Service Bulletin

SE / 4000 Series engines 11

Light load operation and stand-by generating sets November 1996

If an engine is operated on a load of less than 25-30% Note: On stand-by sets, air cleaner elements should
of its rated output, certain symptoms will be observed be changed annually. Lubricating oil and filters, and
which may give cause for concern. fuel filters should be changed every six months. The
fuel pump injectors should be checked every 2 years.
The usual result of this operation are heavier than
normal oil consumption, and oil leaks from the inlet
End
and exhaust manifolds.
This condition is particularly evident on stand-by Issued by Perkins Engines Company Ltd, Tixall Road, Stafford,
ST16 3UB, England.  Proprietary information of Perkins Engines
generator set applications where a weekly exercise Company Ltd 1996, all rights reserved. The information is correct
on no load is the usual practice. at the time of print. This bulletin is for technical information only and
cannot be used as a basis for any claim including but not limited to
These phenomena are due to the facts that: warranty.
z Turbocharger oil seals are not fully effective on
light load which results in oil being delivered
together with air to the inlet manifolds.
z The cylinder temperatures are too low to ensure
complete burning of all the fuel delivered.
These result in an unsightly drip from the exhaust
manifold junction glands on early engines.
A further effect is that of abnormal carbon build-up on
the valves, piston crowns and exhaust ports, thus the
normal service interval of 2500 hours between top
overhauls may have to be reduced.
Fuel dilution of the lubricating oil will also occur.
To alleviate these conditions the following
recommendations are made:
z Running on light load should be avoided or
reduced to the minimum period. If weekly
exercising on no load is carried out, the running
period should be restricted to say, 10 minutes, or
until the battery charging rate returns to normal.
z Every year the engine or generator set should be
run for four hours, to burn off accumulations of
carbon in the engine and exhaust system. This will
require the use of a variable ’dummy load’, which
should be built up gradually from zero to the
maximum over a four hour run.