Generator fuel and runtime

Fuel use depends mostly on how heavily the generator is loaded. A lightly loaded generator uses a fraction of the fuel of one at full load.

Red and yellow fuel containers beside a portable generator at a work yard

What decides runtime

Load

Higher load means more fuel per hour. Running at roughly half to three-quarters load is the efficient range for most generators.

Tank size

Portable units have small tanks and need refuelling during a long outage. Towable and industrial diesels have larger tanks or can be fed from an external tank.

Fuel type

Gasoline suits small portable units. Diesel suits long-running, larger units. Fuel keeps better in cold weather when it is the right winter grade.

Planning fuel for a rental

Tell us the expected load and hours per day and we estimate fuel for your term. You can order fuel with the generator so it arrives together. For round-the-clock jobs see 24/7 operation.

Always shut the generator off and let it cool before refuelling. See safety.

Tell us what you need

We reply by email with a quote.

Request a quote