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Starting the Diesel Generator for the First Time

Battery

 

First ensure that the battery is fully charged. You need to fill the battery with acid to do this - you can get the acid from tyre/exhaust outlets, although not all outlets carry acid these days. You will expect to pay £2-3 to have your battery filled. Do NOT fill with distilled water - this will not work.

 

Fuel and Oil

Make sure you have added oil to the engine. Use SAE30, and change regularly, in accordance with the handbook supplied with the generator. The generator has 'oil protection' and will shut down if oil pressure becomes too low.

Priming The Diesel Fuel Lines.

Unlike petrol engines, all diesel engines rely on very high pressure fuel lines. Even tiny amounts of air in the fuel line will prevent the diesel engine from starting. Therefore, the first time you start your diesel engine, you will need to prime all of the air out of the system.

This process is quite simple, but it requires a little effort. You will need to flush all the air out of the fuel system.

Firstly, disconnect the flexible fuel line from the fuel filter to the diesel pump (2) at the diesel pump end and turn on the fuel tap (1) to make sure that fuel flows freely from tank. Often you will get an airlock, which allows fuel flow slowly, but not freely - By extending the pipe, the air will be released, and then you can reconnect to the pump. Then disconnect the high pressure fuel line (3) from the pump itself (disconnect completely). Turn the engine over on the electric start, until you see small squirts of diesel coming out of the pump. Reconnect the pipe.

Crack open the other end of this pipe (4), where it connects to the injector - about 1 turn. Turn over the engine, until the fuel leaking out of this joint does not contain air bubbles. Retighten and the engine should start.