mrad
Prineton, MN
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
This will be my first year storing a 5th wheel with an onboard generator. If I am running 91 non-oxygenated fuel and add some seafoam to it, should the generator still be exercised every couple of weeks?
We are storing the RV about an hour away and it would be a bit difficult to make this happen unless the storage owner would be willing to start it.
|
2oldman
south
Senior Member
Joined: 04/15/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Does the owner's manual have anything to say about that?
|
ajriding
st clair
Senior Member
Joined: 12/28/2004
View Profile
|
I don't know what non-oxygenated gas is, but if it contains ethanol then that is the problem. Ethanol breaks down into water and really can gum up the carb. It is better to have used 100% gas in the generator before shutting it down for the season. Best yet to run the carb dry (out of gas) before storage. That is what people do with small engines all the time.
Regular 100% gas will gum up the carb also after a month or two.
When you say run the generator, there is two things going on.
1. the actual electricity generator is the electric motor looking "head", and this needs to be turned over monthly in an ideal situation. In reality, it can sit for years untouched and still come out working when restarted. Try to keep it covered and keep dust and debris from getting into it.
2. The gas engine, which is just the same as any small engine, lawn mower, chain saw, tiller, go cart, can sit for years safely if the gas is not in the carb.
It is also more ideal to start and let the gas engine run once per month. At idle is finr for 10-20 mins, but under load is what a lot of people suggest too.
Again, I have let these things sit all winter and had no issues come Spring. I just revived a friends Onan 4000 that sat, with gas in it, for 13 years, though the carb needed a serious cleaning, which I remedied by just buying a new carb ($40).. It runs and generates electricity just fine, though yes, I would prefer it had not sat so long. Not ideal, but not death either.
So, ideally, run the carb dry. You might need to disconnect the fuel line from the gas tank to quickly run it dry. Or alternatively, you can remove the "bowl" from under the carb and just let it all drain out.
The gas in the tank will need some gas treatment gas saver like Stabil to keep it fresh longer. This will not guarantee good gas come Spring, but will extend the life of gas if you cannot remove it for some reason.
|
mrad
Prineton, MN
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
ajriding wrote:I don't know what non-oxygenated gas is, but if it contains ethanol then that is the problem. Ethanol breaks down into water and really can gum up the carb. It is better to have used 100% gas in the generator before shutting it down for the season. Best yet to run the carb dry (out of gas) before storage. That is what people do with small engines all the time.
Regular 100% gas will gum up the carb also after a month or two.
The non-oxygenated gas I use states that it is ethanol free.
|
Lwiddis
near Bishop, California
Senior Member
Joined: 08/12/2016
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Regular exercise is essential IMO.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, 300 watt solar-parallel & MPPT, Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state & county camps. Bicyclist! 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad
|
|
|
Chum lee
Albuquerque, NM
Senior Member
Joined: 08/03/2015
View Profile
Offline
|
ajriding wrote:I don't know what non-oxygenated gas is, but if it contains ethanol then that is the problem.
In the USA, oxygenated gas refers to the addition of ethanol. In some other countries oxygenated gas may still contain MTBE or (methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether) in place of ethanol.
Chum lee
|
2oldman
south
Senior Member
Joined: 04/15/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
google is your friend
"Oxygenated gasoline contains an additive derived from natural gas or grain alcohol that increases the fuel's oxygen content, causing more complete combustion in the engine and reducing emissions of toxic carbon monoxide"
|
Dave H M
IL
Senior Member
Joined: 08/11/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I don't know specifically about your genny carb. Most of my small engines have a drain plug on the carb. If so the drain plug will allow for complete drainage of the carb as opposed to letting the motor starve out for gas. JMHO
|
wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
Senior Member
Joined: 07/04/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I"d run it once a month under 1/2 load for 1/2 hour or more.
But that's me.
I stored my Class A at home and often found a reason to run the Generator thanks to Detroit Edison and a Generator transfer panel and inlet on the house and special outlet on the RV to match..
Lights (Well not all of them one specific was left on EDISON only
Televison/radio/Computers/Internet
Kitchen
Furnace
Fridge and freezer
all that wire and added stuff $$$$
Warm wife Priceless
Home is where I park it.
2005 Damon Intruder 377 Alas declared a total loss
after a semi "nicked" it. Still have the radios
Kenwood TS-2000, ICOM ID-5100, ID-51A+2, ID-880 REF030C most times
|
Pipeman
Windsor, Ontario,
Senior Member
Joined: 10/25/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
I fogged mine when winter came. I emptied the carb via the drain plug. Never exercised it in off season. Worked great when camping season started up.
Pipeman
Ontario, Canada
Full Member
35 year Fire Fighter(retired)
VE3PJF
|
|
|
