On the covered Kohler standby generator, Engine Speed High means shutdown. Engine speed exceeded 115% of normal running speed for more than 0.3 seconds. First, record the load and conditions at shutdown. Then: contact an authorized dealer for service. Note what turned off just before the shutdown.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kohler standby generator code Engine Speed High”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A sudden drop in load
What separates it The shutdown follows a large load coming off, such as a transfer switch change
How to confirm Note what turned off just before the shutdown
- 2
A governor or throttle problem
What separates it The engine surges or hunts before it shuts down
How to confirm A dealer checks the throttle actuator and governor settings
- 3
A speed signal fault
What separates it The engine ran normally and the controller still reports high speed
How to confirm A dealer reads the speed sensor and its wiring
- 4
A fuel supply change that lets the engine run lean and hunt
What separates it The unit surged or hunted before it shut down
How to confirm Compare the fuel type setting and supply pressure against the manual
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The load on the generator at shutdown
- Whether the engine surged beforehand
- The fault message and time on the controller
- The generator model and serial number
- Whether the generator had just finished an exercise run or was carrying a load
- Whether the engine sounded unsteady before the shutdown
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleRecord the load and conditions at shutdown.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleContact an authorized dealer for service.
Record the conditions
ReversibleWrite down the controller message, the time and the loads that were running.
Reset the controller once
ReversibleWith the generator stopped, use the controller's OFF position to clear the fault and watch the next start.
Call an authorized dealer
ReversibleKohler's manual lists this as a shutdown and directs service.
Look at the controller's fault history
ReversibleThe controller keeps the fault message. Photograph the screen so the dealer sees what the controller recorded before it was reset.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Shown as
- Engine Speed High shutdown message.
- Applies to
- Kohler residential standby generators with this controller.
- Limit
- 115 percent of normal speed for more than 0.3 seconds.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Do not restart repeatedly; the fault is an engine overspeed shutdown
- !Contact an authorized Kohler dealer
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does Engine Speed High mean on a Kohler standby generator?+
Shutdown. Engine speed exceeded 115% of normal running speed for more than 0.3 seconds.
Can I keep running it?+
No. The controller shut down to protect the engine and generator.
Is it fuel related?+
A fuel or governor fault can cause overspeed, so a dealer checks those.
Is overspeed a danger to the generator?+
Yes. Speed above 115 percent for even a fraction of a second stresses the engine and the alternator, which is why the controller shuts it down.
Will the generator restart on its own?+
A shutdown fault locks the unit out until it is reset at the controller.
Can overspeed happen during the weekly exercise run?+
It can, because the engine runs at speed with little load. Tell the dealer whether it happened during an exercise run or an outage.