Keeping from making a $8656.11 mistake with fuel

SaltiDawg wrote:

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

SaltiDawg wrote:

JayGee wrote:
I would use the propane gennie. Problem solved.

Couple of hundred dollar conversion kit for your existing gasoline generator... uscarbs.com for a start.
...

No need for a "kit" - or $200...:(

...

Send 'em your carb, it comes back in about 2 weeks modified for Tri-fuel.
The carb is returned "modified" - along with a regulator and the necessary fittings. (Guess that kinda makes it a "kit" also, LOL)

Cost was about $100.
May be more now - but liked their "program" better than US Carb.

...

You can do the same thing with uscarbs.com

A possible advantage to the uscarbs approach is that instead of drilling the carb, you have the option of slipping their "snorkel" - essentially a donut with a propane hose embedded - between the air cleaner and the carb body. Typically takes just a few minutes. If you want, you can return the generator to factory condition by simply removing it.

I have no experience with the other outfit, but you can read up on the uscarbs approach at their forum: US CARBS HELP FORUM

He already has a propane generator on the RV.

ol Bombero-JC wrote:

SaltiDawg wrote:

JayGee wrote:
I would use the propane gennie. Problem solved.

Couple of hundred dollar conversion kit for your existing gasoline generator... uscarbs.com for a start.
...

No need for a "kit" - or $200...:(

...

Send 'em your carb, it comes back in about 2 weeks modified for Tri-fuel.
The carb is returned "modified" - along with a regulator and the necessary fittings. (Guess that kinda makes it a "kit" also, LOL)

Cost was about $100.
May be more now - but liked their "program" better than US Carb.

...

You can do the same thing with uscarbs.com

A possible advantage to the uscarbs approach is that instead of drilling the carb, you have the option of slipping their "snorkel" - essentially a donut with a propane hose embedded - between the air cleaner and the carb body. Typically takes just a few minutes. If you want, you can return the generator to factory condition by simply removing it.

I have no experience with the other outfit, but you can read up on the uscarbs approach at their forum: US CARBS HELP FORUM

SaltiDawg wrote:

JayGee wrote:
I would use the propane gennie. Problem solved.

Couple of hundred dollar conversion kit for your existing gasoline generator... uscarbs.com for a start.

A 20# propane bottle equates to about 4 gallons of gasoline. If no propane, replace gas cans with brackets for 20# cylinders. (I have no RV experience, just propane generator experience.)

No need for a "kit" - or $200...:(

Central Maine Diesel

Send 'em your carb, it comes back in about 2 weeks modified for Tri-fuel.
The carb is returned "modified" - along with a regulator and the necessary fittings. (Guess that kinda makes it a "kit" also, LOL)

Cost was about $100.
May be more now - but liked their "program" better than US Carb.

Excellent service from Central Maine Diesel (I'm in So. CA) - and the natural gas, propane, gasoline "Tri-fuel" set-up - - although I have no desire to *ever* run my Yam 2400is on gasoline again.

Runs great on natural gas (at home) or propane on the road.
No gasoline "woes", StaBil or SeaFoam necessary..:C

Would "convert" again in a heartbeat if I bought a new gasoline powered generator - or would order same already converted to Tri-fuel.

I never checked the brands of diesel generators they carry, but they're in that business also.

(Usually -with the exception of Class A DPs - a diesel gen is impractical for other types of RVs due to the *weight* & noise).

Oh yeah - diesel p/ups since 1985 - along with lots of gasoline fueled toys (and before ethanol in gasoline) gas gens also.

It's *YOUR* job to work on *YOUR* plan for "Murphy Prevention"..:W



~

Why don't you just carry some propane cylinders and use the propane generator. You can get the propane just as easy as gasoline.

I went for years with a diesel pickup and gas generator for my trailer. Never used wrong fuel in truck. Always carried a red gascan for the generator. Personally if I was in your shoes, I'd first look into some way of increasing the propane supply (preferably larger tank) and use the propane generator. One big advantage there is less exhaust odor..usually much less compared to gas or diesel. Possibly carrying extra propane would actually be less intrusive than carrying both another generator and gas to fuel it. The additional propane could also come in handy in cold weather.

Change the way you think.... you REFUEL, always with the proper fuel. You get and buy fuel to refuel. Whether it's gasoline, Diesel fuel, or Propane. They are all types of FUEL.

Always refuel... with the proper fuel for the engine. Don't EVER think or say that you "gas up".

You "REFUEL!

From what I see here, my best bet is to do the following:

1: No vehicle, -ever- gets filled from anything but a pump nozzle at the gas station.
2: Have some reminder that the Fuse is diesel, to make sure to pull up to the right pumps, regardless of color on the handle. The fact that the color on the fuel door is green helps there, as well as the fact that gassers don't have a pee can inlet cap by the fuel receptacle.
3: Fill up vehicle. Close fuel fill door and end transaction. Then, fill up the gas cans. Since I use premium unleaded for the generator (and create a new transaction for this), this addresses the fuel type issue for the cans.
4: Nobody fills up the vehicles except me.

I do like the idea of carrying extra propane, because it cuts out having to carry a generator and cans. However, I would have to find a welder who is willing to fab me a hitch mounted cargo rack that has the proper vertical supports for propane cylinders. As an alternative, I could use a hitch mounted cargo carrier and a Manchester rack that is used on RV tongues which supports 20# or 30# containers... but it would have to be modified or adapted to bolt to an existing hitch cargo rack, and done in a way that will stand the rigors of the road (high test fasteners, all bolts/nuts getting LocTite Red), etc.

free radical wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
i switched from a GAS class A to a DP 6 yrs ago
i carry a gas motorcycle and a gas generator
I have never put gas in my diesel tank

pull up to the GREEN pump, Always do the diesel first, then do gas in the cans if needed

Fyi
In Canada the diesel pump nozles are yellow if I remember corectly

could be IDK.. so what color is the Gasoline nozzle ?

but still the same thing

Always pump the diesel first , then hang up the pump and then pump the gas

around diesel is always on a green handle
maybe there are not any USA or international standards

but around here they conform, maybe it just a gas station safety conscious thing

anyway it s a good sense practice, pump the main fuel tank first, aka the biggest tank first
then pump the AUX fuel which will be less
the OP can't get a diesel generator in the RV hes looking at
that how this whole discussion began, it has an LP genset
extra LP also means and external hookup via extend a stay, and propane cylinders take up more room than gas cans, and its always easier to find gas than to find propane, and the gas stations and grocers with exchange systems cost a fortune for the LP

Being simple will not prevent a mistake. The only way to prevent the wrong fuel getting into the wrong place is not give yourself the opportunity to do so. If you have two cans of different fuels, and you regularly fill different vehicles out of those cans, you will at some point make a mistake.

It's "simple" human nature. :)

beemerphile1 wrote:
Gas cans are red, diesel cans are yellow.

It really is this simple. Not to mention the smell and look.

Good luck.