With power-cut season upon us, this idea might help you preserve your investment in your expensive generator. The small standby generators on the market require an oil change after about 24 hours of run time, but this can be such a pain that it often doesn’t get done. My suggestion: make it easy, and at the same time keep your generator out of the dirt and wet, by building a small wooden frame to hold it about 50 cm off the floor/ground. Changing the oil is now just a matter of sliding a cut-in-half 5-litre can underneath and removing the drain plug. The generator can be further protected from the elements by covering it with a weatherproof chair cover.

DION KRIGE - GALLO MANOR

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