Need input: RE: 2nd tank for gas generator "exercising"

[mlwinnig]

Onan Emerald Series gasoline generator...

Supposed to run for 30 - 45 minutes a month under load...

Generator shuts off when tanks drops below 1/4 tank so generator can't run coach out of fuel...

Don't want to keep stale ethanol fuel in bus to exercise generator...

Not convinced fuel "stabilizers" work with ethanol and not easy to get to good fuel...

Thinking of adding a small auxiliary tank and bypass valve for the sole purpose of exercising genny. Looking for input. Does this make sense? Ideas on requirements / issues, etc..

Thanks!

[mlwinnig]

Thanks. I like keeping gas as fresh as possible but understand advantages of full too. Issue with my setup is you need 1/4+ to run genny as it shuts down at 1/4 to keep genny from running rig out of fuel. Will need either more parts or service in Spring as I don't think genny will respond to load requests to raise output (couple parts fell off). I think throttle return spring may be weak too and should be replaced. Interesting thing is surging is now gone running at idle with StarTron.

I think I will ask at Cummins/Onan Coach Net service center nearby. They are great and must know!

[tropical36]

mlwinnig wrote:
Onan Emerald Series gasoline generator...

Supposed to run for 30 - 45 minutes a month under load...

Generator shuts off when tanks drops below 1/4 tank so generator can't run coach out of fuel...

Don't want to keep stale ethanol fuel in bus to exercise generator...

Not convinced fuel "stabilizers" work with ethanol and not easy to get to good fuel...

Thinking of adding a small auxiliary tank and bypass valve for the sole purpose of exercising genny. Looking for input. Does this make sense? Ideas on requirements / issues, etc..

Thanks!

I like having a full tank, gasoline or diesel and don't worry about it getting stale, especially with gasoline.
But, if you insist, then just get yourself a 6 gallon boat tank, with a length of hose attached for disconnecting the genset fuel line and attaching the temporary. May have to plug the main, while you're at it, but no biggie and have done it lotsa times when troubleshooting. Have even done so, with a gallon milk jug and all that's really needed for this.

[wildmanbaker]

Sam Spade wrote:

centerline wrote:
the red stabil is useless on ethanol fuel.....

Interesting that the company that MAKES it does not say that.

They say that it was reformulated slightly a few years back to work with ethanol.

I'm sure that we all would appreciate you giving us a reference to look at that says it is useless.

He may have had an "old" bottle stabil he was using. I know I keep buying more of Seafoam, Stable, Brake clean, and carb/fuel injection cleaners, as when I see them, I grab them, not being able to recall if I still have any, and how much. If I find I have them, I rotate the oldest products to the front, to use first.

[Old_Man]

Why not do solar, instead?

[Sam_Spade]

centerline wrote:
the red stabil is useless on ethanol fuel.....

Interesting that the company that MAKES it does not say that.

They say that it was reformulated slightly a few years back to work with ethanol.

I'm sure that we all would appreciate you giving us a reference to look at that says it is useless.

[RLS7201]

dougrainer wrote:


YOU do NOT work at an Onan or RV service center. It can take less than 60 days for fuel to varnish and ruin a Onan Carb. Diesel's? never had a problem, but how hard is it to start your genset once a month for 15 to 30 minutes?. As to Portable gensets, SAME THING. Even your Lawn and Garden Gas powered equipment will be ruined in 30 to 90 days if you do not run them or add stabilizer to their fuel tanks. Doug

PS, I have a LOT more experience with these things than you do.

Doug, you need to buy your E10 here in Missouri. My lawn equipment and 7K Onan sit for up to 6 months at a time with no ill effects to the carburetors or fuel injectors, with NO fuel additives.

Richard

[DrewE]

centerline wrote:
the red stabil is useless on ethanol fuel... the blue MARINE stabil is formulated for stabilizing ethanol fuels and is also more concentrated, so the same size bottle goes farther than the red stuff does..

Why do you say that red Sta-bil is ineffective with ethanol-containing gasoline? I don't claim to be an expert on the differences between the various formulations; however, my bottle of red Sta-bil is explicitly labeled "Effective in all ethanol blended fuels," and I would think the maker would have a reasonable idea on what it works in.

[centerline]

the red stabil is useless on ethanol fuel... the blue MARINE stabil is formulated for stabilizing ethanol fuels and is also more concentrated, so the same size bottle goes farther than the red stuff does..

not all states/area have this option, but when laying up the RV for winter, filling the tank with ethanol free fuel has benefits that far outweigh the extra cost.... and a bit of seafoam added to the ethanol free fuel will stabilize it and will also dissolve any gum and varnish that has built up from running the ethanol fuel during the rest of the year...

