We are in the market for a new generator and i think we are in the 26KW to 30KW range as far needed size.

The liquid cooled VS air cooled options are about an additional $9-12K. Is that worth the additional costs?

Get extended warranty? Brands yall like more than others?

Why do you think you need liquid cooled?

Personally, I don't think the cost is worth it at all if an air-cooled met my needs, but especially for five figures.

Have a 26KW Generac. When we bought it they were offering the extended warranty for free.
We have used it here in the Ozarks for multiple snow and tornadoe events. Last year 11 days no power in one event. It worked perfectly. Have had it for 4 years. No issues. Never has failed us.

Did you need to add oil during the long outage?

No. Checked it every 24 hour of run time. No oil used at all.

Wow!

BenTheGoodAg said:

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Why do you think you need liquid cooled?

Personally, I don't think the cost is worth it at all if an air-cooled met my needs, but especially for five figures.

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Im not all that educated on the difference between the two. But to you point for an additional $9-12K is that feature really all that much more worth it? It seems like anyone i know that has a generator uses the air cooled version but maybe liquid cooled is more prevalent than i thought and people have found benefit going this route?

honestly not sure

Thanks really appreciate the feedback. So if sticking with the air cooled now just need to determine which brand.

I talked to a dealer yesterday that indicated they are having lots of issues with Generac honoring warranties...to the point where he's stopped selling them until they get it figured out. Had a brand new unit 2 months old with a 4K claim and Generac wouldn't cover it. Now granted I'm sure there is more to the story than that but given the 24-30 KW sized unit what other options are out there?

Cummins
Briggs and Straton
Kholer
Honeywell

Any im missing?

I just read that Kohler was bought out by private equity. I'd be cautious. They're probably the same units now, and won't see much change for a bit. But if you need parts in 10-15 years...? Just never know.

I deal with mainly commercial stuff. On customer has large (50kw water cooled Generac) Its run weekly, load banked yearly and fails randomly. After lots of cooling maintenance and adjustments related to gas supply its better but not perfect. Another large plant had a one of each situation, Generac, Kohler, & Cummings/Onan. The portion which the maximum required uptime had the Generac and it routinely failed to start before they short term UPS systems ran out. Solution increase the UPS hold time by 4x. Usually could get started before they ran out but seemed always required human intervention. Both the Kohler & Onan were up and running well before the UPS got to the 1/2 available runtime.
So ya I'm not a Generac fan, at least for industrial. An the youtube stuff about generac gives me no peace about residential. Several in BCS that I have expressed my thoughts about Generac have bought Onan from S-Con in Bryan. Guess I select my generator vendors like dentist's, I don't use vendors who's place a business is in a strip center.

I have a Champion air cool no issues, but only a year in and no real life stress test.

Additional difference is air cooled run at 3600 RPM and liquid cooled at 1800 rpm

Gunny456 said:

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Have a 26KW Generac. When we bought it they were offering the extended warranty for free.
We have used it here in the Ozarks for multiple snow and tornadoe events. Last year 11 days no power in one event. It worked perfectly. Have had it for 4 years. No issues. Never has failed us.

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Heads up and be safe today, Gunny. You guys are probably under a tornado watch.