Generac · SD/MD Series (Industrial Diesel)

Generac SD3000/MD3000

3000 kW standby · Diesel · Liquid-cooled

3000 kW diesel industrial standby generator. Baudouin 87.5L V16 turbocharged/aftercooled, EPA Tier 2 Certified Stationary Emergency.

Generac Generac SD3000/MD3000 generator — specifications and details
Standby power
3000 kW
Voltage options
277/480V, 346/600V
Frequency / Phase
60 Hz · 3-phase
Engine
Baudouin 87.5L · 87.5L
EPA / Emissions
Tier 2
Alternator
Generac K3250064N24

Overview#

The Generac SD3000/MD3000 is a 3,000-kilowatt industrial diesel generator -- the largest in Generac's diesel lineup -- powered by a Baudouin 87.5-liter V16 turbocharged and aftercooled diesel engine. This unit is EPA Tier 2 Certified for Stationary Emergency applications and targets the largest mission-critical facilities including hyperscale data centers, major hospital complexes, and heavy industrial plants.

Generac pairs the Baudouin V16 engine with the K3250064N24 alternator featuring Class H insulation, permanent magnet excitation, sealed ball dual bearings, and direct-drive coupling. The DSE G8601 controller provides comprehensive generator management with advanced PLC functionality, SNMP integration, and IP65-rated display. A pre-lube system is standard on this platform.

The Baudouin 87.5L V16 platform#

The 87.5-liter V16 Baudouin diesel steps up from the 65.6L V12 used in the SD2250 and SD2500, adding four cylinders for 3,000 kW output. At standby rating, it produces 4,490 horsepower with BMEP of 370 psi and piston speed of 2,538 ft/min. The bore and stroke (7.08 x 8.46 inches) are identical to the V12 platform, sharing the same piston, liner, and head architecture. The 528-quart (500-liter) oil capacity requires commercial-scale fluid handling. The 84-inch pusher fan provides 148,808 cfm airflow, and the coolant system holds 189.9 gallons with separate high-temperature and low-temperature circuits.

Our service experience#

The SD3000/MD3000 is a significant infrastructure installation. At 309 inches long (nearly 26 feet), 120 inches wide (10 feet), and over 60,000 lbs, site logistics are a major project in themselves -- foundation engineering, crane access, and delivery routing must be planned well in advance. Fuel consumption of 221.1 gph at full load demands substantial bulk fuel storage and reliable supply logistics; a 48-hour runtime at 75% load requires over 8,100 gallons. The dual-circuit coolant system (high-temp and low-temp loops) adds complexity to coolant maintenance compared to the single-circuit V12 platform. The pre-lube system is critical for units that may sit for extended periods between starts -- it maintains oil film on bearings to prevent dry-start damage. We recommend comprehensive service contracts with guaranteed emergency response times for any facility relying on a unit at this scale.

Engineering specifications

Physical

Length
309 in
Width
120 in
Height
132 in
Dry weight
60,150 lb

Fuel system & runtime

Fuel use @ full load
221.1 GPH
Fuel use @ 75% load
169.7 GPH
Fuel use @ 50% load
123.4 GPH

Thermal & ventilation

Exhaust flow
29,198 CFM
Exhaust temp
1022 °F
Combustion air
8,818 CFM

Documents & downloads

Spec sheets & manuals

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Estimated runtime

1.2 hours(0.0 days)

Fuel consumption ≈ 170.56 GPH at 75% load. Estimate based on industry-typical 1800 RPM standby curves (≈0.07 GPH/kW at full load). Actual consumption varies by engine, ambient temperature, fuel quality, and tuning.

Service intervals

Manufacturer-recommended intervals for the Generac SD3000/MD3000 under standby duty. Field intervals may differ based on load profile, ambient conditions, and fuel quality.

Oil & filter
Every 500 hours or 12 months
Coolant change
Every 4000 hours
Air filter
Every 1000 hours
Fuel filter
Every 500 hours
Load bank test
Every 12 months

Common failure modes

What we've seen fail on this platform. Use as a service-planning reference, not a diagnostic — actual failure modes depend heavily on duty cycle and maintenance history.

ComponentSymptomTypical hoursSeverity
Fuel quality / degradationHard starting, injector fouling, filter clogging, reduced power output4,380+moderate
TurbochargerPower loss, excessive smoke under load, oil consumption15,000+moderate
High pressure common rail injection systemRough running, misfiring cylinders, fuel rail pressure faults20,000+severe
Battery (24 VDC system)Failed to start, slow cranking8,760+minor
Coolant heaterLow coolant temperature alarm, slow start in cold weather20,000+minor

Frequently Asked Questions

What engine does the Generac SD3000/MD3000 use?
The SD3000/MD3000 uses a Baudouin 87.5-liter V16 turbocharged and aftercooled diesel engine running at 1800 RPM. The engine has a bore of 7.08 inches (180 mm), stroke of 8.46 inches (215 mm), and 16.5:1 compression ratio with a 4-valve cylinder head. It produces 4,490 horsepower at standby rating. The engine uses high-pressure common rail electronic fuel injection with 4-micron fuel filtering and is EPA Tier 2 Certified for Stationary Emergency applications.
What is the fuel consumption of the Generac SD3000/MD3000?
At standby rating on ultra-low-sulfur diesel, the SD3000/MD3000 consumes 221.1 gallons per hour at 100% load, 169.7 gph at 75%, 123.4 gph at 50%, and 71.4 gph at 25% load. HVO fuel consumption is 226.3 gph at full load. Total fuel pump flow (combustion plus return) is 898 gph (3,400 Lph). Fuel pump lift is rated at 13.6 feet (4.1 m).
What voltages are available for the SD3000/MD3000?
The SD3000/MD3000 is available in two three-phase configurations: 277/480 VAC (4,515.9 amps) and 346/600 VAC (3,612.7 amps), both at 0.8 power factor. The standard alternator K3250064N24 provides 7,200 skVA motor starting capability at 277/480V with 30% voltage dip.
What are the dimensions and weight of the SD3000/MD3000?
The open-set SD3000/MD3000 measures 309 x 120 x 132 inches -- nearly 26 feet long and 10 feet wide -- and weighs approximately 60,150 lbs (over 27 metric tons). This is Generac's largest diesel generator, requiring engineered foundations, heavy-lift rigging, and careful site planning for delivery and placement.
What controller does the SD3000/MD3000 use?
The SD3000/MD3000 uses the DSE G8601 controller with advanced PLC functionality, multi-purpose PIDs, virtual inputs, on-screen mimic (SLDs), and an enhanced high-resolution 240x128 pixel display with integral heater and IP65 protection. Standard features include a pre-lube system. The controller supports SNMP, DSENet expansion, and PC configuration.

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