |
| EU2000i | 400 ml |
| EU1000i | 250 ml |
Disclaimer: Of course, you should always check the manual of your specific generator to know exactly how much oil to put into your model.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, the amount of oil needed for each generator changes drastically — even if they’re made by the same company. This is why we’ve been encouraging you to check your owner’s manual before going ahead and filling it up.
Remember, it isn’t just the oil amount that you need to be aware of, it’s the type of oil too. Viscosity plays a vital role in keeping your generator happy and healthy.
This will be stated inside the owner’s manual, as well as on the label of your generator. It’s best to know the specifics before you purchase it so you can have everything you need by the time it arrives.
Suitable Oil for a portable generator
- Honda genuine oil is engineered for today's high revving 4-stroke engines
- Protect your investment with this unique blend of costly sheer-stable polymer additives, top quality base...
- Honda genuine oil exceeds all requirements for API service classifications SM, all new Honda power equipment
- Designed to meet the needs of your power equipment
- 100% Synthetic SAE 5W-30
- For Use In All Air Cooled 4-cycle Engines
- 32 Oz. bottle
- 5 quarts of full synthetic motor oil; 5W-30; formulated for longer drain intervals
- Prevents build up that can cause rust and corrosion
- Reduces friction for less engine wear; helps reduce exhaust emissions
- High resistance to viscosity and thermal breakdown
- ATTENTION: Castrol GTX Magnatec will be transitioning to a brand NEW Castrol product, GTX Full Synthetic, on...
- Dramatically reduce engine wear
- Leave critical engine parts 4X smoother. As tested in the industry Sequence IVA wear test
- Superior wear protection on critical engine parts
- For best performance, follow the manufacturer's recommendations in your vehicle owner’s manual.
Last update on 2024-04-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
