Onan 8000 diesel generator

[Tourist2007]

Don't buy an Onan generator - you'll regret it!
I bought my 2007 Winnebago Tour equipped with an Onan 8000 diesel generator in May of 2007, even though I wouldn't start full-timing until the end of 2009. I was very conscientious about exercising the generator at least once every month for at least two hours, even using a hair dryer on the temperature sensor to force the air conditioner to come on in the cold Iowa winters. In May of 2009, with only 65 hours on it, the generator failed, with three weeks left on the warranty. The issue was the inverter/controller, the "brain box" of the unit. I had the repairs made at a Cummins/Onan dealer in Des Moines, Iowa, and the warranty covered the entire $2254.64 bill. All was well until September, 2010, when I was driving in south Texas and running the generator to power the air conditioner. The generator suddenly died. At this time it had only 159 hours on it! As I was in the South for the winter and knew I would have shore power, I decided to wait until I returned to Iowa to have it looked at. When I took it back in in April, 2011, I was advised that the INVERTER/CONTROLLER had FAILED AGAIN!!! So it ran for fewer than 100 hours on a $2250+ repair before needing the EXACT SAME REPAIR done again!
The dealer apparently felt some sympathy for my position and offered to credit $500 against the estimated $1800 cost of the repair. (Why it was less the second time, I do not know.) They said if I was not happy with that, I could contact Onan directly. I paid $1148.15 to get my coach, then called Onan and talked to the customer service rep. He took my statement and passed the claim on "up the chain." A few weeks later Onan offered to reimburse me $250 provided I agreed to hold them not liable for anything ever again, no matter what, and not tell anybody anything about their "generosity." I declined that offer so that I could warn others of this product and its shortcomings, and of the way the company treats its customers.
My conclusion is that the generator and repair parts for it are shoddily made and outrageously priced. I have no expectation that this third inverter/controller will last any longer than the previous two. When it fails again, I'm replacing it with a Honda.
The bottom line is to expect to pay about $13 for repairs for every hour you use your Onan generator, including those hours spent exercising it. Don't expect any kind of consideration or compensation from this company, as you are bound to be disappointed.
My advice to my fellow RV'ers is: Don't buy an Onan generator, or an RV equipped with one. You'll pay the price time after time and regret your purchase until you replace your generator with a reliable brand from a company that stands behind its products.

[Tha_Rooster]

Bad news, antifreeze tanks are common to split and leak anywhere from $500 to $1000 to repair. I did not think you had a choice of generator It's just one of those things 95% labor and 5% parts.

[Route 66]

My 7500QD built in '06 also had two inverters go bad.

Each time a rebuilt inverter was installed as Onan/Cummins stated they only install rebuilt inverters.

The third inverter, which was the second rebuilt one did not fail.

Both were covered under warranty during the warranty period.

[Lukeaa]

The inverter in my Onan 8000 died in the first 100 hours. It was replaced under warranty and has run great ever since. This is in my 2007 Monaco Diplomat.

[dons2346]

Wow, I guess I'm living on borrowed time. I have over 600 hours on mine and never a hiccup.

[Uncle Dave]

Sounds terrible- Im hit and miss with Onan products myself.

Every state has lemon laws and I'd look into that or small claims court.

As someone looking to do a propane Oanan to Yamaha retrofit exactly what Honda are you thinking about using and are you going to go for a third fuel?

Uncle Dave

[rbursek]

even using a hair dryer on the temperature sensor to force the air conditioner to come on in the cold Iowa winters.
FYI, you should not run any type of AC compressor below 45*F.
Bob

[rv.guru]

Well Bob why is that a roof top heat pump will work just fine till ambiant reaches 40 degrees? On a house unit they work at 10 below zero jusr fine, do you know something i dont????

[Tha_Rooster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rv.guru Well Bob why is that a roof top heat pump will work just fine till ambiant reaches 40 degrees? On a house unit they work at 10 below zero jusr fine, do you know something i dont????

I have two heat pumps in my house, and both will go into emerg. Heat strips below 25 above. I don't know of any heat pump that works efficient at 10 below.

[rv.guru]

So is it 25 or 45? Thats all I am asking, if a roof rop unit works as a heat pump until 40 degrees sometimes even lower given tollerances before kicking to an alternate source then why tell people not to run below 45 degrees? I never said efficient I said works.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Dave Every state has lemon laws and I'd look into that or small claims court. Uncle Dave

Very, very doubtful that a Lemon Law would cover it. The LL is usually only for the chassis and then only for safety related defects. The generator is not part of the chassis even though it's installed in the chassis and I can't see how it would be safety related.

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbursek even using a hair dryer on the temperature sensor to force the air conditioner to come on in the cold Iowa winters. FYI, you should not run any type of AC compressor below 45*F. Bob

Our heat pumps run just fine down to freezing and they use the AC compressor as does the heating system on our Honda's. They run the air con when you turn on the defrosters and try to clear the ice off the windshield. In fact most cars do this now as it removes the mist on the inside of the windshield better than just air.

[rbursek]

Most AC compressors do not have a heater to keep the oil warm and viscis below 40*, where heat pumps being desinged to run at lower temps do. I said AC units should not be run below 45*F I said nothing about heat pumps so do not assume they are the same, or that I included heat pumps in that statement.
RVGuru,
I do not know of any residential heat pump that uses air as the medium to draw heat from that works at -10*F. Do you mean Celcius?????
Bob

[rv.guru]

So now a heat pump has a heater? All a/c units produce heat, the only difference between an a/c and heat pump is a reversing valve to change the direction of flow. [moderator edit]