Learn to Change the Oil in a Gas Generator

If you live in an area with frequent power outages, or perhaps your home is subject to harsh storm conditions, you may want to invest in a gasoline powered generator to power your home. In order to keep your generator running smoothly, you'll need to make sure that you maintain it properly. That includes changing the oil at manufacturer-suggested intervals. You can change the oil in your generator yourself in just a few minutes with basic tools. You should change the oil in your new generator after the first 25 hours of use, and then every 100 hours (or three months) after that.
Instructions
 

1 Drain the used oil from the perkins generator set. Using an adjustable wrench, loosen the oil drain plug on the underside of the engine and drain the used oil into a drain pan. When all the oil is drained, replace the drain plug.
2 Remove the used oil filter. Unscrew the plastic oil filter (located on the underside of the engine, near the drain plug) and install a new filter. There may be an additional bolt that holds the filter in place. Remove this with an adjustable wrench.
3 Fill the portable gasoline generator factory with clean oil. Remove the dipstick from the filler tube. The dipstick is a black plastic knob that has a picture of an oil can printed on it. Slowly pour the new oil in the filler tube, and allow it to settle in the bottom of the oil pan.
4 Check the oil level. As you are filling the oil pan, use the dipstick to check the oil level. Allow the oil to settle in the pan for a few minutes. Clean off the dipstick with a rag and dip it in the filler tube. There are markings at the bottom of the dipstick indicating the oil level in the engine. The oil level is where the wet oil leaves a trace on the stick. Make sure that the oil is all the way up to the "full" mark, but not past it.
5 Start the generator for a few minutes, then shut if off and allow the oil to settle again. Re-check the oil levels and add more if needed.
6 Recycle the used oil. Pour the old oil from the drain pan into an empty milk jug and take the oil to your local recycling center or a oil change facility for proper disposal and recycling.