Break-in oil

[Ira]

Model 5638 liquid cooled 22kW installed a couple of weeks ago. Owner's manual says change the break-in oil at 30 hours or 3 months. My problem is that the first time the generator is used (other than exercise cycle), it may run for several days unattended. That scenario would occur if I have to evacuate for a hurricane (like Ike, for example), lose power while I'm gone, and can't get back for a few days.

So, should I let it run on manual for 30 hours without any load, then change the oil? Or not worry about it and take the chance of running continuous on the break-in oil for few days (maybe 72 hours) until I get back after an evacuation?

It only has a little over one hour on it now.

Thanks,
Ira

[Tampa18]

By process of elimination, it would be bad to run a generator potentially way past the 30 hours on break in oil.

It is also not good for a modern engine to run unloaded at 1800 rpm for 30 hours when new.

Neither would destroy the generator, but if it was mine I wouldn't do either.

You left out the third obvious choice. Run it under normal load for 30 hours. I am guessing you may have left off that choice because the installer did not supply a utility disconnect and your transfer switch does not have a utility breaker?

If so I have seen that done but I believe it would be unsafe and not to code, not to mention inconvenient.