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11-06-2020, 04:52 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Freeport
Posts: 560
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Generator oil change?
Our Holiday rambler has Onan genny. Manual says 100 hrs or one year for oil change. Due to virus we have not used since Tampa show early this year. I did last change in November last year so time wise it is time to change. I only have 29 hours on the thing and mostly due to starting to run every month. Would you change oil at 29 hours.
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11-06-2020, 04:57 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: NY
Posts: 67
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I change my oil yearly no matter how few hrs on the genny for what it cost to do an oil change I think it is cheap insurance. I believe the genny is pretty expensive to replace. That is my thought
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11-06-2020, 04:58 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Western NY
Posts: 6,149
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I would not
But I'm sure you will get arguments on both sides... some are adamant about time others not so much.
Many truckers & boaters go by sampling and results determine when to change.
IMO oil doesn't degrade w time and magically "time out" at 12 mos.
__________________
Don & Marge
'13 Newmar Ventana 3433 - '14 CR-V TOAD
'03 Winnebago Adventurer 31Y - SOLD
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11-06-2020, 05:03 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Bryan Tx
Posts: 1,023
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True the basic oil doesn’t change but contamination due to moisture does. I change mine annually and would be more inclined not to if I knew the unit was run under a 50 to 75% load regularly. Background is power plants from 5KW to 42 Megawatts on shore and Offshore
__________________
“06” Beaver Patriot Thunder , 525 HP C13 Cat
MH 4000 Allison
42 ft Vicksburg, 4 slides
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11-06-2020, 05:15 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,746
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmc70
Our Holiday rambler has Onan genny. Manual says 100 hrs or one year for oil change. Due to virus we have not used since Tampa show early this year. I did last change in November last year so time wise it is time to change. I only have 29 hours on the thing and mostly due to starting to run every month. Would you change oil at 29 hours.
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I wouldn't if I had been running it for a couple of hours monthly.
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Ben & Sharon
2008 43' Holiday Rambler Scepter PDQ
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11-06-2020, 05:22 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Forest River Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,329
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Not a diesel but something to ponder .. the Chevy volt has a 50 mile elect range so the gas engine rarely runs unless on long trips . The computer determines when the oil needs changing. It goes by engine miles / run time or TWO years. When I had the volt it only went off at the 2 year mark. Chevy must think 2 years with low use is not a problem.
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2023 Coachmen Encore 325SS
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11-06-2020, 05:57 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,746
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Lot's of people go by the rule, 'change the oil before putting the ----- to sleep for the winter'!
If you religiously run your gen with a good load for a couple of hours (so even the oil comes up to full temp), each month, there is no winter for it!
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Ben & Sharon
2008 43' Holiday Rambler Scepter PDQ
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11-07-2020, 09:29 AM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,676
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Quote:
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Would you change oil at 29 hours.
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No, not unless I had some reason to think there may be contamination of the oil.
The engineers have no idea where you go or what you do, so their recommended service intervals have to cover the "worst case" scenarios. If I felt confident I had started with quality clean oil & filter, didn't operate in severe conditions, and nobody has been mucking around with it, I'd feel comfortable going another year.
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Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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11-07-2020, 11:07 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 5,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
No, not unless I had some reason to think there may be contamination of the oil.
The engineers have no idea where you go or what you do, so their recommended service intervals have to cover the "worst case" scenarios. If I felt confident I had started with quality clean oil & filter, didn't operate in severe conditions, and nobody has been mucking around with it, I'd feel comfortable going another year.
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Agree with these conclusions.
But, 5 quarts of oil is a minor expense if you change it yourself in a free half hour of your time.
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Dean
1995 38' CC Magna #5280 **** Sold after 21 years of enjoyment.
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11-07-2020, 04:28 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Freeport
Posts: 560
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Thanks for all the replies.
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11-07-2020, 04:53 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Sacramento CA.
Posts: 536
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deandec
Agree with these conclusions.
But, 5 quarts of oil is a minor expense if you change it yourself in a free half hour of your time.
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yes but try 19 qt or more i would not change at 29 hrs
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2005 Itasca meridian
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11-07-2020, 05:39 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: New Tecumseth ON
Posts: 278
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I would probably change it, as a matter of fact, I just changed mine with similar hours. I was already under the MH changing the engine oil so minimal extra work. Less than 2 quarts of oil, cheap insurance if concerned about contamination.
If I hadn't gotten it done I wouldn't worry about it until next year.
Ken
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11-07-2020, 05:41 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 967
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TGAWLAK
I change my oil yearly no matter how few hrs on the genny for what it cost to do an oil change I think it is cheap insurance. I believe the genny is pretty expensive to replace. That is my thought
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Totally agree.
Some years may have more hours on the generator than other years.
We have never hit the 100 hrs. in a year, so simplify things by making it an annual task, no matter where the hours sit.
Don't forget to add fuel stabilizer to your gas tank and then run the generator before putting it away for a long storage period.
__________________
Jim.B
Southern Ontario
2014 Fleetwood Southwind 32VS 🇨🇦
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11-07-2020, 05:49 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: FL
Posts: 804
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My understanding is the acid build up is the problem. I would change it but I do all my own preventive maintenance and by nature I am a very proactive vs a reactive person. You also indicated a 100 hr change interval, that seems odd to me as I would think you can go much longer than that.
Safe travels
__________________
Lenny and Shawna 2015 Newmar Dutchstar 4366 43' Tag 450 Cummins, Freightliner Custom Chassis Towing a 2016 Ram 2500 4x4 Diesel 8 ft bed with Blue OX. 2014 Harley Ultra Limited with 3 Beagle Hounds
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