If you're lucky enough to have a generator while your power is out, it's probably past time to change the oil.
These things are running HARD the whole time to power our shit, so it's definitely in your best interest to keep them maintained properly.
My 12000 watt portable recommends a change every 20 hours running. While you can most likely get away with longer, it's much cheaper to grab a couple quarts of oil than to replace your generator.
Also, if anyone else is like me and didn't know the difference between 10w30 and sae30... apparently 10w30 is rated for colder temps. Had to look that up this morning. The more you know 💫
This is definately good advice because many people won't realize how often oil changes are needed on a portable generator.
10w30 is a 'multi viscosity' oil meaning it changes viscosity based on the temperature. Also, you can expect that a 10w30 oil has detergents and additives to make it suitable for a modern automobile engine. Compare that to SAE30 which is a much older style of oil.
Some modern engines for generators, lawn mowers, and similar require 10w30, but some require SAE30. You need to look at the owner's manual for your equipment to see what is reccomended.
Also be aware that changing the oil on a generator typically requires more than just buying the oil. You need something to drain the old oil into and something to clean up the mess that will likely happen while changing the oil. It's not a bad idea to wear disposable gloves and put down an old cardboard box under the work area to catch drips. You may need a funnel to get the new oil in, or to get the old oil back into a bottle.