Operation; Fuel; Engine Oil; Engine Coolant - Onan MDKBK Service Manual

3. Operation

FUEL

Diesel fuel is combustible and can
WARNING
cause severe personal injury or death. Do not
smoke near fuel tanks or fuel-burning equip-
ment or in areas sharing ventilation with such
equipment. Keep flames, sparks, pilot flames,
electrical arcs and switches and all other
sources of ignition well away. Keep a multi-
class ABC fire extinguisher handy.
High quality Grade 2-D diesel fuel is necessary for
good performance and long engine life. Diesel fuels
specified by EN 590 or ASTM D975 are recom-
mended. Use Grade 1-D diesel fuel if the fuel tank is
exposed to temperatures below 40° F (5° C).
The Cetane number should not be less than 45 and
sulfur content not more than 0.5 percent (by weight).
Where fuel is exposed to cold ambient tempera-
tures, use fuel that has a cloud point (temperature at
which wax crystals begin to form) at least 10° F
(6° C) degrees below the lowest expected fuel tem-
perature.
Fuel lubricity should pass a minimum load level of
3100 grams as measured by ASTM D6078 or maxi-
mum scar diameter of 0.45 mm as measured by
ASTM D6079 or ISO 12156-1.
Note:Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel that meets
the ASTM D975 standard for lubricity is suitable for
use with this engine. The 1 to 2 percent less energy
content of the fuel can have a slight effect on maxi-
mum engine power.
Note:B5 Bio-Diesel fuel that meets industry specifi-
cations and quality is suitable for use with this en-
gine.

ENGINE OIL

Use API (American Petroleum Institute) Service
Category CI-4 engine oil or better. Also look for the
SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) viscosity
grade. Referring to Figure 3-1, choose the viscosity
grade appropriate for the ambient temperatures ex-
pected until the next scheduled oil change. Multi-
grade oils such as SAE 15W-40 are recommended
for year-round use.
FIGURE 3-1. OIL VISCOSITY GRADE VS. AMBIENT
TEMPERATURE

ENGINE COOLANT

Use the best quality ethylene glycol antifreeze solu-
tion available. It should be fully formulated with rust
inhibitors and coolant stabilizers. A 50/50 mixture of
water and ethylene glycol is recommended to pro-
vide protection from freezing down to -34
°
(-37 C).
Use fresh water that is low in minerals and corrosive
chemicals for the coolant mixture. Distilled water is
best.
See Specifications (Section 10) regarding coolant
capacity.
Ethylene Glycol antifreeze is con-
WARNING
sidered toxic. Dispose of it according to local
regulations for hazardous substances.

BATTERIES

Reliable genset starting and starter service life de-
pend upon adequate battery system capacity and
maintenance. See MAINTAINING THE BATTERY
AND BATTERY CONNECTIONS (p. 4-2) and
Specifications (Section 10).
3-1
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