Diesel engines are high compression (500-600 PSI) machines, therefore:

 

1.    Moisture must be kept to a minimum to prevent ferro-oxy (rust) damage to 
rings & cylinder walls.

2.    Fuel is subject to gelling if not correctly treated for low temps.

3.    There are certain types of slime that will grow over time in untreated 
fuel resulting in clogged filters and plugged injectors.

4.    Water in the fuel is a really bad thing, & fuel filters need water 
separators.

5.    Fuel tanks absorb more moisture if not kept full; this is a function of 
any atmospheric pressure & temperature changes.

6.    Ice up in a fuel lime is a mess to deal with. There is nothing like 
running a torch on a copper line full of a combustible fuel at -20°F on a 
starry night, it’s so romantic. 

7.    Low temps mean preheating or glow plugs and a warm up period before 
loading up a cold engine.

 

That said if you of your client is willing to put up with a diesel or is in a 
mild climate, diesels do produce the most watts per gallon. They are just not 
for everyone.

 

I compared the cost of diesel to LPG for my next backup generator off grid home 
in ID. Diesel Off-road was $3.60 per gallon & LPG was $2.25/ gallon. This was a 
year ago and at a $1.35/ gallon difference, & the diesel route was not the most 
economical way to go. I would be curious as to what the difference is in other 
areas.

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dana Orzel 

Great Solar Works, Inc -  NABCEP # 051112-136

E - d...@solarwork.com  - Web - solarwork.com 

O - 970.626.5253  C - 208.721.7003

"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"  

P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

 

 

From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf 
Of jay
Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2016 8:03 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Off-grid generator update?

 

Question to all the generator techs out there.

 

I’ve always been told that you don’t want a diesel to be sitting for long 
periods.  Fuel can go bad, all that sort of thing.

Vs propane which doesn’t care.

 

Is that true?

Or in mild climates will a monthly must run be OK?  

 

Thanks

jay

 

 

On May 5, 2016, at 6:13 AM, Mac Lewis <maclew...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

Chris,

 

Yes, this is a good point.  The QT series from Generac is a great machine and 
pricing is better than any other machine in that size that I've seen.  Is there 
an off-grid warranty on the QT series?

 

On Thu, May 5, 2016 at 3:14 AM, Chris Mason <cometenergysyst...@gmail.com> 
wrote:

 

 

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