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04-05-2017, 07:44 AM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 20
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diesel and generator exercise
It looks like my 2004 Itasca 39W is staying put for a while. So I need a bit of advice about exercising the diesel coach motor and generator.
1. How often and for how long?
2. Do I need to unplug from the house 50amp before I start the coach or generator or can I stay plugged in?
thanks
PaulB
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04-05-2017, 07:51 AM
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#2
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Winnebago Watcher
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1
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I Run both the engine and Gen every 2 weeks. Yes the power needs to be off when running the engine>
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Chuck
Just West Of The Pecos
05 Dolphin #5342
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04-05-2017, 07:54 AM
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#3
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Long Beach, Calif.
Posts: 5
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I run mine every month for about an hour under medium load. There's no need to unplug from your house/shore power if you have an Automatic Transfer Switch.
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Travel Supreme 03 40DS03
Cummins 400 HP ISL 8.9
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04-05-2017, 08:28 AM
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#4
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Olympia, Wa
Posts: 79
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If you can take at least a 30 minute drive running the coach motor is fine, a diesel does not reach operating temperature sitting still. A few months not run is fine, farms do it every year. It is a good idea to uplug, but not necessary as the transfer switch is Gen priority. DO NOT HAVE ANY POWER LOAD ON. Start Gen with no load let it run a couple minutes to stabilise, then add load. Load can be A/C or electric heaters, heat pumps, any thing with a good power draw. Then after session turn off ALL load let Gen run a couple minutes shut down and return to shore. Run time I have seen is a hour to two hours, that is what I use on gas or diesel as the run is for the electrical side not the motor.
LEN
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2004 Clss C 31' Winnebgo
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04-06-2017, 08:00 AM
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#5
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: ...hopefully on the road!
Posts: 1,653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OLYLEN
If you can take at least a 30 minute drive running the coach motor is fine, a diesel does not reach operating temperature sitting still. A few months not run is fine, farms do it every year.
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Absolutely right ..the engine should NOT be idled for "exercise". Take it for a drive, or leave it off.
Quote:
It is a good idea to uplug, but not necessary as the transfer switch is Gen priority. DO NOT HAVE ANY POWER LOAD ON. Start Gen with no load let it run a couple minutes to stabilise, then add load. Load can be A/C or electric heaters, heat pumps, any thing with a good power draw. Then after session turn off ALL load let Gen run a couple minutes shut down and return to shore. Run time I have seen is a hour to two hours, that is what I use on gas or diesel as the run is for the electrical side not the motor.
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Good description. As I recall, Onan's recommendation is 1 1/2 hr a month under at least 50% load. And as stated, that is to burn moisture out of the generator side to keep it working well.
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Paul (KE5LXU) ...was fulltimin', now parttimin'
'03 Winnebago UA 40e TRADED OFF JUL 2023 / '17 Jeep Grand Cherokee toad
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04-07-2017, 07:55 PM
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#6
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 20
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thanks for all the input.
I will run the generator (under load) every two/three weeks and crank the diesel only when moving.
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04-07-2017, 09:48 PM
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#7
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 2,108
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I too only start the drive engine when I will drive the MH for at least 1 hr. The Onan genset manual states 2 hrs once a month.
During cold weather, if we're home, I plug in 2 electric space heaters(not same circuit) to load the genset and heat the interior while working on something in the MH.
That said, our MH had been parked in a barn for 6 years when we purchased it, with no apparent damage to either power unit.
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2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA 1SG, retired;PPA,Good Sam Life member,FMCA. "We the people are the rightful masters of both the Congress and the Courts - not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution." Abraham Lincoln
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