Catering Equipment Guides

Greengear LPG Generator Servicing & Maintenance Schedule (2026)

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July 14, 2026

On July 14, 2026

Last updated: July 2026

In 30 seconds:

First oil change at 20 hours. Then every 100 hours. This is the one job that saves engines.
Clean the air filter every 50 hours — about weekly for a busy trader.
Spark plug: clean and re-gap at 200 hours, replace at 500. The gap is 0.7–0.8 mm.
Every day: check the oil, scan the LPG hose and joints for leaks, keep the vents clear.
Valve clearance and carburettor work are dealer jobs — leave those alone.

New to the machine? Read our Greengear setup guide first. It covers the first oil fill, the leak test and the first start.

Why service a generator that burns clean? A Greengear LPG generator needs its first oil change at 20 hours and a fresh fill every 100 hours after that — the standard schedule set out in Greengear’s own manual. Propane burns cleaner than petrol, so less carbon ends up on your spark plug and in your oil. But the engine still spins at full speed all day, and oil still wears out.

Who this guide is for. UK mobile caterers running a Greengear GE-3000UK, GE-5000UK or GE-7000UK (from £649). Every job below comes from the official Greengear manual (PGE017). Most take 15 minutes with a spanner and a rag.

The biggest mistake owners make? Skipping the 20-hour first oil change. A new engine sheds tiny metal particles as it beds in. Leave that first fill in too long and those particles keep circulating — grinding away at an engine you paid good money for.

Your Greengear service schedule at a glance

Stick this table on the inside of your trailer door. Hours mean engine running hours — a busy weekend trader clocks up 15–20 hours a week, so “50 hours” lands roughly monthly for some and weekly for others.

When	Job	Who does it
Daily (every 8 hours)	Check oil level. Clean the generator. Check bolts, air filter, LPG hose and joints.	You
First 20 hours	First oil change (new engine only)	You
Every 50 hours	Clean the air filter	You
Every 100 hours	Change the oil. Clean the spark arrester.	You
Every 200 hours	Clean and re-gap the spark plug. Replace a paper air filter element.	You
Every 500 hours	Replace the spark plug. Check the carbon brushes.	You / dealer
Every 1,000 hours	Valve clearance. Carburettor clean and adjust.	Dealer

Daily checks before you start trading

Two minutes with your morning coffee. The manual calls this the daily inspection, and it catches almost every problem before it costs you a trading day.

Oil level and quality — top up to the upper mark on the filler cap.
LPG hose and joints — look for cracks, kinks or the smell of propane. Our LPG hose and regulator guide covers what good kit looks like.
Air filter — a quick look; clean it if it’s visibly dirty.
Bolts and nuts — anything loose gets tightened before you start.
Oil leaks — a glance under the engine.
Noise and vibration — anything new or odd, investigate before trading.
Clear space — keep the area round the generator clear, outside and away from the hatch.

The 50-hour weekly service: 7 steps

Set aside 20 minutes once a week (or every 50 running hours, whichever comes first). Here’s the routine.

Shut down and cool. Stop the engine and close the cylinder valve. Let everything cool before you touch it.
Clean the generator. Wipe it down and check every bolt and nut is tight.
Check the oil. Top up to the upper level. Note your hours — a fresh fill is due every 100 hours.
Clean the air filter. Wash a foam element in detergent and dry it fully. Tap a paper element clean — never oil it.
Leak-test the LPG line. Brush soapy water over the hose and every joint. Bubbles mean a leak — fix it before you trade again.
Look for leaks and damage. Check under the engine for oil. Worn or damaged parts get replaced, not watched.
Log your hours. Write the date, hours and jobs done in the maintenance log at the back of the manual. It protects your warranty.

Oil changes: the 20-hour rule, then every 100 hours

Quick facts

First change: after 20 running hours (new engine)
Then: every 100 hours
GE-3000UK capacity: 0.6 litres
GE-5000UK / GE-7000UK capacity: 1.1 litres
Grade: 4-stroke engine oil, API SE or higher (SG, SH or SJ recommended)
Viscosity: SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 covers UK temperatures year-round

Change the oil while the engine is warm — it drains faster and carries the dirt out with it. Remove the drain plug and the filler cap, let it empty, then refit the plug and fill to the upper level.

Don’t pour old oil down a drain or onto soil. Take it to your local council recycling centre or a garage that accepts waste oil.

One warning worth repeating from the manual: dirty or low oil causes engine damage and cuts engine life short. Oil is the cheapest part you’ll ever put in this machine. The engine it protects is not.

Air filter care: 50-hour cleans, 200-hour replacement

A dirty air filter causes hard starting, power loss and a shorter engine life. It’s also the easiest job on this page.

Foam element: wash in warm water and detergent, then dry it completely before refitting. Every 50 hours.
Paper element: tap it gently to knock the dust out. Never wash it and never oil it. Every 50 hours.
Replace the paper element set: every 200 hours.
Never clean any element with petrol, kerosene or oil.

