Diesel Run-Frequency

[noelex 77]

I have a Nanni 15 hp 12v generator with 800 hours (driving a couple of large alternators) on my boat. I have recently added a solar panel array that is producing all the amps I need.
At the moment I would rather keep the generator in reserve and able to be used, rather than selling it or winterizing it.
The question is how much do I need to run it to avoid significant deterioration. I would rather keep the run time and duration to a minimum to reduce the heat, noise and hassle of the generator, but I don't wont it to suffer unduly from lack of use.
I was thinking of 30 mins about every 3 weeks with an oil and filter change once a year, but I would welcome any alternative suggestions. Is this enough? Could I get away with less? Would a longer run time (say an hour) be better?

[barnakiel]

Run hard and often or lay up.

b.

[GordMay]

Exercise the generator, up to it's operating temperature, under as near to a full load as you can manage, about once every month. Don't panic if you're occasionally a few weeks late. A 3 week schedule would also be fine.

[nhschneider]

While I'm a firm believer in 'use it or lose it', I think modern internal combustion engines can withstand a tremendous amount of abuse before failing. When the starboard fuel tank on Rutea started leaking, I drained the remaining fuel out of it and just ran on the port tank - for three years. Unfortunately, this meant that I couldn't use my Westerbeke 7KW genset without re-plumbing it to the port tank (the genset only had a pick-up on the starboard tank). When we finally got around to replacing the fuel tanks, I started the genset as I normally would and it ran fine. In fact, we took off to Mexico and ran it almost daily without any problems.

I am not recommending that equipment be ignored but I do feel that many people tend to 'baby' equipment more than is necessary. I have worked in the heavy equipment industry and in more than a few instances have seen equipment sit idle for years and then returned to service without any harmful effects. Modern lubricants do an amazing job at protecting internal engine parts.

Fair winds and calm seas.