[mlwinnig]

Update: Went with StarTron fuel additive. Seems awesome! Worked it through coach and genny carbs. For now just trying to start and run everything for 30 - 45 minutes every 3 - 4 weeks or so (when Temps. are up a bit). Last run was below 40F. Takes about 7 - 10 seconds for genny to fire up but she's running great! Surging issue no longer there. Not sure she will support a high load as a couple of pieces on top are missing and I think spring is weak. I think this is what raises output to respond to demand. But for winter storage I think we are good. Thanks for all the inputs!

[Cobra21]

Many generators won't even start in the winter unless you use proper
weight oil. I have the specified 30 weight oil, unsuitable to start at minus temps.
Brian

[gutfelt]

dougrainer wrote:

Ivylog wrote:
Exercising generators and Diesel engines every month is a waste of time and should go under urban legends along with changing your car's oil every 3000 miles. How can all these portable generators survive without being exercised every month??? I have a portable welder that's 50 years old and it sits outdoors and it can be years between uses. Its sat so long that I have to touch the leads to a battery to re-magnetize the fields to get it to weld. I have a portable generator that's 40+ years old and gets used every 5 years...maybe. My 14 years old 10k generator has never been run every month...doing that would interfere with sorting my socks.
I agree the gas today sucks and needs to be stabilized if storing for more than 4-5 months. I would shut off the fuel supply to a gas generator...add a valve if necessary and then run it till it stops. Open the valve and crank it up next summer and Go Camping. Putting the spices in alphabetical order will be a better use of your time than running a generator every month.:S

YOU do NOT work at an Onan or RV service center. It can take less than 60 days for fuel to varnish and ruin a Onan Carb. Diesel's? never had a problem, but how hard is it to start your genset once a month for 15 to 30 minutes?. As to Portable gensets, SAME THING. Even your Lawn and Garden Gas powered equipment will be ruined in 30 to 90 days if you do not run them or add stabilizer to their fuel tanks. Doug

PS, I have a LOT more experience with these things than you do.

not my experience ?iam certainly not going out at -15 to start no stupid generator
second off I don't run my 15HP garden tractor for 6 months and for last 20 years its started every may and ran perfect ;; batterys well not so good LOL
I think where A onan gen set can have problems sooner is in extreme hot temperatures : although I live in indio during the winter and my neighbour never ran the gen set for well over a year;I had to use wd40 just to free up the float bowel system and add new fuel pump but ran like Swiss watch afterwards so one never knows for sure

[mlwinnig]

mfox20 wrote:
Before going to the trouble and expense of adding a second tank, just
disconnect the fuel line at the generator and hook up a 2-3 foot piece of fuel hose and drop it in a smaller gas can.

It will run fine pulling from a can on the ground. This was my method for testing for a fuel issue on my 5500 Onan Gas unit.

I guess you could add a tee and valve to the line and not have to disconnect the main line each time. Just introduces extra connections that could leak though.

Sounds workable to me! Thanks!

[mfox20]

Before going to the trouble and expense of adding a second tank, just
disconnect the fuel line at the generator and hook up a 2-3 foot piece of fuel hose and drop it in a smaller gas can.

It will run fine pulling from a can on the ground. This was my method for testing for a fuel issue on my 5500 Onan Gas unit.

I guess you could add a tee and valve to the line and not have to disconnect the main line each time. Just introduces extra connections that could leak though.

[gutfelt]

Ivylog wrote:
Exercising generators and Diesel engines every month is a waste of time and should go under urban legends along with changing your car's oil every 3000 miles. How can all these portable generators survive without being exercised every month??? I have a portable welder that's 50 years old and it sits outdoors and it can be years between uses. Its sat so long that I have to touch the leads to a battery to re-magnetize the fields to get it to weld. I have a portable generator that's 40+ years old and gets used every 5 years...maybe. My 14 years old 10k generator has never been run every month...doing that would interfere with sorting my socks.
I agree the gas today sucks and needs to be stabilized if storing for more than 4-5 months. I would shut off the fuel supply to a gas generator...add a valve if necessary and then run it till it stops. Open the valve and crank it up next summer and Go Camping. Putting the spices in alphabetical order will be a better use of your time than running a generator every month.:S

Totally agree either inject stabilized fuel enough to fill carb or just drain it for the winter 3-4 months and start it in march when weathers better (depending where your at)
My lawn mower(ride on) sits 6 months I crank over and she starts right up every year for last 20 years Honda power washer same thing
There is some talk of the generating part of the gen set needing to be run(exersized) ;;I have never personally had a problem with such; run mine about every 4 months or so