Generator
Just purchased a used fully self-contained van or class B camper, not sure what to call it. Anyway, it has a little 2.8 generator that sits underneath the chassis just behind the rear axle, in the mi...
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gerrym51 wrote:Old Crows wrote:2800 is gasoline 2500 is propane. opp said 2800
It is likely you have an Cummins/Onan 2500Kw LP from your description. It is serviced by skittering under the RV. Helps to put the rear end over a depression to get a bit more room.
The generator is in a light green fiberglass case. The rear facing part has a removable cover. Release the two latches and lift the cover up. It will come off. Oil check is the yellow do-dah. IRRC, check warm to hot. Unscrew, wipe clean, and just set the dipstick on the fitting. The level should never be over the hashed marked area. Since the oil expands, I kept mine in the low to mid range of the band.
Check the air cleaner to be sure it is properly seated. They can work loose or be improperly installed.
There's a circuit breaker reset inside the cabinet.
Oil drain is underneath the cabinet.
DO NOT OPERATE WITHOUT THE COVER IN PLACE!!!! Needed for cooling.
DO TRIPLE CHECK THE FIT AND LATCHES WHEN INSTALLING THE COVER!!!
IRRC, service interval is check daily if use 24hrs a day; maybe every 20 hours if not; change oil every 100-150 hours after break-in.
If you are going to be operating where the temperature is routinely below 35ish, you want 5W30. Above 35ish you can use 15W40. I use 15W40 Onan oil as I'm in Texas and rarely would I be operating in 30ish temperatures but do operate in the above 80 range.
Exercise it about every 4 - 6 weeks. LP ON, crank her up; let her stabilize; slowly add a couple loads (A/C is great); run about 15 minutes; loads off and let it cool down 5 minutes; turn off.
Since it is an LP (B's rarely have a diesel due to their size and weight) it's not going to be sensitive to gumming up and crapping up due to bad diesel. The LP downside is that they start having trouble when the temperatures get down in the 20s as they depend on LP vapor. Vapor is harder to come by in cold weather!!!
Do Google ONAN manuals and download one or print it out if you don't have one. Lots of good poop in the manual!!!
Hope this helps... good luck and enjoy!
Old Crows
Darn, yes he did..... Scrub the LP comments. Not had a gas genny in an RV but would expect carb problems unless one is fastidious about fueling and run the carb dry before shut down based on my other generator and OPE.
