Honda shutting down, red light.

[rvpopeye]

I thought of that but it makes me check the oil which isn't a bad thing...
As long as I know what's going on I can mentally bypass it but it does shut off so....

It's never been low.

[tx2sturgis]

Sometimes if the genset is tilted too much one way or the other, the oil sensor will trigger and shut off the genset.

But as these little motors get more and more time on them, they do tend to consume more oil. Having a low-oil shutoff is a good thing.

[Roadtripp]

Thanks for the suggestions. I added about 1 cup of oil and the red light/stop running issue is gone. I was concerned about overfilling it before but the manual says to fill it all the way until it reaches the fill spout. I was filling it until it was halfway up the dipstick.

[Roadtripp]

On the subject of oil does anyone know if my “full floating”, whatever that means, rear axle bearings are lubricated by the gear oil in the differential housing or by grease? If it’s by oil it seems a low oil level would prevent the bearings from getting lubrication as oil wouldn’t flow down the axle tube?  I’m going to check the level today. I looked at the rear end and there’s no way to drain it without taking the cover off. But there’s a fill plug. Thanks

[tx2sturgis]

I would start a new thread on that...with the thread title addressing the topic of rear axle lubrication.

In a Honda generator thread you might not get much expertise related to vehicle axles.

[B and C]

Full floating axles are lubricated by the oil in the "pumpkin". If there are any leaks in the rear axle assembly, get them fixed. Checking the rear end oil at every engine oil change is good practice. I had the read end oil replaced when I bought my van and it had 96k on the clock. If you have a limited slip or positrac rear end, special oil is required.

[Roadtripp]

Thanks. I added about 2 pints of gear oil to the rear end. There were no signs of leaks but it was low.

[rvpopeye]

A quart down ? yup it was low !

[B and C]

Look on the insides of the rear tires for signs of oil. When the axle seals go, this is where they leak too. This is also the same place that a leaking wheel cylinder (brakes) will show up.

[Everyroadleadshome]

Had a Mexican friend once, with a contractor generator,  when it would shut off from a low oil condition, he used to trick it by topping it off with water!!!

I can't believe ti was still running when I offered actual engine oil.

That's impressive!  


When we were 18 and dumb my friend took a brand new generator from his Dad's shed and had no idea it had no oil......even though a big tag on the oil fill stick said it shipped without oil and don't run until you add oil.  Don't remember why we even took it, but he pulled the cord and she started on first pull.  It literally ran for about 1.5 seconds before seizing.  And he put it back in his dad's shed!  Never heard about it after that.  I'm still amazed at how fast it seized.  Not even sure it ran a full second, was instant