Exercise the Generator or open your wallet

[Belgique]

We've be static for awhile and I failed to exercise the Onan 5.5 Marquis Gold. It would not start. Found a series of excellent You Tubes on RV maintenance by Mr. Don McAdams including one on diagnosing my problem CLICKY.

I did what he said and Sea Foamed it a lot. It got it to where it would start but then ran real rough with lots of smoke and no amout of Sea Foam made it any better. He and others (including Onan) say the only solution is to replace the carb. Rebuild is dangerous and I didn't want to take the chance. (Someone will post soon and say they did it and everything is fine. Good for them. The Gen is in a compartment under my bed and I didn't want to take the chance.)

Found a brand new one for $233 on Ebay. Watched the video and did a very simple change out. Onan purrs like a kitten.

Offered as a lesson learned. I've got computer reminders to run it under load every two weeks.

[bounder39zman]

I run a repair shop that specializes in mobile generator service.Onan, Generac, Kohler, etc) If everybody exercized their units, and used ethanol free fuel, I would have to lay off half my staff. Most of comments in this post are great! Use of Stable or other additives helps, and exercizing is important. Carbs are considered emission components, and are regulated by EPA...and are supposed to be "tamper free". Thats why repair kits are not offered, and you have to purchase entire carb assembly. As for diesel, it used to be good for several years, but lately I've noticed that units we have that have sat on shelf for 6-8 months, we have had to rebuild fuel injection pumps due to fuel deterioration in pumps freezing up pumping elements. So we try to exercise diesel units every 2-3 months. As for oil changes, should change every year, regardless of hours.

[conceptumator]

I think you'll most likely find the carb's on Onan generators have a screw inside that can only be installed at the factory. If you move it, you're done. Don't understand it 100%, but there is something there. When we purchased our first RV (used), the dealer had just installed a new carb. I forgot to exercise it (beginner stupidity on my part) and wound up replacing the carb again out of my pocket; about $250 as I recall. My mechanic buddy says the ethanol in the gas today gums things up when it sets. If you don't believe it, just look at a gas can you've had around the garage for a bit. See all that white stuff? That's it! Good luck!

[Belgique]

Yep. My problems was I didn't need the AC in the fall and winter and I let it slack. All my bad.

[ct78barnes]

With the warmer weather just run it going down the road .Run the air and we use our fans up front . We do this at least once a month for a hr. I shut off the front air . It keeps us as cool as running the front one. Easy way to keep it happy and running well.

[Billinwoodland]

Belgique wrote:
Bill: you can get the manuals on line from Onan, free. Serach for your particular model.

Here's a pdf CLICKY

Here's their paid site: CLICKY

Excellent, thanks, I like "free!"

[Belgique]

Bill: you can get the manuals on line from Onan, free. Serach for your particular model.

Here's a pdf CLICKY

Here's their paid site: CLICKY

[Billinwoodland]

10forty2 wrote:

Billinwoodland wrote:
My coach is a 2008 with the Onan 5500 gas generator. The generator hours are very low, maybe 75 hours. I've had the coach less than 6 months. I was going to go through some basic maintenance, change out the plugs, fuel filter, oil and filter, and air filter. I have no idea when this was done before I bought the coach. How often do you guys do this type of maintenance? Is there something else I should be doing? I don't have the manual, need to buy one as it did not come with the coach.
Thanks
Bill

If you don't know when the last time it was done, then it's probably a good idea to go ahead and change out all that stuff and get a fresh start. Then, if you use the genny a couple of times a year along with monthly maintenance runs, you'll probably be good with an oil/filter/plug change every year. If you run it in a particularly dusty area, you may want to change the air filter more frequently.

That sounds reasonable. Thanks!
Bill

[10forty2]

Billinwoodland wrote:
My coach is a 2008 with the Onan 5500 gas generator. The generator hours are very low, maybe 75 hours. I've had the coach less than 6 months. I was going to go through some basic maintenance, change out the plugs, fuel filter, oil and filter, and air filter. I have no idea when this was done before I bought the coach. How often do you guys do this type of maintenance? Is there something else I should be doing? I don't have the manual, need to buy one as it did not come with the coach.
Thanks
Bill

If you don't know when the last time it was done, then it's probably a good idea to go ahead and change out all that stuff and get a fresh start. Then, if you use the genny a couple of times a year along with monthly maintenance runs, you'll probably be good with an oil/filter/plug change every year. If you run it in a particularly dusty area, you may want to change the air filter more frequently.

[Billinwoodland]

My coach is a 2008 with the Onan 5500 gas generator. The generator hours are very low, maybe 75 hours. I've had the coach less than 6 months. I was going to go through some basic maintenance, change out the plugs, fuel filter, oil and filter, and air filter. I have no idea when this was done before I bought the coach. How often do you guys do this type of maintenance? Is there something else I should be doing? I don't have the manual, need to buy one as it did not come with the coach.
Thanks
Bill

[10forty2]

willald wrote:

Belgique wrote:
Will: I noted that Lowes etc sell pre-mixed fuel in cans that are pure gas and supposedly great for those small engines. It's more expensive, but not really. My trimmer has run better than ever this year using it.

Yep, its definitely the way to go for small engines, as long as you can get ethanol free fuel fairly easily. There is a convenience store almost walking distance from where I live, that sells it (yes, it is at a higher price).

Like I alluded to before, though, its more difficult to go ethanol free in what you put in a Motorhome. Some places we go and have to fill up, we're just happy to find a gas station with enough space for us to get in and out and fill up. Getting ethanol free fuel in those situations as well, just ain't going to happen, haha.

I use Sea Foam in every fillup... 1oz Sea Foam/gallon of gasoline. Since the generator pulls its fuel from the main tank, it also gets the protective properties of the additive. Good stuff!

[willald]

Belgique wrote:
Will: I noted that Lowes etc sell pre-mixed fuel in cans that are pure gas and supposedly great for those small engines. It's more expensive, but not really. My trimmer has run better than ever this year using it.

Yep, its definitely the way to go for small engines, as long as you can get ethanol free fuel fairly easily. There is a convenience store almost walking distance from where I live, that sells it (yes, it is at a higher price).

Like I alluded to before, though, its more difficult to go ethanol free in what you put in a Motorhome. Some places we go and have to fill up, we're just happy to find a gas station with enough space for us to get in and out and fill up. Getting ethanol free fuel in those situations as well, just ain't going to happen, haha.

[FormerBoater]

blakduk01 wrote:
Well charged up the and started the gen. ran great as usual. One question though. I read most of the posts here and the posts seem to be concerning gasoline generators(ethanol) predominately. How much of the discussion would be the same for a diesel generator(that's me).

Your diesel genny wants to be operated under load for 2 hours a month per ONAN if memory serves.

Not to exercise the little Kubota 3 cylinder diesel, but to keep the stator free of rust and moisture.

[Belgique]

Will: I noted that Lowes etc sell pre-mixed fuel in cans that are pure gas and supposedly great for those small engines. It's more expensive, but not really. My trimmer has run better than ever this year using it.

[blakduk01]

Well charged up the and started the gen. ran great as usual. One question though. I read most of the posts here and the posts seem to be concerning gasoline generators(ethanol) predominately. How much of the discussion would be the same for a diesel generator(that's me).