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 Post subject: Winterizing Generator
PostPosted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:34 pm 
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Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 3:18 pm
Posts: 642
Location: Lake St. Clair, Michigan
Sooooo once again, my Kohler Generator wont start :evil: :evil: How am I supposed to winterize it, if it wont start?! I was hoping it would pull -100F marine antifreeze through sea strainer hose (how I always do it) just by cranking the motor, but it will not. Suggestions?

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 15, 2021 12:38 pm 
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I have a westerbeke but it didn't run when we bought the boat. I had mechanics look at it to evaluate if it was repairable to give me an estimate. They tried starting it so they pulled water into it. They were no help in figuring out how to winterize it so I went to Google for help.

I ended up hooking up the winterize kit just like you stated and kept cranking until AF came out. I then opened the plug at the bottom of the exhaust "muffler" and AF came out so I was pretty confident it was fully winterized. I think the trick is to keep the winterize tank above the level of the genny and also fill the strainer with AF and try to get all the air out of the line to give it the easiest flow possible.

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 22, 2021 9:02 pm 
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Location: Lake St. Clair, Michigan
Thanks for the reply!

After some minor diagnostic, and google, I discovered that the older Kohler generators are SUPER picky with spark plugs. Even the slightest carbon build up and the engine wont fire. I did not believe this to be the case - heck, my spark plugs were replaced two years ago and I have around 10 hours on them. TEN hours. Replaced them anyways, generator fired RIGHT up :roll: :roll: Of course....

All winterized and life is good! I bought 4 spark plugs, now I have 2 spares on board for the next time it decides to be a PITA.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21


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PostPosted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 7:47 am 
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Posts: 570
Glad to hear that.
That's actually not the first time I have heard this fact. A boat neighbor had a similar issue it barely ran and dumped gas out the exhaust. Changed plugs and all was well. It's strange that it has so much effect on the engine.

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--2002 3880 Regal Flybridge | Twin Merc 8.1HO **Seven**
--2003 AB 13 VST Console Inflatable | Tohatsu 40hp TLDI **Phish'n ski**
--310 Mercury Inflatable | 1982 9.9 Johnson


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PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 2:58 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:45 pm
Posts: 2866
Location: Indiana
Technologic80 wrote:
Thanks for the reply!

After some minor diagnostic, and google, I discovered that the older Kohler generators are SUPER picky with spark plugs. Even the slightest carbon build up and the engine wont fire. I did not believe this to be the case - heck, my spark plugs were replaced two years ago and I have around 10 hours on them. TEN hours. Replaced them anyways, generator fired RIGHT up :roll: :roll: Of course....

All winterized and life is good! I bought 4 spark plugs, now I have 2 spares on board for the next time it decides to be a PITA.


A trick with generators - they like to be ran and ran often. I run mine every trip out and have zero issues with it. I've done this with my last two boats and it's prevented any significant generator issue...be sure to run them under load though!

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
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'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225


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PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 3:28 pm 
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Location: San Antonio, TX
firecadet613 wrote:
A trick with generators - they like to be ran and ran often.

Similar issue with generators in RV's. Recommendation for an RV generator is to run it at least once a month under load for about 15-20 minutes.

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