GENERATOR BASICS: DIESEL GENERATOR WINTERIZATION

Winter is almost upon us and with the increase in extreme weather, many areas may face temperatures as low as 15-30 degrees below freezing and snowfall of up to 75 inches this season. If your generator set is installed outside, there are some steps you need to take for proper diesel generator winterization.

The two main conditions that will affect your generator this winter are ambient air temperature and precipitation.

COMBATING COLD AIR

  • OIL: We have already talked about the benefits of engine block heaters. However, the block heater only keeps your engine oil warm when idle. If the generator is being operated continuously at temperatures below freezing, most manufacturers recommend using winter grade oil. Cold oil becomes sluggish and increases friction on moving parts.
  • FUEL: Standard diesel fuel stored at low temperatures can gel, failing to combust and clogging fuel lines. Aftermarket fuel storage heaters and fuel line heaters are readily available and recommended to ensure reliability in Northern Tier regions.
  • BATTERIES: Many generator installations use lead-acid batteries, which can be reduced to less than 50% of its capacity when subjected to below freezing temperatures. One way to rectify this is to but bigger batteries. If your generator is located near a separate AC power source, a thermostatically controlled warming blanket is the best way to protect your batteries from the cold.

There are many other accessories available to keep your gen set running during extreme temperatures including air inlet heaters, coolant heaters, and even control panel heaters.

RAIN, SLEET, AND SNOW

We will assume your outdoor generator set is already in an enclosure. This will already offer a great deal of protection from precipitation. However, there are further steps to take.

  • AIR INTAKE: Ensuring that your engine gets proper air flow is crucial. Air intake ports should be protected not only from vertical precipitation but from horizontal as well. Snow hoods mounted over vents is a great first step, however, adding the thermostatically controlled motorized louvers is the ultimate protection from blocked or frozen intake ports.
  • EXHAUST: Rain, sleet or snow getting into the exhaust pipe could cause serious conditions including “hydro-lock”, which can render the engine useless. It is recommended to always have the exhaust outlet sloped towards the ground, but in an elevated position to prevent water from getting into the engine.

As always, Woodstock Power recommends you consult your generator manufacturer for the best information regarding your diesel generator winterization. Many manufacturers provide these suggested cold weather accessories as factory options, and there are many aftermarket “winterization kits” available.

For more information visit www.woodstockpower.com or call us at 610-658-3242

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