Kohler owner told generator can run '120 hours without oil' — other owners urge daily checks

A Reddit discussion got a little spicy after a new Kohler whole-home generator owner relayed an installer's alleged laissez-faire advice about oil.

Other owners forcefully challenged the installer's assertions, saying an app alert was no substitute for checking the oil.

Here's what to know

In a post on Reddit's r/Generator community, the homeowner explained that the installation had passed a municipal inspection. The installer would also service the generator. Even though they would be on the hook for any problems, the installer offered some loose advice to the owner.

"There's no need to put oil in unless the app tells you and it can run for 120 hours without oil," they purportedly told the original poster.

That flew counter to the OP's own research: "Everything I've heard says they need oil after a day of running continuously."

Repeated starts during storm-related power flickers were another concern for the homeowner, whose installer had set a 13-second startup delay. The homeowner also asked whether maintenance requirements might be different for 2026 models.

Respondents distinguished between checking the oil level and automatically adding more.

"You should check the oil daily when running; it may or may not need any," one commenter wrote.

The same commenter objected to leaving the oil unchecked for 120 hours during an outage. The fact that was the equivalent of five days alarmed another, who called it "crazy."

More background

The 13-second delay was less of a red flag for users. Brief interruptions need not trigger a generator run, a commenter explained, because the startup delay gives utility power time to return. A separate delay governs the return to utility service.

During one outage, nearby homes and streetlights repeatedly lost and regained power while a commenter's 26-kilowatt Kohler continued supplying their home. The owner reported that the generator had initially started and stopped once before continuing to run. The owner said the generator shut down only after utility service had been back for 10 or 15 minutes.

Twenty years with a Generac standby generator informed another new Kohler owner's choice of settings. They selected the longest startup delay available to reduce starts caused by brief power interruptions.

What can be done?

One commenter warned that a low-oil-pressure alert should not replace routine checks.

"By the time the low oil pressure light comes on, damage may have been done," the commenter wrote. "Go by the [manufacturer]'s recommendation, not what a dealer tells you. The book says check the oil 1x day. Not ADD oil, check it and see if it needs more." 

The manual's maintenance schedule was also recommended by a Reddit commenter who said Kohler's factory-installed oil could stay in use through the full service interval.

"Daily oil check if running constant is what's needed," a commenter summed up. "I checked our new one the first day after the test run just to make sure it was full. I'll check again after 10 hours or so. If all is well after that, I know it'll be good to go."

Where can I learn more?

Other generator owners have asked when to service their machines and how to prepare for the next outage. 

• After 12 days without maintenance, a generator owner asked whether servicing could cause harm.

• A 16kW Generac owner learned what to check beyond oil after avoiding service calls.

• A generator owner checked filters and plugs before cold weather, urging timely maintenance.

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