Generator question?

[Roy Bham UK]

I have a 4 stroke Honda 1200 Generator (bought s/hand) and discovered the oil was filled to the top of the neck of the filler hole where the dipstick goes in, I removed the oil to bring it in line with the level on the dipstick. 8)

I was talking to a service engineer for Honda and he informed me that the correct level for oil on generators is at the top of the filler hole ::) so I said then why have a dipstick? He said yes it is a bit silly isn't it. ::) ???

Finally got to the question (sorry) does anyone own a "Honda Genny" together with a manual to confirm this is true? I will make a call to another Honda Service Centre to double check, although it does seem strange having a redundant dipstick dunnit? ???

I'm feelin a bit like a "Dipstick" now ;D

[Roy Bham UK]

[Travman]

Honda engines require the oil level around the very top of the dipstick just below where the threads start.
Due to the fact that  the dipstick laying at around 33 degrees when inserted the difference in levels is quite small but....  they rely on splash oil feed not pump feed .  Too low.. seizure . Too high ..no splash ::)

Saying that better too high then too low.

SO to recap.. :)  remove dipstick and just below the threaded top section
Usually though the dipstick will have a mark/line in the plastic.

[Travman]

P.S
if you want a  engine service book/manual
p'm me your engine type and address and i will post you one.

[Roy Bham UK]

Travman,  thank you very much for your kind offer, I have emailed you. ;)

I thought I’d pop a couple of pictures of it here, the first one shows a diagram of where the oil level should reach (I’ve only just spotted this  ::)) and is how I would have expected it to be, very confusing. ::)


Travman, I have posted this image so that you might recognise the model ;)


Many thanks. ;D

[Roy Bham UK]

P.S
if you want a  engine service book/manual
p'm me your engine type and address and i will post you one.

Hi Travman, any luck with the service book/manual ??? ;D

[MikeB]

Hi Roy,

I've got a honda generator which I brought from new about 15 years ago, it to came with the oil up to the neck of the filler hole, in fact when I removed the dipstick oil flowed out of the hole.  I have always left it at this level and to date have never had any problems with the generator at all.

[Roy Bham UK]

Hi Mike.

It is rather strange that they provide a dipstick when an ordinary screw cap would do and even more strange that they put a diagram on the machine showing where the oil should reach. ::) I was told by the same Honda techy not to apply the same technique to my tiller but to keep to the level on the dipstick. :-\

[MikeB]

No diagram on my machine, but as you have said a line on the dip stick well below the actual level, but at the end of the day, this was one of my best buys. No trouble, always starts, what more could you want?