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Old 02-23-2019, 04:52 PM   #1
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How Many is Too many Hours on a Generator?

Looking at new to me class a gasser. The one I have now has 290 hours on the generator with 37,000 miles. Looking for newer one less miles and different layout. Found one that really like the layout and only has 16000 miles but the gen has 996 hrs which to me is very high. How many hours have you people run a gen without replacing? Again this is a gas gen not diesel.
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Old 02-23-2019, 05:56 PM   #2
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Quote:
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Looking at new to me class a gasser. The one I have now has 290 hours on the generator with 37,000 miles. Looking for newer one less miles and different layout. Found one that really like the layout and only has 16000 miles but the gen has 996 hrs which to me is very high. How many hours have you people run a gen without replacing? Again this is a gas gen not diesel.
I have nothing to support this.... but an educated guess is 3-4-5000+.....depending on how it was used and maintenance. IE not a billion stop/starts and 10 minute runs and regular oil changes. (I am assuming it's a 4 stroke)

Then there is nothing that says you can't pull the motor and put some new bearings and rings in it and send the head to a shop to rebuild. Well under 6-700 if you do it yourself.

The generator itself I have no idea..... Guessing it has to do with how hard it was made to work.....

Bottom line, 1000 hours wouldn't scare me if there was some evidence of maintenance.
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Old 02-23-2019, 06:00 PM   #3
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My first question would be... can you show me your maintenance log?
For gas engines a compression test is a fairly easy way to get a sense for engine condition. You can purchase the tool to do it or inquire at any decent auto shop.
If compression is low you won't know exactly why but will know it's not what it should be.
Also having trst data much better position to negotiate from if you like the MH.
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Old 02-23-2019, 06:29 PM   #4
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1000 hours would not scare me. I would just plan a major service. But I would plan a major service on the entire rig. I would be more leery if it only had 100 hours on it.
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Old 02-23-2019, 06:32 PM   #5
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If it's an Onan generator with proper maintenance it should run 15,000 hours before any type of overhaul. A contractor friend has several gas and diesel Onan generators all with over 20,000 hours on them.
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Old 02-23-2019, 07:01 PM   #6
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If it's an Onan generator with proper maintenance it should run 15,000 hours before any type of overhaul. A contractor friend has several gas and diesel Onan generators all with over 20,000 hours on them.
Does Onan make a gas generator? I thought they were all diesel.
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Old 02-23-2019, 07:13 PM   #7
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Maybe depends on the year but I've read several times that the Onans can go 10,000 hours before a recommended overhaul.

Since the recommended operational time is 2 hours per month, if you have 24 hours per year, minimum, you're good in that direction too.
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Old 02-23-2019, 07:13 PM   #8
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If your gen ever needs major repairs, there are other options. For less than $2k, you can buy a portable generator w/remote starting that should handle most of your camper needs. Just remove the old gen and store the portable gen in it's place. Just another option!
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Old 02-23-2019, 07:13 PM   #9
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Does Onan make a gas generator? I thought they were all diesel.
My gas generator is a Onan Marquis Gold 5500.
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Old 02-23-2019, 07:17 PM   #10
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Does Onan make a gas generator? I thought they were all diesel.
I suspect that air cooled Onan gas generators are in 95% of the gas powered RV's of all types.
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Old 02-23-2019, 07:17 PM   #11
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A friend bought a 12 year old RV with 10,000 miles on the motor. The generator has 700 plus hours on it. The previous owner said she only dry camped so she used the generator a lot. She said the low miles were due to camping very close to home. She also said she never used the satellite dome or turned the TV's on.
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Old 02-23-2019, 07:24 PM   #12
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Liquid cooled diesels, correctly maintained and run should go 25,000 hours. They need to be run and maintained.
Mine is a 12.5 Onan QD and I have 450 hours on it. Need to change oil and filter.
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Old 02-23-2019, 07:28 PM   #13
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As for how many hours are too high..
Our old gasser coach in 4 years I put 4500 hours on the air cooled Onan 6,500.. and that was just using the coach part time puckerbrush camping..
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Old 02-23-2019, 07:39 PM   #14
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Quote:
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My gas generator is a Onan Marquis Gold 5500.
Quote:
Originally Posted by saddlesore View Post
I suspect that air cooled Onan gas generators are in 95% of the gas powered RV's of all types.
Thanks, I didn't know that.
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