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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> Diesel generator hard starting
Post Info TOPIC: Diesel generator hard starting
Cschwang


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Diesel generator hard starting
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Recently purchased a Winnebago VIA with an Onan diesel generator. Temperatures here have been in the teens and dipping down into the single digits. I know that diesels don't like cold weather and can be hard to start in these low temps. It usually takes several tries to get it running, but once running there are no problems with it. It has an electric primer with a preheat on it so I'm wondering if it is still normal for it to be hard to start. A fellow RVer suggest using an ether starting fluid, but I'm apprenhisive about using a starting fluid on a diesel. Can any of you techies give me some advice?



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Lucky Mike


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do you have fuel additive in your fuel tanks.......diesel jels as it gets colder and it makes the waxes congeal , this cut the fuel flow....  most truckstops sell the fuel additive ....



-- Edited by Lucky Mike on Wednesday 5th of March 2014 03:17:41 PM

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TRAILERKING


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Cschwang wrote:

Recently purchased a Winnebago VIA with an Onan diesel generator. Temperatures here have been in the teens and dipping down into the single digits. I know that diesels don't like cold weather and can be hard to start in these low temps. It usually takes several tries to get it running, but once running there are no problems with it. It has an electric primer with a preheat on it so I'm wondering if it is still normal for it to be hard to start. A fellow RVer suggest using an ether starting fluid, but I'm apprenhisive about using a starting fluid on a diesel. Can any of you techies give me some advice?

 DO NOT USE STARTING FLUID! That with a pre-heater = BOOM. What model? How many hours on the generator? Do you know if the pre-heater even works? Does it run good in warm weather? When it fires up in warm weather what color is the exhaust?



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Old Snipe


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Absolutely do not use starting fluid...ever. Read your owners manual for the correct starting procedure. My Onan diesel may be different than yours, on mine, the manual says to hold the generator start button in the OFF position for about 30 seconds. That gives the fuel pump time to get a good prime in the engine and the glow plug in the intake time to heat up the incoming air. Probably your generator works the same.

Diesels don't love the cold, but if you can get it started with a try or two, all should be well. Also, be aware that at high altitudes, the generator may take a little longer to start.

When I was in diesel mechanics school, the instructors beat this into my head: "He who uses starting fluid in the winter will rebuild in spring".

Best Regards!

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TRAILERKING


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Yes my 7500 Onan Quiet Diesel works the same way. Hold the switch down in the "OFF" position. Pretty much how most of them are. Starting fluid with this..............You won't rebuild in the spring. You'll be sweeping up shrapnel, now.



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Cschwang


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Sure glad I asked this question. I definitely will not use starting fluid and I'll have the preheater checked. Thanks



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TRAILERKING


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When you push down on the button(off position) do you hear the fuel pump running?? You should. Do you get any error codes?



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