Do Onan generators burn oil?

Returning to this thread reminds me of the first Generator I ever worked on. Belonged to a family named Sexton in Coldwater MI. It was installed in the ICE Cream Truck (You know the kind the kids chase) which put 3 kids through college.

IT would not crank.. Well I tracked it down to a busted bolt. Re-attached the wires and it started.. IT was a "Fill up the crankcase and check the gas" Generator (Burned more oil (relative to the tank size) than gas.

A major overhaul later and it did not burn oil any more.. Just gas.

Made good Ice Cream though.

MetalGator wrote:
I have about 100 hours on our Onan 5500 in our 2018 Miramar. I changed the oil around 20 hours and I hadn't checked the oil since. We took a trip this weekend and I checked the oil. It looked like the oil was about halfway down the safe mark. When I changed the oil it was at the top. I need to top it off a little but I am wondering if this is normal? None of my vehicle engines burn any oil.

Burch

ALL piston engines burn/use oil. New engines may use slightly more oil until the piston rings seat. Usually oil consumption reduces as the engine breaks in and gets worse as the engine wears out. When running, piston engine oil gets contaminated with soot, (carbon) unburned fuel, water, wear particles, and other combustion byproducts. Those contaminates have volume and under some conditions cause the engine oil level to go up. Oil consumption usually offsets this. That's why engine oil needs to be changed on regular intervals.

Chum lee

wa8yxm wrote:
13 years and I have never "Added" oil to my Onan between changes.

Yours is actually an "Onan". Current models are "Cummins Onan" as Cummins has owned them for several years and is re naming their generators.

Here is my Cummins Onan 6500 LP Commercial 240V gen. I can run my 240V washer and Dryer, thanks Chris Bryant!!!

I have not used any oil with mine.

Big Katuna wrote:
Go Gators!

I used to go to the Orange and Blue game every spring. Before we purchased our Motorhome, we rented one from Reserve America and parked in the commuter lot with all the other RVs. That was so much fun! Hopefully one day I can do that again but due to my work (CPA firm) I can't really leave town until after April 15th and the O&B game is always about a week before that.

Mine definitely used or lost some oil. I did spill some when I changed the oil. That second quart sure goes in slow. Next time I will fill the oil filter first. I know sometimes a new engine will burn a little oil until broke in so maybe that's why it's a little low. It currently has 98 hours on it and I did the first oil change at 20 hours.

13 years and I have never "Added" oil to my Onan between changes.

luberhill wrote:
Is there even a filter ?? I don't think my Onan 4000 has a filter ??

The 5500 is a 2 cylinder engine, with pressurized oil system with a filter. The 4000 is single cylinder, splash liberication, no filter.

Is there even a filter ?? I don't think my Onan 4000 has a filter ??

One who relies only on the low oil sensor frequently buys a new generator. Do you check and change motor oil, coolant, transmission fluid, differential fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid? Check tire air pressure, lug nuts?I feel like a high school auto shop teacher.

Go Gators! My son cheered at UF, graduated in 98 and again with an MBA in 2007.

Yes, they shut off if too low.

I witnessed a few times at the reserved RV lot on campus, a genset would shut off, they would call a mobile tech, they would top off the oil and restart.