15
Part 2 - Lubrication
All pressure washers require oil lubrication of the piston
mechanism in order to maintain long-term reliability and
service. Certain early model
Generac Portable
Products®
pressure washers incorporate sight glasses
or dipsticks to be used to monitor pump oil levels. Later
Generac Portable Products®
models have
improved designs that eliminate the need to routinely
monitor oil levels or to change lubricating oil.
This section describes how to check and change pump oil on
early
Generac Portable Products®
pressure
washer systems. If servicing a non-
Generac Portable
Products®
-manufactured pump, please refer to the
maintenance instructions provided with that specific system.
Check Pump Oil Level
Certain pressure washers may be equipped with a glass sight
gauge, as depicted in Figure 3.5.
Always check pump oil level with the unit resting on a level
surface. Oil should be at the full mark on the sight gauge
(near the center). On units equipped with an oil dipstick, oil
level should be near the full mark. Add recommended pump
oil as required, to the full mark only.
Change Pump Oil
WARNING:
DO NOT change pump oil unless the
pressure washer Owner’s Manual requires this AND
your pump is equipped with a pump drain plug.
Please refer to the maintenance instructions that were
shipped with your non-
Generac Portable
Products®
-manufactured pump if it is necessary to
change pump oil. Pay particular attention to the
manufacturer’s recommended torque values when tightening
drain plugs and breather/dipstick caps.
To change oil in
Generac Portable Products®
-
manufactured pumps, refer to Figure 3.5 and proceed as
follows:
1. Place a suitable container under the pump drain plug.
2. Remove the oil fill cap (breather cap) from the top of the
pump.
3. Remove the pump drain plug from the bottom of the
pump. Drain oil completely into the container.
4. When all oil has drained, reinstall the pump drain plug and
tighten to the torque value specified in the Torque Chart,
found on the exploded view in the chapter for your
pump.
5. Insert a funnel into the oil fill cap opening and add the
recommended oil until the oil level reaches the full mark.
Oil capacity and type is listed in Part 1, earlier in Section
3.
6. When oil is at the proper level, install and tighten the oil
fill cap to the torque value specified in the Torque Chart,
found on the exploded view in the chapter for your
pump.
Section 3 • General Information
Portable Pressure Washer Familiarization and Troubleshooting Guide
Figure 3.5 — Sight Gauge on Side of Pump
Item
Name
1
Breather cap/oil fill location
2
Drain plug
3
Sight gauge location