GENRATOR High altitude Jet
I have my Champion generator and did the break in, now I put the high altitude(3500'or higher) and I must say it was a PITA how many people leave it in or don't use it because it is a PITA. I would sa...
Forum Discussion
You have to be very careful if permanently rejetting an RV generator for high altitude use thinking that you're now all set for more efficieint and smooth running at high altitudes if that's where you might be camping and also still OK to run it sometimes at low altitudes if that's where you might be camping.
Rejetting for high altitudes means that the engine will now run lean (not enough gasoline to match the amount of air) at low altitudes. Running lean makes the engine run hotter - which is very hard on it.
I once rejetted an engine for high altitude operation and then did not change the jets back to stock when moving back to low altitude. This lean and hotter running at low altitude day after day burned holes in the engine's valves.
That's why the Onan built-in generators with a knob adjustment for altitude are so nice - it's ultra quick and convenient to use them at their highest efficiency at all altitudes without risking harm to their engines if you remember to set this knob to LOW ALTITUDE whenever you're at low altitude. I just leave our RV's Onan generator set to sea level and get by with it's running a bit rich (too much gasoline to match the amount of air) at high altitudes ... but we don't usually camp for long time periods at high altitude, either ... if and when we do, I'll tweak the Onan's altitude knob to whatever altitude we're squatting at.
Rejetting for high altitudes means that the engine will now run lean (not enough gasoline to match the amount of air) at low altitudes. Running lean makes the engine run hotter - which is very hard on it.
I once rejetted an engine for high altitude operation and then did not change the jets back to stock when moving back to low altitude. This lean and hotter running at low altitude day after day burned holes in the engine's valves.
That's why the Onan built-in generators with a knob adjustment for altitude are so nice - it's ultra quick and convenient to use them at their highest efficiency at all altitudes without risking harm to their engines if you remember to set this knob to LOW ALTITUDE whenever you're at low altitude. I just leave our RV's Onan generator set to sea level and get by with it's running a bit rich (too much gasoline to match the amount of air) at high altitudes ... but we don't usually camp for long time periods at high altitude, either ... if and when we do, I'll tweak the Onan's altitude knob to whatever altitude we're squatting at.
