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Dippelj · 12-13-2014, 01:37 PM

I am wondering what needs to be done when a diesel generator runs out of fuel? With my old gas unit I could just add fuel and restart. Can I simply do the same with a diesel?

palehorse89 · 12-13-2014, 01:39 PM

Some more info. sure would help, make , model, etc. On most, diesels (onan/cummins) hold the stop button down to prime..........

Dippelj · 12-13-2014, 01:44 PM

It's an onan quiet 10k.

palehorse89 · 12-13-2014, 01:52 PM

Look at page 2-4 here http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect....10_125_Man.pdf
Just as I posted above........hope this helps you out.

huffypuff · 12-13-2014, 05:09 PM

What palehorse89 says, push to stop and hold to prime. Also most diesel coaches are made to allow the generator run out of fuel at about 3/8 of fuel left in the tank. That is so the main engine have enough fuel to make it to a diesel refueling stop.

Jeff Keyuk · 12-30-2014, 04:16 PM

My Generator stops working when the fuel tank is at 1/4 level !

jacwjames · 01-05-2015, 05:25 PM

I agree with what is posted but you may have to prime it more then once.

I ran mine out of fuel and it took me a while to get it started. Had to prime it several times to get the air out.

I ended up putting 100 gallon of fuel in my 128 gallon tank so I know how far it will go before generator runs out.

Akcontender · 01-05-2015, 06:12 PM

In my old rig which was a 32 foot Forest River Georgetown the gas V10 engine. Like most rigs if it went below a quarter tank the generator ran out of fuel. If I didn't run the generator before fueling up the tank everything was fine with no priming needed. On my diesel pusher if that happens it requires priming even if I don't try to run the generator while the tank is low. That's kind of a pain as it usually takes several start failures and more priming before it will run without dying.

bodycoach2 · 01-09-2015, 08:51 AM

It may seem like a pain, but I've made it a practice to never let my tank get below 1/2. Keeps me from having to worry about genset fuel, and give piece of mind if we happen to get stuck on the side of the road for a few hours with a flat tire.

Akcontender · 01-09-2015, 10:54 PM

I like to do that too but I live in Fairbanks Alaska and some of the fuel stops out in the boonies on the Alcan are very spendy so I always make sure I'm where I want to be when I get fuel. I have driven that road a lot of times so I know pretty much where I want to fuel up.

TdogKing · 01-28-2015, 09:01 PM

Usually when diesels run out of fuel you need to bleed the air out of the system, sometimes they have a primer that gets it going. I found out using diesels generators and engines in Heavy Construction that they are like snowflakes...no 2 alike ! Good luck !

Ray,IN · 01-28-2015, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bodycoach2

It may seem like a pain, but I've made it a practice to never let my tank get below 1/2. Keeps me from having to worry about genset fuel, and give piece of mind if we happen to get stuck on the side of the road for a few hours with a flat tire.

Me too! The genset was very welcome while we sat in a traffic jam on I75 for 3 hours., about 4 years ago. Besides, running off the top-half of your tank makes re-fueling less painful.

Akcontender · 01-29-2015, 12:11 AM

Somewhat off topic but related too. I've had many times in the construction trade where a diesel engine needed priming after it ran out of fuel. Some don't have a primer on them and a fail safe trick I've used and seen done is to have someone crank it over and have someone spray WD-40 into the air intake. It works like starting fluid but without the cylinder washing down and broken piston rings that can accompany the ether. The atomized oil base will work real well until the engine pumps up fuel pressure to run on it's own.