Generator Exhaust Hose

Most garage hoses have a fan that will pull the exhaust away the engine and discharge it outside. This would also eliminate your question of increased back pressure. That's my two cents worth.

I run my Onan 8000K Gen. monthly, while in Winter storage, just as described in my Owners Manual. It also helps to keep my house batteries fully charged, especially in the extreme cold weather we have been having lately.

Question for Retired JSO, How many Farmers have diesel generators used for RV use? I doubt they have any in Farm Equipment.

I'd run it at 50% load once a month to dispel any moisture that might have accumulated. I want my generator to operate at 100% proficiency when it's needed so the small amount of fuel used is a small price to pay.

jhilley wrote:

Retired JSO wrote:
If its a diesel generator, unlike gasoline, let it sleep till spring. Farmers let their diesel equipment sleep 4-5 months at a time without harm.

It's not the diesel side of the generator that needs exercising, it is the electrical side.

I would think one of the exhaust hoses that mechanics use would work. if they don't cause back pressure on cars, they shouldn't cause back pressure on generators.

Straight from page 10 of the Onan generator Manual.

Exercising Your Generator
It may seem surprising that “not” using a machine could cause performance
problems, but with RV generators that’s exactly the case. Regular “exercise” is
an important part of keeping your generator healthy. Lack of exercise can cause
moisture build-up and fuel system degradation that make it run poorly. In fact,
in as little as 30 days, the fuel in gasoline-powered generators can begin to gum
and varnish the fuel system. Fuel varnishing results in hard starting and surging. (A
surging generator never settles at a stable operating speed.)
To prevent such problems, it is recommended to run gasoline generators at a
minimum of 50 percent capacity (2000-watts, or one air conditioner for a 4000-watt
set) for two hours once every four weeks. This is necessary to help keep moving
parts lubricated, expel moisture and control fuel varnishing in the carburetor. A long
two-hour exercise period is preferable to several short periods. While traveling, this
can be accomplished by running the air conditioning. If you own a diesel generator,
regular exercising can help reduce internal condensation and helps keep seals
lubricated.

I'd let it sleep.

Retired JSO wrote:
If its a diesel generator, unlike gasoline, let it sleep till spring. Farmers let their diesel equipment sleep 4-5 months at a time without harm.

It's not the diesel side of the generator that needs exercising, it is the electrical side.

I would think one of the exhaust hoses that mechanics use would work. if they don't cause back pressure on cars, they shouldn't cause back pressure on generators.

If its a diesel generator, unlike gasoline, let it sleep till spring. Farmers let their diesel equipment sleep 4-5 months at a time without harm.