Kohler Generator, suggestion needed

chetwang2001

Hello Board, need some advice!  I have a Kohler Gas Generator (20RESA).   It is about 8 years old, has 1200 hours of light use (only ran regularly to make sure it works).  It has also been professionally maintained by a local energy company yearly.  About a week back, we noticed the generator wasn't coming on and called up the maintenance company for support.   The technician came to the house and explained there was a LOW L1-L2 output error, the engine has blown up and a new generator is needed.   

Beside a bit annoyed that the same company has maintained the generator yearly for 7 years and they never said anything was wrong, we also realized the warranty on the generator is over (5 years or 2000 hours).   I have three questions:
1) Does those generators only last 8 to 10 years?   We keep hearing folks said it would run 20+ years.
2) Is there any options with Kohler?  I plan to call their support line, but anyone has similar experience?
3) Any other options you could recommend?

Thanks so much in advance for the support.

SumPower

chetwang2001 said:

Hello Board, need some advice!  I have a Kohler Gas Generator (20RESA).   It is about 8 years old, has 1200 hours of light use (only ran regularly to make sure it works).

"Only ran regularly to make sure it works."  To me that statement would equate to a once a month cycling of the unit for 30 minutes to an hour. So I don't know how the hour meter got to 1200 hours? Should be less than 100 hours on the meter for monthly operation just to make sure it works.

  It has also been professionally maintained by a local energy company yearly.  About a week back, we noticed the generator wasn't coming on and called up the maintenance company for support.   The technician came to the house and explained there was a LOW L1-L2 output error, the engine has blown up and a new generator is needed.  

This generally happens during a long run were the unit can't cool itself, usually due to low oil. Even on a generator with less than a 100 hours.

Beside a bit annoyed that the same company has maintained the generator yearly for 7 years and they never said anything was wrong, we also realized the warranty on the generator is over (5 years or 2000 hours).   I have three questions:
1) Does those generators only last 8 to 10 years?   We keep hearing folks said it would run 20+ years.
2) Is there any options with Kohler?  I plan to call their support line, but anyone has similar experience?
3) Any other options you could recommend?

Thanks so much in advance for the support.

I know it made it through the warranty period, so expectations of manufacturers longivity where met.

There are to many variables not known to give a good answer here. Was one of the generator runs extended hours without checking the oil level?

Was there extreme loads placed on the unit that caused overloads?

Was there a critical loads panel with load calulations completed such that the generator always performed within its specifications?

I hope you find a good replacement unit soon.