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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Accessories -> Generator Fuel Type - Propane/Diesel/LPG
Post Info TOPIC: Generator Fuel Type - Propane/Diesel/LPG
Terry and Jo


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Generator Fuel Type - Propane/Diesel/LPG
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This for the "techies" out there.  We are still researching and considering what we will buy after our house sells and we go for the RV of our choice.

Currently we have a small fiver and we have one of the Honda 3000 EU generators.  (With that in mind, think elevation.)  We have found that if we go camping in the mountains of Colorado (higher elevation than the Oklahoma City area where we live), and if we use the generator for a few days, the plugs foul and it won't start.

We generally run the generator about 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the evening.  Once we changed spark plugs, the generator started and ran fine.  I suspect that the change in elevation effects the fuel/air ratio, which causes the fouling because of the richer gasoline mixture.

With that in mind and assuming I am correct about the cause and effect of the elevation, the following questions come to mind:

1. If one had a fiver with a large (5500?) Onan generator that was on propane, would that generator foul just as gasoline would?

2. Considering the Honda 3000 EU, is there an easy way to adjust the carburetor for the higher elevations?

3. The MH we are considering has a diesel generator, which of course would not have a fouling problem since there are no spark plugs.  However, would there be other issues with a diesel based on the elevation?

4. Are there small generators. similar to the Honda 3000 EU that are powered on diesel?

Obviously, all questions above are based on the knowledge that when Jo and I begin to full time in the future, we will be camping in various locations with varying altitudes.  (Man, I LOVE the mountains.)

Thanks in advance to all who can help.

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Jack Mayer


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The Honda can be adjusted for high elevation. Google the problem and you will find stuff on a resolution. But then you will have to readjust for lower altitude. My propane Onan 6500 seems to run fine at 8500' and at sea level. Never any issues. Maybe I am just lucky ??? There are no portable diesel generator like the quiet hondas that I know of.

If I was sticking with a 5er with a portable generator I think I would learn how to adjust it for altitude. It can't be all that hard.....

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Jack & Danielle Mayer
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dgorila1


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I don't think propane or natural gas will foul the plugs because it burns much cleaner than gasoline or diesel. Something to check into.

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NorCal Dan


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I assumed any rig suitable for full-timing would have a generator installed from the factory. Is that not the case? We went from a class c to a class a and both had generators onboard...is it just 5er's/tt's that don't normally deliver with generators?

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Judy


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Our rig is for full timing and did not come with a generator even though it has a place for one. We will always be hooked up to electric as dh has to run his oxygon for nite time use. So the answer is NO not all fivers come with generators. It is an add on.
southwestjudy



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macattack


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I worked for a natural gas company for 30 years and all of our engines for our compressors ran on natural gas. As long as there is oil in the crankcase , those engines and plugs will carbon up just like the ones that run on gasoline.

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Jack Mayer


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5ers generally DO NOT come with generators as a standard feature. In fact, I know of none who do. Perhaps a toyhauler may...but none of the ones I have looked at do. Many manuf. offer a genset as an option, and also offer gen prep, for future installation.

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Terry and Jo


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I have found out a little more information about the Onan generator, which is an option for the Doubletree RV's.  We went to the dealer who is helping us to ask some questions and he said that they had somc fivers that were equipped with the Onan generator.

After describing some of my concerns, we went out to look at the units in one of those fivers.

I found two very interesting things about the Onan that I liked.  One is that the spark plug is easier to access than the one on the Honda generator I currently have.  However, the most interesting thing I found is that the Onan has a control which allows one to make adjustments based on altitude.  If I remember correctly, it would let one adjust for up to 10,000 feet in elevation.

It is my presumption that the control would allow one to reduce the chance of spark plug fouling.  Also, on the Doubletree units, the generator can be hooked into the LPG system and run on that fuel source.

With that in mind, one would need some method of determining how much fuel was in each tank.  If I remember correctly, there are devices that help in that determination.

Thanks, All.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

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2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

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Jack Mayer


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A 40lb tank holds about 9.3 gallons of usable propane. Look at the specs for the model genset you are considering and it will give you runtimes.

My Onan 6400 uses .84 gallons/hr at half load - which is a good average for most uses.

Given a choice I prefer a gas generator since it is far easier to manage the fuel. But if you are not using it much it does not matter.

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