Trading on a dusty pitch? Dry summer festivals and field events clog filters fast. Check and clean more often — the manual says shorten every interval when conditions are dusty.

Spark plug and spark arrester

Quick facts

Gap: 0.7–0.8 mm
Recommended plug: NGK
Clean and re-gap: every 200 hours
Replace: every 500 hours
Spark arrester: clean every 100 hours — do it with the oil change

If the plug is coated in carbon, clean it off with a wire brush and reset the gap. Tighten the plug securely when it goes back in. A loose plug runs hot and can damage the engine.

Here’s where propane earns its keep: it burns cleaner than petrol, so plugs foul more slowly. You’ll still hit the 200-hour clean on schedule — you just won’t be scrubbing thick black deposits every time.

What’s dealer-only (and why)

Three jobs sit beyond a spanner-and-rag service. The manual says these should be done by your dealer unless you have the proper tools and mechanical training.

Valve clearance — check and adjust every 1,000 hours.
Carburettor — clean and adjust every 1,000 hours. This is the ENERKIT propane system, engineered with the Cavagna Group. Emission-control parts should only be worked on by a qualified and authorised person.
Carbon brushes — check every 500 hours; replace when worn to 5 mm or less. Confident owners can do this one; if in doubt, it’s a dealer job.

Storing your generator between events

Let the engine cool fully before it goes away — hot parts burn. Never store the generator with the propane cylinder inside a building, and always disconnect the cylinder first. Keep it out of direct sunlight and below 49°C.

Warranty and spares: what happens when something breaks

Greengear warranty support is back-to-base, and it’s straightforward. If the fault is with the unit, collection and re-delivery are free. If the problem comes from damage or user error, you cover the carriage — or use a service centre local to you. In our experience Greengear support owners well, especially within the first year.

Keep your proof of purchase and fill in the maintenance log. A stamped service history makes any warranty conversation quicker.

We hold UK stock of the routine spares for the whole range: air filters, spark plugs, engine oil, recoil starters, carbon brushes, regulators, batteries and the ENERKIT carburettor. Routine parts arrive in days — not weeks from Italy.

The range

Greengear GE-3000UK — 2.8 kW, 49 kg, from £649. Coffee trailers and low-draw setups.
Greengear GE-5000UK — 5.0 kW, 93 kg, from £949. Multi-appliance food vans.
Greengear GE-7000UK — 7.0 kW, 96 kg, from £1,249. Full commercial fit-outs.

Not sure which is which? Our Greengear 3kW vs 5kW vs 7kW comparison walks through all three, and the full range lives on our LPG generators page. Wondering what the fuel costs? See our LPG generator running cost guide.

Greengear maintenance FAQs

How often should I change the oil on a Greengear LPG generator?

Change the oil after the first 20 hours, then every 100 hours after that. The GE-3000UK takes 0.6 litres; the GE-5000UK and GE-7000UK take 1.1 litres. Drain while the engine is warm and refill to the upper mark on the filler cap.

What oil does a Greengear generator take?

Use a good 4-stroke engine oil, API class SE or higher — SG, SH or SJ is recommended. SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 suits UK temperatures all year round. Dirty or low oil is the fastest way to wreck the engine, so check the level daily.

How often should I clean the air filter?

Every 50 hours — roughly weekly for a busy trader. Wash a foam element in detergent and dry it fully; tap a paper element clean and never oil it. Replace a paper element set every 200 hours, and clean more often on dusty pitches.

What spark plug gap does a Greengear generator use?

Set the gap to 0.7–0.8 mm. NGK plugs are recommended. Clean and re-gap the plug every 200 hours and fit a new one every 500 hours. Tighten it securely — a loose plug runs hot and can damage the engine.

Can I service a Greengear generator myself?

Mostly, yes. Daily checks, oil changes, air filter cleaning and spark plugs are all owner jobs with basic tools. Valve clearance and carburettor work should go to a dealer, and emission-control parts should only be handled by a qualified person.

What does the Greengear warranty cover?

Greengear warranty support is back-to-base. If the fault is with the unit, collection and re-delivery are free. If the problem comes from damage or user error, you pay the carriage — or use a service centre local to you. Keep your proof of purchase and service log.

Does MobCater stock Greengear spare parts?

Yes. We hold UK stock of air filters, spark plugs, engine oil, recoil starters, carbon brushes, regulators, batteries and the ENERKIT carburettor for the GE-3000UK, GE-5000UK and GE-7000UK. That means routine parts arrive in days, not weeks from Italy.

Can I run a Greengear generator on butane?

No — run it on propane only. Butane stops vaporising below about 2°C, so it fails on cold UK mornings exactly when you need power. All UK mobile catering equipment, including Greengear generators, is set up for propane.