comparing oils on the shelf in store

Predator 212 Oil Type, Capacity & Change Interval Guide

Are you looking for the best type of oil for your Predator 212cc engine but have no idea how to choose one?

I have great news for you! Our team here at Generatorist has helped over 600,000 visitors find information about generators & engines and we will help you as well.

THE KEY TAKEAWAY:

The SAE 10W-30 oil is recommended for general use for the Predator 212cc engine. Winter use: SAE 5W-30 (At 32° F or below). The oil tank capacity is 0.5 Quart / 0.125 Gallons and the recommended change interval is monthly / 20 hrs. of use.

Data for this page is based on official manuals from Harbor Freight. We will show you the type of oil for specific models of Predator engines, oil capacity and links to manuals. We also provide references where you can verify this info for yourself.

Oil type (info from the User’s Manual)

  • General use: SAE 10W-30 (Above 32° F)
  • Winter use: SAE 5W-30 (At 32° F or below)
  • Oil capacity: 0.5 Quart / 0.125 Gallons
  • Break-in oil change: 20 hours of use
  • Regular oil change: Monthly / 20 hrs. of use

Recommended DIY Videos

Owner´s manual – https://manuals.harborfreight.com

Official product page – https://www.harborfreight.com

Predator Engines

Oil type (info from the User’s Manual)

  • General use: SAE 10W-30
  • Oil capacity: 0.37 Quart / 0.0925 Gallons
  • Break-in oil change: 20 hours of use
  • Regular oil change: Monthly / 20 hrs. of use

DIY Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzLO2fkhJI4

Owner´s manualhttps://manuals.harborfreight.com

Official product pagehttps://www.harborfreight.com

Oil type (info from the User’s Manual)

  • General use: 10W-30 High quality synthetic oil
  • Oil capacity: 0.63 Quart / 0.1575 Gallons
  • Break-in oil change: 10 hours of use
  • Regular oil change: Monthly / 20 hrs. of use

DIY Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmyFKlPzxLo

Owner´s manualhttps://manuals.harborfreight.com

Official product pagehttps://www.harborfreight.com

Oil type (info from the User’s Manual)

  • General use: SAE 10W-30 (Above 32° F)
  • Winter use: SAE 5W-30 (At 32° F or below)
  • Oil capacity: 0.5 Quart / 0.125 Gallons
  • Break-in oil change: 20 hours of use
  • Regular oil change: Monthly / 20 hrs. of use

DIY Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfAHxJwaf7Q

Owner´s manualhttps://manuals.harborfreight.com

Official product pagehttps://www.harborfreight.com

Oil type (info from the User’s Manual)

  • General use: SAE 10W-30 (Above 32° F)
  • Winter use: SAE 5W-30 (At 32° F or below)
  • Oil capacity: 0.64 Quart / 0.16 Gallons
  • Break-in oil change: 20 hours of use
  • Regular oil change: Monthly / 20 hrs. of use

Owner´s manualhttps://manuals.harborfreight.com

Official product pagehttps://www.harborfreight.com

Oil type (info from the User’s Manual)
  • General use: SAE 10W-30 (Above 32° F)
  • Winter use: SAE 5W-30 (At 32° F or below)
  • Oil capacity: 1 Quart / 0.25 Gallons
  • Break-in oil change: 20 hours of use
  • Regular oil change: Monthly / 20 hrs. of use
Owner´s manualhttps://manuals.harborfreight.com Official product pagehttps://www.harborfreight.com

Oil type (info from the User’s Manual)

  • General use: SAE 10W-30 (Above 32° F)
  • Winter use: SAE 5W-30 (At 32° F or below)
  • Oil capacity: 1.16 Quarts / 0.29 Gallons
  • Break-in oil change: 20 hours of use
  • Regular oil change: Monthly / 20 hrs. of use

DIY Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g57tZQEfOGg

Owner´s manualhttps://manuals.harborfreight.com

Official product pagehttps://www.harborfreight.com

Oil type (info from the User’s Manual)

  • General use: SAE 10W-30 (Above 32° F)
  • Winter use: SAE 5W-30 (At 32° F or below)
  • Oil capacity: 1.16 Quarts / 0.29 Gallons
  • Break-in oil change: 20 hours of use
  • Regular oil change: Monthly / 20 hrs. of use

Owner´s manualhttps://manuals.harborfreight.com

Official product pagehttps://www.harborfreight.com

Oil type (info from the User’s Manual)

  • General use: SAE 10W-30 (Above 32° F)
  • Winter use: SAE 5W-30 (At 32° F or below)
  • Oil capacity: 2 Quarts / 0.5 Gallons
  • Break-in oil change: 20 hours of use
  • Regular oil change: Monthly / 20 hrs. of use

DIY Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwpylHUOwIE

Owner´s manualhttps://manuals.harborfreight.com

Official product pagehttps://www.harborfreight.com

Is your engine missing from the list?

Feel free to check out the Harbor Freight website in case you didn’t find your engine on this list.

KEEP IN MIND THE OIL VISCOSITY

The most crucial feature you need to pay close attention to while choosing the engine oil is its viscosity. You can find the recommended type of oil in the Owner´s Guide or Manual.

In most cases, you will need an SAE 10W-30 oil type. The 10W-30 oil from Honda (1,767+ Reviews) is the best one in this category, but it’s pricey. We think that it is the best fit for most engines. 

Here is our detailed comparison of 10W-30 oil vs 5W-30 oil, the second most recommended type of oil for PREDATOR engines.

For cheaper alternatives, check out Valvoline VR1 Racing (725+ Reviews) or Castrol Motor Oil (465+ Reviews). They offer the same performance for a better price.

The SAE acronym in the name of motor oil refers to the grading system developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers. The rest of the code refers to the oil’s viscosity at different temperatures.

The first number in the code, in this case the 10W, means how well can this oil be pumped at cold temperatures. The W refers to the word winter (not the weight). 

The second number in the code means how well can the oil be pumped when heated to 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius) or higher.

Also, you should select a good quality detergent oil bearing the American Petroleum Institute (API) service classifications SJ, SL, SM, or SN.

Bear in mind this fact: If you use a different type of oil than the recommended one, you may cause premature wearing of individual engine parts.

THE IDEAL OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

The main idea for changing the oil at regular intervals is to make your engine last as long as possible and avoid unnecessary damage.

The general rule is to change the oil after the first 20-30 hours of operation and every 100 hours of run time thereafter. With synthetic oil, you can double the run time to 200 hours.

To sum up the ideal oil change frequency:

  • The break-in oil change is at 20 hours
  • Monthly / 20 hrs. of use
  • Every 6 months of use
  • Every 100 hours of use

When you are not sure of the ideal interval, just remember this: You can’t go wrong with changing the oil sooner rather than later.

About Generatorist

Matthew Gerther

Founder, Generator enthusiast

Our aim here at the Generatorist is to become the No. 1 resource for all things related to generators & your power needs. We have helped over 600,000 visitors with our tips, articles and reviews and we will help you as well.

Our work has been featured in many publications around the world – Yahoo.com, Telegram.com, PaylessPower.com, PopSci.com, TopTenReviews.com, TechRepublic.com, iRV2.com, ThePrepared.com, Renogy.com or ADT Solar. Generators are our passion, and we strive to provide the most reliable & most comprehensive information out there.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *