Generac Error Code 1300

What the code means

Code 1300 is a red alarm on Generac's code list, which means a shutdown, not a reminder. On the air-cooled models in Generac's 8 to 20 kW owner's manual, the oil pressure switch closes when pressure drops below 5 psi and stops the engine, and the manual says not to restart until you've checked the oil level.

The alarm doesn't mean the engine is ruined. It means the engine stopped before it could be.

Common causes

• Low oil level from normal burning, which adds up during long outages.
• A leak at the filter, drain cap or a seal.
• Oil overdue for a change.

The manual's troubleshooting table lists the reasons an engine goes through oil fast: overfilled crankcase, the wrong oil, a damaged gasket, seal or hose, or a bad breather. Long outages are the classic trigger. Generac says to shut the unit down every 24 hours for 30 minutes during an extended outage so it can cool and you can check the oil. Skip that for three days and a 1300 isn't a surprise.

What you can safely check

1. Set the controller to OFF and wait out the cool-down.
2. Pull the dipstick, wipe it, reseat it fully and read the level. Add oil as your owner's manual says, and don't overfill.
3. Make sure the dipstick is all the way in and the fill cap, drain cap and oil filter are hand-tight. A loose cap can leak.
4. Look under and around the engine for fresh oil and clean up what you find.
5. Use the oil grade your manual lists. The 2012 air-cooled manual calls for API SJ, SL or better, with SAE 30 above 32°F and synthetic 5W-30 at 10°F and below.
6. Clear the alarm. On Evolution controllers, Generac's steps are OFF, ENTER twice, then AUTO. Never start the generator with the house load on it.

Sometimes that's the whole fix. Generac notes a 1300 can be a one-time event that clears with a restart.

Full oil and it still trips

If the oil reads full and code 1300 comes back, stop resetting it. Generac strongly recommends calling an authorized service dealer, and asks you to leave the code on the display so the tech can diagnose it. The dealer can test the oil pressure switch and the engine itself, which is not owner work.

While you wait, check when the last oil change was. The 2012 manual calls for new oil and a filter every 2 years or 200 hours, whichever comes first, and sooner under heavy load or in heat and dust.