setting five months run the engine or not?
We're setting in the South for five months and a discussion came up as to whether to run the engine once a month or not.. I was allows told not to unless you could go out on the road and run for 20 mi...
Forum Discussion
Running the generator once a month is different than running the engine. The gen needs to be exercised under load to dry out and remove and corrosion buildup on the brushes. If not the buildup can get to the point where the gen won't produce any electricity then it won't stay running.
I have a 70 Chevelle SS that sits in the garage all winter. No way I'm driving it around in the winter in MI so it doesn't get started. I know dozens of other guys that do the same with there cars. No ill affects.
Due to extended circumstances our MH sat for several years without being started. Only issue was lousy gas mileage until we burned up the old gas and filled it with fresh.
As you can see I don't believe letting it sit for months causes any harm. If you must start it, idling is not the same as driving it. It may get hot enough to dry out any moisture created but how can you be sure. Especially in the exhaust system. At idle you're not pushing enough heat through to dry out the entire system. Takes a lot of hot gases to fully heat up and dry out 20 some feet of exhaust.
I have a 70 Chevelle SS that sits in the garage all winter. No way I'm driving it around in the winter in MI so it doesn't get started. I know dozens of other guys that do the same with there cars. No ill affects.
Due to extended circumstances our MH sat for several years without being started. Only issue was lousy gas mileage until we burned up the old gas and filled it with fresh.
As you can see I don't believe letting it sit for months causes any harm. If you must start it, idling is not the same as driving it. It may get hot enough to dry out any moisture created but how can you be sure. Especially in the exhaust system. At idle you're not pushing enough heat through to dry out the entire system. Takes a lot of hot gases to fully heat up and dry out 20 some feet of exhaust.
