coolmom42
Middle Tennessee
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Other than maintenance as listed in the owner's manual, is there anything that's helpful to keep a generator working well?
This is an Onan 4000 W generator with 220 hours on it, in a 2014 motorhome. So obviously it's not been used a lot. The person I bought it from said he changed the oil at 215 hours. He knows nothing about the previous maintenance, except that the oil was changed at about 115 hours.
I'm thinking that with lack of use, there might be some varnish gunk in the carb, and a couple of cans of Seafoam in the tank would be a good idea.
Any other suggestions?
Single empty-nester in Middle TN, sometimes with a friend or grandchild on board
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Lwiddis
near Bishop, California
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Joined: 08/12/2016
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Do you trust what the immediate past owner “said?” If not, change the oil.
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
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PhilipB
MO
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I'd change the oil, spark plug and air filter. It it runs smooth I wouldn't worry about varnish. Add fuel treatment if concerned.
2015 Ram 2500
2013 Raptor 310TS
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RoyF
Fayetteville Arkansas
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My Honda dealer said that ethanol-free gasoline (if you can find it) produces less varnish. I run mine once a month during the off-season to help clear the carb and to keep the RV battery at full charge.
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bobndot
USA
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Look for that non eth gasoline at stations near a marina, its popular for boaters.
Stabilize the fuel tank in the rv and run the genny to get that treated gasoline thru the genny's carb. I use a couple bottles of Sea Foam or StarTron. I have never had a bad gasoline issue using either one of them.
I exercise my generator for 30 mins every month or sooner bc I use my rv for day trips. Its probably best to have the rv on somewhat level ground when you run it.
Once a year around 150 hrs I change the oil with a syn oil. There is also a fuel filter that needs to be replaced every 450-500 hrs. along with the spark plug. A dirty filter will cause hard starting.
A good habit to get into , when you turn off a generator its best to shut off any heavy load on it. That will extend the life of the voltage regulator.
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Lwiddis
near Bishop, California
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Honda doesn’t say that....
“Honda equipment is designed for good performance and efficient operation using gasoline containing from 0 to 10% ethanol.”
https://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/fuel-recommendations
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Tom/Barb
Oak Harbor, Wa
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I've done the oil change about 3 times in 20 years, we only have 45 hours on it..
I run it twice a year..
YEAH I KNOW -- my bad. ![[emoticon]](https://forums.goodsamclub.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
but it still runs.
2000 Newmar mountain aire 4081 DP, ISC/350 Allison 6 speed, Wrangler JL toad.
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Gjac
Milford, CT
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I remove the fuel line going to the main tank and insert it into a gallon can of gas mixed with a 1/2 bottle of seafoam or Berryman's B-12 when ever the genset starts to run a little rough the higher concentration of additive cleans the carburetor well. It also shows how many gals per hr I use under load. Once every 4 years or so I also put some Seafoam in the crank case before an oil change. I was surprised at the carbon buildup that I found in the bottom of the drain pan. My genset is 23 years old with 350 hrs on it, so I have to look for ways to use it.
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
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If you don't trust or believe the previous owner change the oil. Then start it up and see if it runs smooth. If smooth I would leave it alone and go camping.
2001 Suburban 4x4. 6.0L, 4.10 3/4 ton
2005 Jayco Jay Flight 27BH
1986 Coleman Columbia Popup.
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coolmom42
Middle Tennessee
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opnspaces wrote:If you don't trust or believe the previous owner change the oil. Then start it up and see if it runs smooth. If smooth I would leave it alone and go camping.
It's all good now, but I am the 3rd owner, with unknown treatment by the first owner. Second owner definitely changed the oil.
It starts and runs just fine now. I will probably run some Seafoam through the gas anyway, that's a good preventive of many issues, IMHO.
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