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jpittman's avatar
jpittman
Explorer
Jun 19, 2014

Travato and Onan Generator

Just picked up a Winnebago Travato and reading the manuals.
The generator will be needing an oil change after 20 hours of operation so I decided to crawl under the unit to see how to do it for future reference. The generator access panel is about 3 inches away from the box that contains the battery isolator and other circuit breakers. I'm wondering if that is enough room to pull the dipstick to see the oil level let alone get a funnel in there or something to refill the oil. Can't put a funnel in at a vertical position as it will hit the underside of the floor.

Has anyone changed their oil yet and how did you do it? I hope the generator doesn't have to be dropped.

Oh yea, I called Winnebago and they didn't have an answer. Said they would call back, have not heard from them.

Thanks for any advice.
Class B
  • bobojay5's avatar
    bobojay5
    Explorer
    Jun 20, 2014
    I use what Arizona Kid uses for new oil except a different brand of pump. The worst part of the job is getting the drain plug back in without losing it inside the external case. You'd do this by dropping it sideways when trying to screw it back in to the crankcase.
    Like mlts22 says, takes about .8 of a quart. DO NOT screw the dipstick back in to get a correct reading, just insert it into the hole and back out again.
    Congrats on the new Travato
  • jpittman's avatar
    jpittman
    Explorer
    Jun 19, 2014
    Thank you all for your replies. Sounds easy now. Will buy the pump after my wife gives me back my credit card. Thanks to windcrasher65 I've been buying those gadgets he posted.
  • charles's avatar
    charles
    Explorer
    Jun 19, 2014
    I fill mine with a regular old pump oil can that has a flexible spout.

    Nick
  • Arizona_Kid's avatar
    Arizona_Kid
    Explorer
    Jun 19, 2014
    You don't need a funnel, just use a little hand pump like this one from Amazon.
    Remember you don't screw the dip in, just set it in the hole to get an accurate oil
    reading.
    The drain plug is right on the bottom, so you don't need an evacuation pump.Very easy to drain.

  • mlts22's avatar
    mlts22
    Explorer
    Jun 19, 2014
    I would recommend looking into an oil evac pump. You stuff the tube up and into the dipstick hole, jam it in as much as you can, start pumping, and about .8 of a quart later, you have an empty generator crankcase. You then get another pump that can go from the oil can into the same hole.

    The generator doesn't need to be dropped, but it is a tight fit, so you might need to find a way to get your Travato raised up somehow.

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