Save money by doing your own basic generator maintenance
RV generators are great because they allow you to run all your electrical stuff without being hooked up to shore power. It’s not uncommon for us to pull off on a lonely roadside, fire up the generator and use the microwave to make lunch.
On excessively hot travel days we use the generator to run both our air conditioners to keep the coach cool. Generators have become standard equipment on motorhomes and on many 5th wheels and travel trailers as well.RV generators provide 120 volts of alternating current (AC power) and are powered by gasoline, propane or diesel. Since generators are crucial to the RV lifestyle it is important to maintain them properly.
Maintenance procedures and intervals vary depending on manufacturer and model, so I recommend you consult your generator manual for guidance on the proper maintenance schedule.
Basic generator maintenance requires the following items be done:
Change the oil and oil filter every 100 hours or once a year whichever comes first.
Change the fuel filter when required.
Clean or change the air filter every 50 hours of use or more frequently if operated in dusty conditions.
Check belts for cracks or fraying, bolts for tightness and fuel lines for leaks.
Check the antifreeze level on generators that are water cooled.
Record the hours so you know when to preform the next maintenance.
The video below goes into detail on the basic maintenance procedures.
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Labels: Generator, Maintenance
posted by Jim Twamley at
10/21/2008 04:00:00 AM
3 Comments:
I agree with all your format but you are dry firing the engine,wether it be any fuel source. All oil filters should be pre lubed,by adding at least a pint of oil that is to be installed into the engine,into the filter and rolling the filter to saturate the internal filter media,so the engine's oil pump is not trying to push oil thru dry media.
By
Anonymous, at October 25, 2008 9:59:00 AM PDT
Blowing out paper air filters is no no. Tapping gently to remove any build up is OK . Much better to use a new one each time.
By
Anonymous, at October 26, 2008 7:32:00 PM PDT
Anonymous said "Blowing out paper air filters is no no". First of all who says it's a no no? Second, what scientific evidence explains why it might be so? Third, do you think the filter manufacturers are going to tell you to do this when they would loose sales? You can't just write a comment like this without supporting your statement. Where are the facts to back up your claim? Seriously, I've been blowing out paper air filters on all types of vehicles and motors for over 30 years without incident. Use your judgment, if it's too dirty replace it with a new one (like I said in the video). Compressed air is a useful tool if used correctly.
As to the first comment, filling the new oil filter with oil before replacing it is a great idea if it is a vertical installation. The engineers of my generator didn't think it was important so they mounted the filter at a slant making it physically impossible to "pre-fill" the filter wit new oil without spilling it all over the place. Go figure!
By
Jim Twamley, at October 27, 2008 11:16:00 PM PDT
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