6864 XD5000E 5000-Watt Diesel-Powered Portable Generator - Ideal for Emergency Backup Power and Job Sites - Reliable Power for Demanding Applications - CARB Compliant

I own a 8500 watt typical portable Generac gas generator as well as a 24KW regulated Alturdyne diesel generator but needed something that could run non-stop overnight and longer to just keep a basic load going for refrigeration and light. I have found the quality of this 5000 watt Generac with a YanMar diesel engine to be exquisite. I had read in many of the reviews how loud to the point of being obnoxious it was more suited to constructions sites. Allow me to share two secrets; first purchase the generator external silencer muffler kit available on Amazon and buy yourself a 30 x 40" horse pad from TSC. Out the pad on the ground or even concrete and then fit the exhaust, which is designed to be put through and exterior wall utilizing an included mounting plate. The high density horse pad muffles the loud vibration from the engine and the silencer exhaust is so quite I have put it directly to my ear and barely hear a hissing sound, no noise at all. I have shown my setup to a friend in the last week and now he is buying one as well. Conversely, if you are going to take this and put in on a concrete slab and forget it, the drone is capable of drivng you insane.

I purchased the generator in June of 2018 from CPO Outlets. It has been in the repair shop twice since the purchase for a total of 6 months. It is still in the repair shop as I write. Generac has terrible customer service, they keep giving the repair shop ideas about how to repair the generator, but none have been successful as yet. The generator is warrantied for 2000 hours. The first time it went to the shop it had 500 hours, the second time 1200 hours. The first time it went in for repairs was when the generator separated from the diesel engine, the bolts had not been properly torqued. When it separated it sheared metal from the impellers and embedded them in the wall next to the generator. The second time the generator quit producing any wattage at all and that's how it sits. When it first arrived and I unpackaged the generator and looked it over the first thing I noticed was that the hose connectors were of different types. That only made sense if they ran out of one style and field engineered the rest to get it out the door. I will be asking for a refund with my next phone call. I will update this review when the dust settles.

When Harvey came through South Texas, my 5700 watt McCullah wouldn't start. Got the little 3500 watt Champion out and had that going, it only puts out 110volts though. Ordered the Generac 6864. It was delivered on time, power had been restored by the time it got there though, big thank you to GVEC. I have hooked it up and did a test run using the 240 volt/30amp outlet through my interlock on my main power box. We are rural and have a water well, this runs the well just fine as well as all the lights in the house, all LED, and all ceiling fans. It did not like our 5 ton central ac unit, wasn't expecting it to run that and it didn't. Microwave worked well, two burners on the electric range are doable, that put the heaviest load on the generator, pulled the engine down, but it kept going. As for the generator itself, it is heavy, the wheel kit is needed with this unit if you plan to move it around. Pull start with the compression release is difficult, electric start works well. The battery is a lawn tractor 330 CCA battery. This has to be installed so the fuel cutoff system works, will not start at all without the battery, and battery is not included. Next is to build an enclosure to help quiet it down. All in all, I like the generator, will not have the issues that ethanol creates in gas gens anymore plus the longer run time will make it easier on my wife if she has to use it when I am not home. February 6, 2019 Since my initial review I have used the generator several times. My 5star review still stands

Diesel engine is great. Power generator is Generac. Lousy warranty. Failed to deliver power after 860 hours. No warranty stations. Only recorded voice. No where to take if for repair. Will never buy another Generac.

So, a couple of things about this generator. It is a SERIOUS portable generator; it's big, heavy, holds a lot of fuel, runs a long time and makes lots of power. I immediately ordered a wheel kit for it and needed help getting it in and out of the back of my truck. It looks like it's going to be a good solid, basic generator. I like it; especially the Yanmar diesel motor. On the down side, it has a fuel cut-off solenoid that requires power to hold it open. So, while this unit has a pull starter and does not come with a battery, it will NOT run without a battery. Second, even with the battery installed, pull starting does not appear to be quite as straightforward as they make it sound. I followed the instructions exactly and pulled about 50 times to no avail, then finally pushed the electric start and it fired right up. Interesting to note, it seems to fire on about the 3rd revolution with the electric starter; the pull starter might pull through about two revolutions... Finally, and I knew this going in, these are not quiet motors; so be forewarned. Oh, and as others have mentioned, the "auto-throttle" is basically wide open.

Hard to believe couldn't find with box stores and found just what I was looking for at Amazon. Everything was easy plus delivered to my doorsteps. This was a replacement and fit right in. Noise is typical for this type of generator.

I bought this to put on a mobile command trailer so the fuel wouldn’t be bad when I needed it at critical times. Opps!! The engine is solid. Fires every time and runs a solid RPM regardless of load. It’s just the loudest freaking gen you’ve ever heard. It has a percussion to it that’s a bit more than what I would normally call just “loud”. I do nationwide storm recovery for one of the three biggest “rental companies”. This is louder than a 320kw… It’s so loud, I was moving the trailer (that’s spray foam insulated and has MLV on the front bulkhead) to these huge gens so I could get power from them instead bc I could at least use my phone inside the trailer (Starlink ❤️). I routed the exhaust up for air quality purposes, but that helped with the sound a good bit. The gen head has died twice. 1x from a regulator that’s a PIA to diagnose and a second unknown failure now at 95 hours. Fortunately I’m a vendor for Generac and I have mechanics at my shop, but even with all of that it has left me hanging when I need it here in Chimney Rock, NC after the flooding from Helene. Their customer service is virtually nonexistent if you’re a normal customer, so buying from a dealer would be the ONLY way I could recommend this unit. I’m running on a gasser now that I had to go buy from HF just to limp by for a few weeks. I’m isolated past resources and diesel is the only fuel type I can get predictably. This thing is getting taken off immediately upon return home and swapped for an Onan. I’ve now got 4x the hours on my Predator from HF with zero issues, for what’s it’s worth.

Easy start. runs great