If you have invested in a genset to provide your business or facility with power in the event of a blackout, it’s important to ensure that it’s running properly for your peace of mind. Although this power generation equipment is designed to be robust and require minimal maintenance even in tough operating environments, they do require some care and maintenance in order to perform reliably in a power outage. Here are 5 more common problems that diesel generators can experience and how to prevent them.
Leaks: Fuel leaks can easily occur in diesel generators. Check to ensure the tank is not overfilled and that the pump system is working. Replace any fuel lines that look damaged or cracked. Oil leaks can occur as a result of wet stacking or over-fuelling and is usually the result of working a genset well below its load capacity. This is a serious issue that will require technical expertise, but it can be prevented by correctly sizing your generator for your needs and running it at optimal loads on a regular basis. Coolant leaks can occur when hoses are blocked or damage. To prevent this, always use silicon instead of rubber hoses, and replace hoses every 4 years or when damaged.
Blocked ventilation: Diesel generators require good ventilation in order to operate safely and effectively, but these intake and exhaust valves can easily get blocked up by debris, especially if the genset is kept outdoors or not regularly maintained. Blacked valves reduce air circulation and cannot operate properly, which can lead to critical components becoming damaged. Intakes and exhausts should be inspected every week or after extreme weather to ensure all debris are removed and the valves are clear.
Circuit breaker issues: An important part of genset maintenance is checking that the circuit breaker trip settings equal the load capacity of your genset, and that this is adjusted with each change to the load that you implement. If your circuit breaker is tripping, this is the first thing you should check on.
Low coolant temperature: This indicates an issue with your block heaters. If the temperature gets too high in the blocks, it triggers the movement of coolant through the system, which will evaporate on contact. You can spot this trend quite easily if you keep having low coolant levels but there’s no leak. Ideally, your block heaters should be between 37 – 50 degrees Celsius – any higher can lead to engine failure and damage to the system.
Contaminated/old lubricants: Lubricants provide essential protection to moving metal parts in an engine like the one in diesel generators, preventing damaging wear and friction during power generation. Because this lubricant is right in the thick of things, it doesn’t have a long lifespan and needs to be replaced often, along with the fuel filter and oil filter (at least once a year).
Diesel Generators and Commercial/Industrial Power Generation Solutions in Australia
Energy Power Systems Australia is the leading engine supplier in the country, offering a wide range of CAT gensets and power generation equipment to meet all commercial and industrial power needs. For more information on our new and used diesel generators for hire or for purchase, please contact us today.
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