Hello everyone, as a 1st Responder in the medical field, I am planning for the worst....having to quarantine in my class B Xplorer. if the time comes. I went ahead yesterday and started my Onan Genny 4000, but ran it out of fuel. Put in half a tank of gas in the RV and tried to start the genny again. No luck. All she does is turn, even after priming. is there another way of priming the genny after it runs out of fuel? I want to have it ready if the day comes that I need to use it as a home for a couple of weeks.Thanks Stay Home and Stay Safe.

Crank it until it starts or spray a little starting fluid (ether) in air cleaner. It should not need to be primed. Preferred method is crank it over until it starts.

When was the fuel filter last changed?Try some starter fluid spray and see if it fires up.

Fuel, Spark, Compression and it will start. If one of those is missing it won't start. Check those three things before you use starting fluid.

Thanks for the suggestion, I've tried cranking it for about a minute, can I crankfor a longer period of time? not sure if that can overheat the starter.

I would not crank it for a full minute. That may eventually lead to starter failure. Most gens say to crank for 10-15 seconds at a time with a minute or so in between. Check for spark and then use starting fluid to get it going. If it starts then stops, then you have a fuel delivery problem.

Quarantine in RV? | Good Sam Community

CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Apr 07, 2020
I am not familiar with this gen. Is it gasoline or diesel ?
enblethen
Nomad
Apr 07, 2020
It is gas. Not sure of OPs model but sounds like a Microlite 4000
wopachop
Explorer
Apr 07, 2020
Can you post a picture of the genny with the cover off?
You could pop open the drain on the carb if it has one. Put a plastic bottle under to catch the gasoline. Hit the prime button and see if gas come out.

If it doesnt ive had to remove the fuel line and use a mighty vac to suck the gas back through the line. You could use your mouth. Attach a separate clean piece of tube to the gas line. Clear is best so you have warning to stop when you see the gas.

Since it was running and then ran out of gas. Then wont start. Means either you clogged up the fuel filters or you need to self prime the gas back up. Could be a mixture of both. Might not be priming easily because the filter is partially clogged.

Easiest thing to do is pop the drain on the carb if that model has one. Put a rag or bottle under.
ksg5000
Explorer
Apr 07, 2020
Just to eliminate the obvious - how about filling the gas tank rather than "half full" guestimate.
Jebby14
Explorer
Apr 07, 2020
sorry i know this doesnt answer your question but if you are using it at home as a lifeboat, why not plug it in?
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Apr 09, 2020
Any luck with the generator? It's always nice to know what the problem was, and how it was solved.

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