What Weight Oil, Please?

[hotajax]

Application: Generac Standby Household Generator. Question - is 5W-30 synthetic OK for operation zero degrees Fahrenheit and above?
Not trying for a "best oil" fight. Just questioning the viscosity. Thanks.

 

[FederalQ]

My generac started today -6F with conventional 5/30. It was a bear to pull over the first couple of pulls. Full synthetic should be easier to start.

 

[redneckhillbilly]

5w-30 is what I use in my standby and my work generator, although I dont use synthetic alot of people do and I've not heard of any issues from them.

I will say synthetic oil in my tractor did make a noticable difference in how it starts in below freezing weather.

 

[hotajax]

Thanks, gents.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I run synthetic in everything. 10w-30 in all my non-automotive 4 stroke gas engines. 0W-20 for the Toyota and Honda, 5w-30 for the Dodge truck.

 

[jblnut]

I have a standby genny in my chicken barn and it’s got a coolant heater as well as an oil pan heater and battery maintainer so it’s always kept at operating temp. Not sure how or why the oil viscosity would make a difference no matter the ambient air temp if the heaters are working.

Does your standby genny have provisions to keep it at temp so it’s always ready to go ? If so run what it recommends.