Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE OWNER'S CORNER FORUMS > Alpine Coach Owner's Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-29-2009, 08:19 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 167
I had my generator shut down on my while driving and I remember reading that it will shut down at 1/4 tank to protect against the generator from running the coach out of fuel.

On my trip to Atlanta I ran the coach to less than 1/4 fuel level and the generator shut down. I like the feature, but I don't like that it starves the generator of fuel. When I went to restart the generator, it was really difficult. Is there a fix or best practices? Thanks!

GT
GTHill is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 01-29-2009, 08:37 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Dave Fernandez's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Ontario, CA USA
Posts: 1,400
Hello GT:

If you should starve the Generator again you can prime it by hold down on the STOP side on button for about 30 seconds or more and it will prime the fuel system on the generator.
__________________
Dave Fernandez
2001, 38ft FDDS, 350 ISC, Tow 2018 RAM 1500
https://www.alpinesocal.com
Dave Fernandez is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2009, 08:43 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 167
Is it bad to starve the generator? Thanks a lot for the tip!

GT
GTHill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2009, 08:49 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
UFO Pilot's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 6,393
I try and fill up when I get to 1/2 tank or so. It also makes me get out of the Coach and walk around which I think is important.
__________________
Wayne & Roberta

08 Winnebago Destination 39W Gas UFO Workhorse Chassis......It's really weird being the same age as old people. I thought getting old would take much longer.
UFO Pilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2009, 08:57 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
jerry davis's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Fremont, Ca
Posts: 1,325
It shouldn't be hard on the generator to run it out of fuel. Diesel engines are shut down by cutting off the fuel supply when you turn them off. As noted above, priming the generator prior to restarting helps get a quicker start.
__________________
Jerry & Judy, Fremont, California
2017 Dutch Star 4018
Freightliner, HWH Active Air
jerry davis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2009, 01:11 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Auburn, CA, Havasu, AZ & Mulege, BCS
Posts: 5,385
The troublesome part of starving a diesel isn't with the engine. The Injection Pump which is a fairly tight tolerance gizmo to produce very high injection pressures, gets its internal lubrication from the diesel it pumps. If you starve for fuel, you get premature wear in the IP cuz there's no lubrication. Won't kill you, but according to the old saying it will make you stronger, when you have to get the IP rebuilt. Better to keep the prime at all times.
The engine shut off is by killing diesel feed, but that keeps fuel in the IP.
__________________
Baja-tested '08 2-slide 36'
Alpine: The Ultimate DIY'er Project
EngineerMike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2009, 08:46 AM   #7
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 5
2000- Alpine. Fuel tank gauge just less than 1/2. Generator cuts out multiple times while driving, stays on while parked w/o cummins running. Fill fuel tank, both work while operating at same time.... Is there an adjustment to recalibrate the gen so it does not cut out so early as a safety fuel measure?

Thanks- Stan
Dblyolks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2009, 08:54 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 1,100
Stan,

The 1/4 tank cut off is due to the pickup in the tank, not any setting on the gen. My guess it that your fuel gauge is off and not really at 1/2 tank. Fuel slosh is probably why it cuts off while driving and not while parked.
__________________
Dale Gerstel
AMG GTS
Las Vegas, NV
Had: 2007 Limited SE 40fdts
dgerstel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2009, 01:39 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Wicked Whippets's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 227
The genset shutting off on low fuel in the tank is a design feature to keep you from running out of fuel and being stuck in the middle of nowhere. It is normal and much better than trying to start your engine on an empty tank.
__________________
7 championship show dogs www.bauhauskennels.com
04 Winnie Vectra 40AD / 05 Jeep Rubicon TOAD / 03 BMW R1150RT
Wicked Whippets is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-28-2009, 01:47 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Barbaraok's Avatar
 
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Traveling in North America
Posts: 2,248
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTHill View Post
Is there a fix or best practices? Thanks!

GT
Fill up when you get to 1/2 tank! That's both a good fix and a best practices.

Barb
__________________
Barbara & David O'Keeffe
Figment II (Alpine 2002 36 MDDS)
On The Road since 2006
Blog
Barbaraok is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Generator shutting down jerry davis Alpine Coach Owner's Forum 12 07-24-2007 03:02 PM
Extending Generator Fuel Pickup In Tank ronboc Monaco Owner's Forum 19 10-28-2006 02:20 AM
Generator shutting down Ron & Dee Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 11 10-22-2006 11:34 PM
Generator Shutting Down Rusty Bear Alpine Coach Owner's Forum 15 08-30-2005 05:30 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:36 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.