Question came up that has me wondering .... My "A" gasser (V10) is asleep for the winter: changed the oils and filters, added Stabil to the topped off tank and ran it thru the engine and the generator, cleaned & polished the inside and outside, connected battery tenders to the batteries and covered her up snug as a bug.A friend of mine who owns a "C" also with a V10 asked if I ever start the engine and generator any time while its down for the winter. For the 10 years of owning both C's and now the A, I haven't and don't. He says every 10 days to 2 weeks, he uncovers the front of his C, makes sure the cover is away from the exhausts and runs both the engine and generator (with no load) for about 20 minutes. He says this keeps the seals, gaskets, etc lubricated.How many of you run your engine and generator after putting your rigs away for the winter? Is this something that should be done?

I don't have that problem, but I don't think the suggestions actually do any good. Keep the batteries charged as you're doing, tires prepared and inflated properly according to manufacturers guidelines, and let the MH hibernate.

Well, my TT does not have an engine, and it does not have a generator. But I do have a self-standing generator. I fire it up at least once a month. Even though it came with one of our previous TT's, I've never used it for camping. I have used it many, many times when power went off in the house. So I need to make sure it's always ready and working. So, once a month I fire it up, put it under a load (a light bulb or a power tool), long enough for the petcock to run dry and shut its self off when the petcock runs out of fuel. (That's about 7 minutes).I have a gasoline log splitter, a snow blower, and 2 chain saws, and 3 lawn mowers. Through the winter I start them at least once a month. Sometimes when it's below zero, I cannot get them started, but I figure just turning over the crank case helps keeps everything healthy, and helps pumps oil to the top of the pistons and stuff.Now my John Deere mower, also has a snow blower and I fire it up weekly! That beast is just too important to let the battery deplete any at all! I keep it going just like my car. It's got a water cooled engine (antifreeze), so my baby gets a lot of attention.Any engine sitting is not good. They need to be stirred up every now and then. Decide on a routine: first day of the month, first Saturday of the Month, the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, and just do it! Your engine will love you!

Keeping the battery hot and the engine cold is a good as it gets in the winter in my view for machines not being used.

Generator, yes, mainly for the brushes and slip rings (which can get some corrosion on them over time and that causes problems). I run it for 15 or 20 minutes under load (an electric heater) maybe every month.For the main engine, starting it and idling it for a while will most likely do more harm than good. A reasonable lengthy drive might help keep things moving, but that implies something other than winter storage. Simply starting and idling does nothing for the transmission and rest of the drivetrain, and usually doesn't let the engine come up to full operating temperature for long enough to drive much condensation or other volatile contaminants out of the oil.The vast majority of engine wear occurs before it's fully warmed up--something like 90%, I've read, is in the first 20 minutes after a cold start typically. That's admittedly probably not a big concern for many motorhomes as they're much more likely to have the house part wear out long before the engine and transmission do.

Gale Hawkins wrote:Keeping the battery hot and the engine cold is a good as it gets in the winter in my view for machines not being used.I like this answer. :)We have many engines that don't get run or exercised for months (to years) at a time. Stabil or something similar in the gas and Battery Tenders on the batteries and we have always been good to go.

To run or not to run | Good Sam Community

koda55
Explorer
Jan 11, 2016
We have had one gas and one diesel onan generators. Each one recommended running the generator for one hour under half load.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Jan 10, 2016
On my boat the procedure is to run some Engine Fogger through it as I shut it down for the winter. It is essentially a light oils that you run through the engine until it dies. Then you unhook the battery and park it for the winter. (Keeping the battery on a tender is good)

This is probably the best thing to do for all engines that set. Go to a marina and ask them for some Engine Fogger and how to use it.

Also put some fuel stabilizer in the tank and run it long enough to get it through the fuel system.
seaeagle2
Explorer
Jan 10, 2016
Generac air cooled residential stand by generators (the ones that are permanently wired to a transfer switch and run on natural gas or propane) automatically exercise for 12 minutes once a week.....maybe a little different animal but that's how they're set up.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Jan 10, 2016
Matt_Colie wrote:

Thermal cycles are hard on any engine.

Fog the engine with fogging oil

Never mind that the engines are designed specifically to BE heat cycled.....sometimes more than once a day. Several other factors cause much more wear than just the heat cycle.

And "fogging" is not necessary for any storage less than 6 months unless maybe you are in REALLY extreme and harsh conditions.

Like many things, overthinking stuff like this is often worse than just keeping it simple.

IF you follow the manufacturers recommendations, it's hard to go wrong. IF you follow the recommendations of self-appointed Internet experts, it is real EASY to go wrong.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Jan 10, 2016
Dave H M wrote:

So my vote is not to run.You have got "opinions" from one extreme to the other.

Your "method" is OK.....kind of.

It's good for the carb to sit there dry; well maybe except for some models in which the gaskets and seals will crack if dry.

As for the tank being empty, that encourages water accumulation and tank rust inside if your environment has wide temp and humidity swings. Of course, it probably takes the tank a long time to rust through; not so long for rust to plug up the fuel filter or carb jets.

Onan and others recommend keeping them full and running periodically for good reasons. Ignoring those recommendations and doing something entirely different and not having problems just means.......you got lucky......so far.

Note: Your "run once a year" tractor is a whole different animal.
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2016
Listen to Roy and Dave.

Thermal cycles are hard on any engine. Running it and not getting to full operating temperature makes it even worse.

Take a tip from marine people that put engines up for the winter.
Fog the engine with fogging oil while running the carburetor dry.
Disconnect the battery.
Now, leave it alone.

About fuel injection (gas or diesel - same) put in a fuel conditioner and run enough fuel so it is up to the injection system. Fog a gas engine by just running it. A diesel can be fogged, but care must be taken that it not run away on the oil.

Matt
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2016
My stick home back up genny has not been run for years. The carb is dry and the fuel tank empty.

I will bet anyone my next social security check that it will fire up and run fine.

I have a 1950 ford tractor that I only crank up and use on a tractor drive each fall. Been doing it for years. Carb empty and gas tank empty when in storage. It has been cranking up faithfully for years.

I do keep battery tenders on batts that never get used. My choice is the Deltran ones.

So my vote is not to run.You have got "opinions" from one extreme to the other.

What do to now. :h :W
KD4UPL
Explorer
Jan 08, 2016
The generator manufacturer, if an Onan, requests that you start the generator every month or 2 and operate it under 1/2 load for an hour or 2. (I forget the specifics).
As for the V10, I think running it for 20 minutes likely does it more harm than good. It will just build up moisture in the oil.
westend
Explorer
Jan 08, 2016
What does the Mfg of your equipment say about storage in the owner's manual?
I've had my hands on a few engines and Onan/Cummins, for one, is real specific about storage. It requires start up at intervals during storage.

Batteries are another item that doesn't like storage for long periods without charging. Sure, a lead acid battery may start the engine after a long storage time but that isn't doing the battery any favors. As it sulfates, sitting, you are pulling days off it's life expectancy.

For me, it's easy enough to start the high dollar stuff once in awhile over Winter and to maintain batteries.
bsinmich
Explorer
Jan 08, 2016
Living her in MI. we get cold weather. I store my MHs inside for the winters and don't have the opportunity to run them in a barn full of RVs. The well charged battery lasts through the winter and starts in the spring. I can't run the generator either and have never had a generator problem. Only have owned motorhomes since 1986.

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