Generator question

I would look at grounds and power connectors. The other thing maybe a bad fuel line.

If you come to Pennsylvania, don't plan on running your generator while driving. :E

A big pot hole or other jarring motion could cause the oil level sensor to shut things down. It doesn't mean that the oil level is low but for an instant if it appears that the level is low it shuts the generator off.

My guess is the oil level sensor also. It might be just low enough to not be a problem on smooth road or sitting still but shut it down if you hit a bump

I am also thinking it’s the oil level sensor causing the issue. Last year it was overfull and it was shutting down. I contributed that to overfull and running hot because of it. But now it’s full and does it, but I was able to attribute it to the potholes/jarring. So the oil level is full, that is to the cold full mark cold. It aldd sad o doesn’t help that my generator is at the LR of the MH.

This might sound like a stupid suggestion, but if you are running synthetic oil in your generator it's pretty thin oil. Maybe too thin and tends to slosh around triggering the oil sensor. Next oil change try a 10/30 conventional and see what happens. You won't hurt the generator (maybe your mileage will decrease, hehehe).

rgatijnet1 wrote:
A big pot hole or other jarring motion could cause the oil level sensor to shut things down. It doesn't mean that the oil level is low but for an instant if it appears that the level is low it shuts the generator off.

I agree with this, especially if this is an Onan Marquis Gold. That's what we have in our Georgie Boy motorhome.

I noticed it would do this more frequently if the oil level dropped a bit, so I was always careful to top off the oil in the generator before every trip. I also noticed it was most likely to happen when travelling in hot weather, above 85 degrees or so. It never happened when the rig was parked.

I was using the multi-viscosity oil recommended (I don't generally use synthetic oils, just dino oil changed regularly) because we camped in early Spring until late Fall, and occasionally in the winter here in the Northeast, so I liked the extended cold temperature operation the multi-vis oil provided.

However, on a lark, at the pre-summer oil change, I filled the crankcase of the generator with the straight 30W oil recommended. I rarely, if ever, have the problem any more. Even spending two months in Florida in the summertime, no issues. IF it happens now, I know that it's because I've neglected checking the oil level and it's a bit low. I top it off and we're good.

So, if you're using the multi-viscosity oils recommended, try using whatever straight blend oil is recommended for hot weather and see if that helps. By the way, the straight 30W has worked for us even in the Spring & Fall camping as usually it's over 32 degrees when we go camping.

gbopp wrote:
If you come to Pennsylvania, don't plan on running your generator while driving.

Funny you should mention that. While the problem existed in most of the New England states, it WAS particularly annoying when travelling through Pennsylvania. We used to vacation in the Lancaster, PA area frequently when the kids were small, so this was usually my "test area" while working on solving the problem. When I was able to make the trip to PA and back in the Summer without losing the generator once, I knew I had the problem licked! LOL But Massachusetts isn't that much better!

Good Luck,

~Rick

I'm fond of saying many RVers have a few screws loose, there are also a lot of loose nuts in RV's.. Of course I'm speaking of hardware. Not the other kind.

Sounds like a bad connection.. Two posibilites a short hot to stop lead or an open somewhere..

When you pot hole the wires either break or make. Sadly can be a witch to find. But inspect all connections then look along the wires for rodent or other damage.

Well I’m not sure if I have found the issue or not yet. It seems the majority of issues of dying are from oil level and/or pressure issues. I did check all the wiring to and from the generator. All looks good. No loose connections, grounds or power wires. I checked the oil after it was hot and it was about 1/2 qt low, should be at the full mark when hot and that’s where I set it last year. I didn’t run the generator coming home as it was 70 outside and didn’t need it. So I topped it off and I’ll see how it does during our gulf coast trip in mid July! After I fixed the oil level issue last year it ran fine. So I’m hoping it being low was the issue.
We will see.
Thanks for all the advice and ideas. It was much appreciated.

A 1/2 a qt is really low in a generator how many hours on it after you lost a 1/2 qt? maybe do for a change for fresh change of oil maybe at that point .