A standby generator can sit idle for months and then must start within seconds and carry the full load on the hottest day of the year. In the Gulf, the usual reasons it fails are a flat battery, a blocked radiator, a clogged air filter or stale fuel. This checklist prevents all four.
Weekly (10 minutes)
- walk round the set: look for oil, fuel and coolant leaks
- check fuel level and that the day tank is full
- check battery voltage and the charger is working — a weak battery is the number-one cause of failed starts
- confirm the controller is in AUTO with no active alarms
- check coolant level and that the jacket-water heater is warm (where fitted)
Monthly
- exercise run under load for at least 30 minutes, ideally at 40% load or more; a no-load run does little good and encourages wet stacking
- check the air-filter restriction indicator; in dusty areas filters may need cleaning or changing far more often than the hours suggest
- clean the radiator fins — sand and dust packed between the fins are the main cause of overheating in summer
- inspect belts, hoses and clamps for cracks
- test the ATS by simulating a mains failure
Every 250 hours or 6 months (whichever comes first)
- change engine oil and oil filter to the manufacturer's specification
- change fuel filters and drain water from the water separator
- check exhaust system, mounts and earthing
Yearly
- load-bank test at up to full rated load to prove the set can carry its rating and to burn off carbon from light-load running — see our load banks
- coolant test and replacement as needed; check antifreeze/inhibitor concentration
- fuel sampling and, if needed, fuel polishing — diesel stored for long periods in heat degrades and grows bacteria
- check alternator insulation resistance and tighten electrical terminals
- full controller and protection check
Warning signs to act on immediately
- black smoke under load (overload, injectors or air restriction)
- white smoke or oil around the exhaust (wet stacking from running lightly loaded)
- high coolant temperature alarms in summer (blocked radiator or fan belt)
- slow cranking (battery or starter)
Let us do it for you
Our maintenance contracts cover scheduled visits, filters and oil, load-bank testing and breakdown response across the UAE — for any brand, not only the sets we supply. Every new generator from us also carries a 12-month warranty.
