I have a recently purchased Class C RV. My question has to do with the auxiliary generator so I guess it applies to all classes of RV so equipped.The motor for the generator will not pump fuel from the RV gas tank. I suspect there is a leak in the line and it is just sucking air, or possibly its fuel pump is not strong enough to pump gas from the RV's fuel tank.When I disconnect from the RV's fuel tank and run a short line into a can of gas situated nearby it works fine.I hate the thought of having to drop the main fuel tank to inspect for a broken line or leak but will do so if I have to.Does the generator have its own fuel pump, and if so where would it be? Mounted on the generator motor like a conventional car fuel pump?What if I mounted an in-line fuel pump closer to the main fuel pump? Do you think that would do the trick?Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.-Denver

Denver9 wrote:I have a recently purchased Class C RV. My question has to do with the auxiliary generator so I guess it applies to all classes of RV so equipped.The motor for the generator will not pump fuel from the RV gas tank. I suspect there is a leak in the line and it is just sucking air, or possibly its fuel pump is not strong enough to pump gas from the RV's fuel tank.When I disconnect from the RV's fuel tank and run a short line into a can of gas situated nearby it works fine.I hate the thought of having to drop the main fuel tank to inspect for a broken line or leak but will do so if I have to.Does the generator have its own fuel pump, and if so where would it be? Mounted on the generator motor like a conventional car fuel pump?What if I mounted an in-line fuel pump closer to the main fuel pump? Do you think that would do the trick?Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.-DenverI am not sure where you are located, but there is a man in El Cajon CA, That does nothing but RV generators.PM me and i will send you his phone number.

How much gas in the tank. Many are plumbed so that they will not run below a 1/4 tank. (That way you don't use all your gas and become stranded.)

usually the onans have a small low pressure electric pump in the cabinet of the generator below the air filter. The filter is inline right before the electric pump. They are effectively hidden. because of the location the filters don't get as much attention as they could/ you may have a clogged filter.Yes you can relocate the filter and pump near the tank. It makes access better, but the wires will need to be extended which may mean an addition of a splice. The increase wire length can lower the pumps net voltage and reduce its life. Larger wire size will help. Remember its filter before the pump and gas and electricity don't mix.

Check the easy things first...does it work with a full tank of gas, as alluded to by ChooChooMan? It's possible that the dip tube assembly in the gas tank has a small leak partway up, so it may stop working somewhat above the typical quarter tank.If it still doesn't work, I'd probably inspect or just replace the gas line between the tank and the generator, or at least the large portion of it that is readily accessible. The fact that it works from an separate container with a different gas line suggests (but certainly does not fully prove) that the fuel pump is more or less OK.If you replace the gas line, you might want to consider adding a shut-off valve near the generator so that you can more easily drop it if you ever need to for service. It's still a bit of an ordeal, but every bit of niceness helps...and not having to worry about siphoning your fuel tank dry is a very real bit of niceness.

Main fuel tank level is not the problem -- checked that. I Will look for the filter and check it. Good suggestions from all of you, thanks. I will check them all out.-Denver

Gasoline driven generator for RV | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

Geno92308
Explorer
Sep 09, 2015
usually the onans have a small low pressure electric pump in the cabinet of the generator below the air filter. The filter is inline right before the electric pump. They are effectively hidden. because of the location the filters don't get as much attention as they could/ you may have a clogged filter.

Yes you can relocate the filter and pump near the tank. It makes access better, but the wires will need to be extended which may mean an addition of a splice. The increase wire length can lower the pumps net voltage and reduce its life. Larger wire size will help.

Remember its filter before the pump and gas and electricity don't mix.
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Sep 09, 2015
How much gas in the tank. Many are plumbed so that they will not run below a 1/4 tank. (That way you don't use all your gas and become stranded.)
PatrickA51
Explorer
Sep 09, 2015
Denver9 wrote:
I have a recently purchased Class C RV. My question has to do with the auxiliary generator so I guess it applies to all classes of RV so equipped.
The motor for the generator will not pump fuel from the RV gas tank. I suspect there is a leak in the line and it is just sucking air, or possibly its fuel pump is not strong enough to pump gas from the RV's fuel tank.
When I disconnect from the RV's fuel tank and run a short line into a can of gas situated nearby it works fine.
I hate the thought of having to drop the main fuel tank to inspect for a broken line or leak but will do so if I have to.
Does the generator have its own fuel pump, and if so where would it be? Mounted on the generator motor like a conventional car fuel pump?
What if I mounted an in-line fuel pump closer to the main fuel pump? Do you think that would do the trick?
Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
-Denver

I am not sure where you are located, but there is a man in El Cajon CA, That does nothing but RV generators.
PM me and i will send you his phone number.

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Gasoline driven generator for RV

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