The DuroMax XP4400E portable generator provides 3500 continuous watts and up to 4400 surge watts. An electric key start and onboard battery makes it easy to start. Its retail price is also very competitive, but it requires frequent oil and fuel changes to keep it in good running order. Should you buy the DuroMax XP4400E or not?
Duromax XP4400E: Overview
The XP4400E portable generator gets power from a 7 HP, 4-stroke, OHV, gasoline powered engine with a 3.96-gallon fuel tank. It has both an electric starter and a recoil starter. The engine is approved by both the EPA and the CARB.
An automatic low oil shut-off feature protects the engine from running with too little oil. You should drain and replace the oil after the first 8 hours of operation. Subsequently, oil changes should occur after every 20 hours of operation. Of course, you are probably not going to stop the generator after 20 hours of running in an emergency situation just to change the oil.
In reality, the oil should be changed, and the fuel drained after the electrical power has been restored in your area, before you put the generator into storage. Oil maintenance seems like a very important chore with this generator’s engine.
The engine was designed to run on unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher. The runtime on a 4-gallon tank of gasoline at 50% load might be between 10 and 12 hours. There is a small and rudimentary fuel gauge on top of the tank. The volume level is just under 70dB, which is probably normal for an open frame inverter generator of this price and size.
One thing that the DuroMax XP4400E does not have is an hour meter. The addition of such a small meter to the control panel will make keeping track of the amount of hours the engine has run much easier. Knowing how long the engine has been running makes it easy to stick to the maintenance schedule. Of course, most portable generators seem to lack an hour meter.
Power Outlets
The DuroMax XP4400E can supply 3500 running watts and 4400 surge watts. The control panel provides the following receptacles:
- Two 120V, 20A GFCI outlets.
- One 120/240V, 30A, twist lock outlet.
- 12V DC charging posts.
There is a switch on the power panel for switching between 120/240V AC and 120V AC power. Thus, the switch should be in the ‘120V/240V’ position if a 240-volt tool is connected to the twist lock outlet. Disconnect any electrical loads and turn off the AC circuit breaker before switching between voltages.
A word of warning might be necessary to those who have appliances with sensitive electronics like electronic fridges or HD televisions. This generator does not have an inverter and therefore produces dirty power with too much total harmonic distortion. You could try to clean up the power by connecting sensitive electronic equipment through a UPS backup system. Then again, it might be better (although not cheaper) to simply purchase a portable inverter generator so you can have a clean power signal from the start.
The 30-amp twist lock outlet might be useful for travel trailers or an RV. However, it seems like you have to purchase and use a DuraMax 30-amp adaptor and power cord because other brand power cords might not work.
Accessories
The generator is shipped in a box that should contain these items:
- keys for electric starter
- oil funnel
- spark plug wrench
- tool set
- wheel and handle kit
- DC charging cables
- DuroMax XP4400E owner’s manual
The generator is shipped without oil in the crankcase. Engine oil is not included in the box, therefore buy some before you attempt to use it. The XP4400E manual recommends SAE 10W-30 engine oil. However, if you live in a hot climate you should use straight 30 oil, while very cold climates might require using 5W-30 oil. The engine oil capacity is said to be 20 fluid ounces (0.6L).
The maintenance schedule in the XP4400E manual suggests that you check the oil level before each use and change the oil after every 20 hours of operation, or once a month.
Please note that you might have to turn the generator onto its fuel tank to install the wheel kit and handles. Do this before you add engine oil or fuel. Never turn the generator upside down if there is any fuel or oil in the engine.
DuroMax XP4400E: FAQ
This depends on how many appliances you want to run during a power outage. It might have enough power for the keeping the lights on, the refrigerator cold and the microwave cooking. However, with a rated power number of only 3500W you might not be able to power everything at once. For example, a refrigerator (or freezer) has an electric motor which requires at least 2000 surge watts for starting and 700 watts for continuous running. If you are not connected to the city water grid and have a well pump, then you might also need a bigger generator. A 1/2 horsepower well pump could require between 2000 and 4000 starting watts.
The XP4400E is made to run on gasoline, while the DuroMax XP4400EH is the dual fuel model that can run on either gasoline or propane. In spite of this, the XP4400E manual does mention that the run time at 50% on propane is 16 hours (5 Gallon). However, it is probably easier to buy the dual fuel XP4400EH model instead of trying to find the right propane conversion kit and then voiding the warranty.
The XP4400E manual cautions the owner that gasoline fuel should not be stored and used in the generator from one season to the next. This is because the regular gasoline that you buy at the pump might contain additives like ethanol that could damage fuel system components, even when stored properly. For that reason, you should try to use non-ethanol fuel when possible. Furthermore, if you do use gasoline fuel with ethanol (E10 gasoline), then you should always empty the fuel system before storage. It can be done by either running the generator until it runs out of fuel or by removing the fuel from the tank with a small hose pump. You could even drain the fuel tap if you can remove the cover.
Why buy the DuroMax XP4400E portable generator?
Some people bought this generator in preparation for the hurricane season. Other individuals bought it to provide emergency backup power during temporary power outages. Its rated power of 3500 watts is just about enough to power a few essential household items such as lights, fridge, small heater, fan or sump pump.
The DuroMax XP4400E is unfortunately not large enough to power the central air conditioner of a house. Because of that, this generator might not provide enough power if you have a large house. You should consider getting a larger generator for household backup power, connected through a transfer switch panel, such as the DuroMax XP10000E or even the XP12000EH dual fuel portable generator.
Many owners like the convenience of the electric key start offered by the XP4400E portable generator. The generator charges the battery while it is running. Even so, it is recommended to keep the battery charged with a battery tender so that the electric key start will work during an emergency. Keep the battery and tender in a warm place during the cold months because batteries do not like freezing temperatures.
The XP4400E portable generator weighs about 127 pounds, so the wheel kit and handles are a welcome accessory. The kit consists of support legs, wheels and handles. Nuts, bolts, brackets and retaining pins are provided for securing the various pieces to the frame. The instructions in the DuroMax XP4400E manual might not be very clear, but with a little common sense it can be figured out and assembled without a problem.
Overall, the DuroMax XP4400E is an affordable generator if you consider its recommended retail price (check price on Amazon – paid link). However, its low price increases the risk of poor quality control and poor customer service. Do not buy this generator if you have zero knowledge about small gasoline engines because you might need to troubleshoot a problem on your own when it occurs instead of relying on customer service to help you.