Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.


We want to thank all of our members for their participation and input over the years, and we want to especially thank those that have acted as Moderators for us during our amazing journey living and traveling in our RV and growing the RV-Dreams Family. We will be forever proud to have been founders of this Forum and to have been supported by such a wonderful community. Thank you all!!

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
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


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5399
Date:
Generator Fuel Type - Propane/Diesel/LPG
Permalink  

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.

__________________

Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug
Jack Mayer


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1107
Date:
Permalink  

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.....

__________________

Jack & Danielle Mayer
PLEASE USE EMAIL TO COMMUNICATE

http://www.jackdanmayer.com,
2009 Volvo 780 HDT, 2015 New Horizons 45'Custom 5th, smart car
New Horizons Ambassadors - Let us help you build your dream RV.....
dgorila1


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 62
Date:
Permalink  

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.

__________________
NorCal Dan


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1192
Date:
Permalink  

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?

__________________

2018 Thor Windsport 35M -- 2018 Camry Toad

-- USAF Retired -- Full-timing since December 2007 - Part-Timing since July 2011
VisitedStatesMap.jpg
http://http://travelingrvwx.com/
Judy


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 770
Date:
Permalink  

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



__________________
Judy & Bob & 2blackdogs
www.mytripjournal.com/elitesuitestravels
macattack


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 35
Date:
Permalink  

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.

__________________
  Mac 


Gregg and Lynette
2010 Landmark Augusta
2008 F450 Ford Crew Cab
SKP# 102227
Visit our blog to see our progress
http://macandnette.blogspot.com
Jack Mayer


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1107
Date:
Permalink  

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.

__________________

Jack & Danielle Mayer
PLEASE USE EMAIL TO COMMUNICATE

http://www.jackdanmayer.com,
2009 Volvo 780 HDT, 2015 New Horizons 45'Custom 5th, smart car
New Horizons Ambassadors - Let us help you build your dream RV.....
Terry and Jo


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 5399
Date:
Permalink  

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



__________________

Terry and Jo

2010 Mobile Suites 38TKSB3
2008 Ford F450
2019 Ford Expedition Max as Tag-along or Scout

Our photos on Smugmug
Jack Mayer


RV-Dreams Family Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 1107
Date:
Permalink  

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.

__________________

Jack & Danielle Mayer
PLEASE USE EMAIL TO COMMUNICATE

http://www.jackdanmayer.com,
2009 Volvo 780 HDT, 2015 New Horizons 45'Custom 5th, smart car
New Horizons Ambassadors - Let us help you build your dream RV.....
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Accessories -> Generator Fuel Type - Propane/Diesel/LPG
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us