Generator Maintenance Checklist
In This Guide
Almost everything that goes wrong with a generator is preventable, and this checklist is how you prevent it. Generator maintenance is unusually rewarding because the machine spends its life waiting, and a little routine care is the difference between a generator that starts the instant the power fails and one that lets you down in the dark. Here is the full routine, from the monthly essentials to the annual tasks.
The Most Important Task: The Monthly Test Run
If you do only one thing, do this. Run your generator under a real load for around 30 minutes every month.
That single habit does an enormous amount. It keeps fresh fuel moving through the carburetor so it cannot varnish, it keeps the starting battery charged, it maintains the residual magnetism the generator needs to produce power, and it confirms the machine actually works, all while the stakes are low rather than during an outage.
Monthly Checklist
- Run the generator under load for about 30 minutes.
- Check the oil level and top up if needed.
- Check the fuel is fresh, or that stabiliser has been added.
- Look over the unit for leaks, loose parts, or damage.
- On standby units, confirm the weekly self-test has been running.
Oil Changes
Oil is the lifeblood of the engine. Change it at the interval in your manual, which is often after the first few hours on a new generator, then annually or every set number of running hours after that.
A generator run hard during a long outage may need an oil change during or right after that outage, sometimes after as few as 50 to 100 hours. Heavy use counts. Our generator oil change guide covers it in detail.
Fuel Care
Fuel is behind most generator faults, so managing it is central.
- Use fresh fuel, ideally no more than thirty days old.
- Add a fuel stabiliser if the generator will sit for any length of time.
- Consider ethanol-free petrol, which stays stable much longer than ethanol blends.
- For long storage, either stabilise the fuel or run the carburetor dry.
Battery, Filter, and Plug
| Item | What to do | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Battery (electric start / standby) | Test and keep charged; replace proactively | Check regularly, replace every 3 to 5 years |
| Air filter | Clean or replace | Annually, or more with heavy use |
| Spark plug | Inspect, clean, or replace | Annually or per manual |
Off-Season Storage
When the generator is going away for months, store it properly so it is ready next time.
1. Deal with the fuel
Add stabiliser, or drain the tank and run the carburetor dry.
2. Change the oil
Fresh oil for storage protects the engine internally.
3. Store somewhere dry
A dry, stable spot, off the ground, protected from damp.
4. Maintain the battery
Keep it on a maintainer, or remove and store it charged.
Annual Professional Service
Beyond your own routine, an annual professional service is worth it, particularly for standby units. It typically covers a full inspection, oil and filter change, battery test, and running the unit under load. Expect roughly 150 to 300 dollars a year, which is modest against the cost of a failure during an outage.
Rather Have a Real Technician Handle It?
A Wildwood technician comes to your home, diagnoses the generator on site, and gets it running, usually in about an hour. More than 10,000 repairs completed since 2019, with flat rates quoted before we arrive so there are no surprises. When you need power back, you need it back now.