Diesel Generator Set: Oil Leakage Low-Load Risks & Operating Conditions

Oil leakage in diesel generator set engines is a common issue. First, check if the purchased or homemade paper gaskets meet quality standards—insufficient thickness, improper storage causing warping/deformation, or contamination with dust during assembly can all lead to leaks.

The quality of static joint surfaces depends on machining precision and storage/transport conditions. High-precision equipment ensures flatness and roughness meet design specifications, and careful handling during transport prevents bump, enabling complete sealing. However, some manufacturers may lack sufficient precision, craftsmanship level, or storage/management practices, resulting in scratches or dents on joint surfaces. Additionally, Guangxi Dingbo Power notes that excessively high engine oil pressure can cause oil seepage at static joints.

Why Does the Exhaust Pipe Drip Oil at Low Load?

Dingbo Power explains that prolonged low-load operation leads to the following issues:

1.Piston-cylinder liner seal failure: Oil flee to the combustion chamber, causing blue exhaust smoke.

2.Turbocharger oil leakage: Oil accumulates in the turbocharger’s pressurization chamber and leaks from joint surfaces.

3.Accelerated wear and shortened lifespan: Extended low-load operation worsens wear on moving parts and degrades combustion conditions, leading to premature overhauls.

4.Turbocharger seal degradation: For turbocharged diesel engines, low load/no-load operation reduces boost pressure, weakening the non-contact oil seal’s effectiveness. This allows oil to enter the pressurization chamber and cylinder via intake air.

5.Carbon buildup and oil accumulation: Some oil burns incompletely, forming carbon deposits on valves, intake manifolds, piston tops, and rings. Unburned oil may also accumulate in cylinder liners and exhaust passages, exacerbating carbon buildup.

Thus, both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines should minimize low-load/no-load operation, with minimum load not lower than 25%-30% of rated power.

Operating Conditions

A generator set’s operating conditions refer to the environment where it can reliably deliver rated power continuously. Diesel generator sets function normally under the following conditions:

1.Ambient air temperature: 0℃–40℃

2.Altitude: ≤1,000 meters

3.Relative humidity: ≤95% (at 25℃)

4.Presence of mold

High ambient temperatures reduce air density, lowering oxygen for combustion and decreasing engine output. Simultaneously, high temperatures impair generator cooling, raising winding temperatures—requiring power derating to protect windings.

When operating in non-standard environments, users must adjust power output using manufacturer-specified correction methods. Different brands may have varying power correction parameters under environmental changes, so close attention to specifications is essential.

Guangxi Dingbo Power Equipment Manufacturing Co.,Ltd was founded in 1974 and is one of the earliest manufacturers of generators and diesel generator sets in China. The company has a registered capital of 218.88 million yuan. The company covers an area of 86,000 square meters and a building area of 55,000 square meters. There are more than 660 employees, including 456 professional technicians and 106 senior technicians. It has 46 sales and service outlets nationwide. The main products are diesel engines, generator sets, and diesel generators, providing users with a one-stop service of design, supply, debugging and maintenance at any time. Dingbo has always insisted on using first-class talents, building first-class enterprises, manufacturing first-class products, creating first-class services, and making every effort to build a first-class domestic enterprise. If any question please feel free to visit our website https://www.dieselgeneratortech.com/ or send email to [email protected].