Converting Onan generator from gas to propane
Our Northern Lite 10-2 CD has an Onan propane-fueled generator which has never given us a bit of trouble. I am considering the purchase of a Class A with a gasoline-fueled Onan generator and have hear...
Forum Discussion
Cummins12V98 wrote:
The key to any gasoline gen is using non ethanol gas. Or proper fuel stabilizer.
Most motorhome generators are plumbed into the chassis fuel tank(s) - which means that you would also have run the motorhome engine on non-ethanol gas. Every time you fueled the motorhome up, you would be paying a lot more.
One of the best strategies for running ethanol gasoline in generators is to shut off the gasoline supply (i.e., install a fuel cutoff valve if none is already present) immediately prior to long-term storage, and then run the engine until it has consumed all the remaining fuel in its carb bowl.
If the generator engine has an electric fuel pump, you can install a "winterize" switch to manually shut it off while the engine is running, thereby accomplishing the same thing as installing a fuel cutoff valve.
Naturally, you don't want any AC electrical loads connected to the generator while doing this, because the engine will stumble and surge as it runs out of fuel.
Some engines have a fuel drain screw on the bottom of their carb bowl. Temporarily opening this screw drains all the gas out of the carb.
Basically, the idea is to avoid storing the generator for long periods with any gasoline still in the carburetor. The ethanol in the gas attracts water (which corrodes delicate parts in the carb), and the more volatile components in the gas gradually evaporate, leaving varnish behind.
