Run from Briggs Stratton Vanguard Generators
I installed a Vanguard 12kw Briggs Stratton generator 10 years ago. I'm a retired inside wireman (commercial electrician) and installed it myself given the go ahead by the regional service manager of Briggs. They agreed to honor the warranty and provide support unlike any other generator manufacturer I called. So I went with them.
The 1st unit had a bad controller at install and I went through hell getting them to replace it. The regional service manager finally sent me one when he intervened. This unit started burning oil from the get go....had to stop it every 8 hrs and top it off. After hassling with them for over a year they sent me a new generator. This happened the 5th year of a 7 yr warranty, when I took on getting them to honor the warranty. I knew it would be a bitch.
For the most part after breaking my ass at the beginning tech support started working with me when I called. There were a lot of small issues with the new 12kw with the new Genset GC1031 controller. So it took years for them to stop being assholes but they finally came around.
Over the past year the new generator is burning oil, not as much as the old one but burning oil. I called yesterday to resolve an issue with GC-1031 Controller I/P sense loss failures when it's exercising. This is a known issue and there is a service bulletin fix. They changed their call processing menu so I can't call tech support direct and refused to let me speak with them because I'm not a dealer. I explained my agreement with them but the lady was a robotic asshole who kept miming her party line. She said her manager would call me back..no one has....just BS.
This company and their product have been a gigantic pain in my ass and extremely reluctant to honor their promise to fulfill their warranty with me installing the generator as promised from the beginning. By the way where I live Pollock Pines, CA.. there are no generator service companies that will even work on Briggs Stratton. Stupid actually as there are so many power outages here that Generac is making a killing.
I should mention that there was one company 10 years ago that I kept in the loop with all the issues I had from the start. They were so impressed with me and my install and repair they offered me a job. But I'm retired so declined.
I've seen issues with Generac online but none of my friends up here have issues that have needed a service call. And none of them are burning oil.
So here's my warning to anyone considering a Briggs and Stratton generator and having to deal with this company that has been horrible. And the Vanguard line is at the top of their offerings. It's obviously an inferior product and Briggs has no interest it seems in selling them. I will dump it some day soon and be forced to install probably a Generac through a dealer when I'm perfectly qualified to do it myself. Neither Generac or Kohler would honor the warranty or provide support if I installed it.
My advice...run from a Briggs & Stratton generator..this company should get out of the business that they don't seem to want to be in anyway.