We're setting in the South for five months and a discussion came up as to whether to run the engine once a month or not.. I was allows told not to unless you could go out on the road and run for 20 mile or so.. Cummins is where I got that, but what about gas engines?? What about starting just till the oil pressure comes up and then shut off??(30 to 45 seconds)Thanks..Mike MathewsGuys I don't think I mentioned the gen, I run it once a month with load so I'm OK with that..

The "don't start unless you can drive it at least 25 highway miles" certainly applies to diesels. It takes that long/much load to get the OIL (not just coolant) up to temperature. Anything less just adds moisture to the engine.Gasoline engines produce more heat at idle (less efficient than diesel engines, particularly at very light throttle settings). I do not know if you can achieve high enough oil temperatures at idle with a gas engine. Would not be hard to check-- see how long it takes (if it can even be done) for the oil pan to become too hot to touch.I can only see 20-30 seconds as negative. Cylinders will at best have incomplete combustion, with water vapor being one of the natural byproducts of combustion. Doubt once or twice would do long-term damage, but certainly can not see the good.Were you to do anything, move to a premium oil-- one of the synthetics comes to mind.

Running it for 30~45 seconds is about the worst thing you could do. You cause a lot of condensation to develop inside the cylinder and then you shut it off. So there goes everything from cylinder wall to the exhaust just rusting away.

Just let it sit. No need to run it. If it makes you feel better you could use some fogging oil before you shut it down the last time. That's what I do to my boat engine and it sits without starting from about October to April every year.

I subscribe to the once a month for 20 minutes theory. As much for the belts bushings alternater windings and solenoid contacts as much as the engine. Dry it all out. Run the trans thru the gears.

Big Katuna wrote:I subscribe to the once a month for 20 minutes theory. As much for the belts bushings alternator windings and solenoid contacts as much as the engine. Dry it all out. Run the trans thru the gears.To say nothing about moving the emollients around inside your tires, working the lubricants inside the shocks etc........Dennis

setting five months run the engine or not? | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

Naio
Explorer II
Jan 26, 2015
predawn wrote:
Naio wrote:
I've been parked for 2.5 months, and have been running the engine every few weeks, in part to charge up the battery.

I didn't think to add sta-bil. Should I do it now? I'll be leaving in about a month.

no need to run engine at only 2.5 month stay. Easier on the motor and alternater to just let sit and add a trickle charger. a month wont have fuel go bad so not to worry about stable at this point

Thanks predawn :).

I'd lost track of this thread (too many tabs open! ) and I appreciate your advice.
predawn
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
Naio wrote:
I've been parked for 2.5 months, and have been running the engine every few weeks, in part to charge up the battery.

I didn't think to add sta-bil. Should I do it now? I'll be leaving in about a month.

no need to run engine at only 2.5 month stay. Easier on the motor and alternater to just let sit and add a trickle charger. a month wont have fuel go bad so not to worry about stable at this point
falconman
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
I prefer to exercise the unit to make sure all is well. I've had more problems with stuff that's been left idle. A couple weeks before we roll out I'll pull the slides in to make sure they work and will occasionally deploy the awnings during our extended stays even if they aren't needed. I hate getting ready to leave and find something isn't working. I haven't read any posts about condensation killing anybody's engine, I like to start it once and a awhile just to make sure it will when I want it to.
Naio
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2015
I've been parked for 2.5 months, and have been running the engine every few weeks, in part to charge up the battery.

I didn't think to add sta-bil. Should I do it now? I'll be leaving in about a month.
time2roll
Nomad
Jan 20, 2015
mscamping wrote:
What about starting just till the oil pressure comes up and then shut off??(30 to 45 seconds)Thanks..
No recommendation for this.
mscamping
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
Thanks for all the replies.. Looks like it's about 50/50 run versus not running and both say they have had no ill effects..
Thanks again Mike Mathews...
dieharder
Explorer
Jan 20, 2015
No need to run the chassis engine over winter. Stored vehicles over winter for decades without running them with no ill effects. Sure, gas is less expensive now than it used to be last year, but why waste it? Exercise the genny only.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2015
my question is, with this short run time what happens to all the water in the exhaust system?? it just lays there and rust your pipes.
jplante4
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2015
The gasser sits all winter with just the solar panel trickling the batteries. I do fog the generator before putting it in storage, but I don't bother with the engine because the storage yard moves it around.

The diesel gets run every month or so as long as there's no snow on the roads. I take it for a 10 mile drive, just enough to bring the engine temps up to normal operating range. The generator (LP powered) is run every 2 weeks or so. I do add power service additive to the winter fuel.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 20, 2015
On a motor home you have two engines, Main and Generator

Run the generator 1/2 hour under 1/2 load (use space heaters in the winter 3 of them set on low (if they have low/med/hi use 3 on MED) you want around 2500-3000 watts for a 5500 watt genny) for and plugged into different circuits should be good or 4.

NOTE: outlets may be on same circuit, you will need to check (Different circuit breakers)

And the main engine, That is much better at sitting, Get the oil changed just before you put it to bed.. if you can do a full mothball, but if that is not practical just get the oil changed.