5500 Generac -
Liquid cooling is great, but the 5500 RPM units use a small, high-speed water pump. If the pump seal fails or the belt breaks, you have about 60 seconds before the engine seizes.
If your unit has an electric start:
Under the fuel tank sits a Generac OHV (Overhead Valve) engine (typically 389cc or 420cc depending on the year). OHV engines run cooler, quieter, and more efficiently than older side-valve designs. They also last longer under heavy use. Expect a cast iron sleeve in most models, which protects the piston ring from heat wear.
A Generac 5500 is a combustion engine. Neglect kills it faster than overuse.
During a blackout, you cannot run everything, but you can run the essentials comfortably.
Yes, you can run simultaneously:
Total running wattage for above: ~2,400W. You have over 3,000W of headroom.
You can also add (one at a time):
What you CANNOT run:
Before you start, understand what this machine can handle.
A common error on 5500 RPM units is "Overcrank" (failed to start after several attempts). Nine times out of ten, it is not the starter or battery. It is the stepper motor (on units with a carburetor) or the fuel solenoid (on EFI units).
Quick test: While cranking, spray starting fluid into the air intake. If it fires briefly, you have a fuel delivery problem. If it doesn’t fire, check the ignition module (common failure at 5500 RPM due to heat).
Do not keep cranking a 5500 RPM engine that won’t start. You will wash down the cylinder walls with raw fuel, destroying the oil film and scoring the pistons.
Liquid cooling is great, but the 5500 RPM units use a small, high-speed water pump. If the pump seal fails or the belt breaks, you have about 60 seconds before the engine seizes.
If your unit has an electric start:
Under the fuel tank sits a Generac OHV (Overhead Valve) engine (typically 389cc or 420cc depending on the year). OHV engines run cooler, quieter, and more efficiently than older side-valve designs. They also last longer under heavy use. Expect a cast iron sleeve in most models, which protects the piston ring from heat wear.
A Generac 5500 is a combustion engine. Neglect kills it faster than overuse.
During a blackout, you cannot run everything, but you can run the essentials comfortably.
Yes, you can run simultaneously:
Total running wattage for above: ~2,400W. You have over 3,000W of headroom.
You can also add (one at a time):
What you CANNOT run:
Before you start, understand what this machine can handle.
A common error on 5500 RPM units is "Overcrank" (failed to start after several attempts). Nine times out of ten, it is not the starter or battery. It is the stepper motor (on units with a carburetor) or the fuel solenoid (on EFI units).
Quick test: While cranking, spray starting fluid into the air intake. If it fires briefly, you have a fuel delivery problem. If it doesn’t fire, check the ignition module (common failure at 5500 RPM due to heat).
Do not keep cranking a 5500 RPM engine that won’t start. You will wash down the cylinder walls with raw fuel, destroying the oil film and scoring the pistons.
