Community Forums

MinntoMich · 06-06-2021, 06:44 PM

How much of a problem is this?

1993 Winnebago 34' with a used Onan 4000 watt generator installed about 1 month ago. Ran it really for the 1st time for about an hour when I noticed this... (see pics)

The wet spot is what I noticed under the flywheel (I think) at first after about 1 hour of run time. The second pic is what I saw looking directly up. The third is a kraft paper covered airbag after about an additional 20 minutes run time.

I shut it down and checked the oil which oddly appeared to be really overfilled a bit to me. Any ideas of what kind of leak I might be looking at? Have I done any damage to the generator by running it with oil spraying on the inside coating who knows what? Thanks in advance.

Massparanoia · 06-06-2021, 09:39 PM

If it was overfilled then this could be from that. Onan 4000 only holds about a quart and has no filter.

Joyce M · 06-06-2021, 10:42 PM

My 1988 in my Winnie has a filter.....I'd check for tightness of the filter..
I found a dead rat-mouskie in those same cooling lower vents..
It was not a happy Ratso.....R.I.P......(:+).......

MinntoMich · 06-07-2021, 02:45 PM

Thanks to you both for responding. I'm betting and hoping that Massparanoia is right, that it is too full. I'm hoping no seals blew and its just exiting through the PCV. Have not checked the air filter for oil yet. On that note, this generator does have an oil filter. It is a 30 amp/4K set but it has a spin-on filter which I couldn't hand tighten any further. The model number is 4BGEFA26100K which a Google search showed me it was a KY series Microquiet but looking at it it looks like a Emerald. Must be a 5PM Friday end-of-shift special or something like that.

1st pic is my set with info decals. 2nd pic is an Ebay special which is closer to what I have in appearance.

avfordguy · 06-07-2021, 02:58 PM

Great genset, 1800 rpm, wish onan would bring it back, HATE the 3600 rpm Mico notsoquiet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinntoMich

Thanks to you both for responding. I'm betting and hoping that Massparanoia is right, that it is too full. I'm hoping no seals blew and its just exiting through the PCV. Have not checked the air filter for oil yet. On that note, this generator does have an oil filter. It is a 30 amp/4K set but it has a spin-on filter which I couldn't hand tighten any further. The model number is 4BGEFA26100K which a Google search showed me it was a KY series Microquiet but looking at it it looks like a Emerald. Must be a 5PM Friday end-of-shift special or something like that.

1st pic is my set with info decals. 2nd pic is an Ebay special which is closer to what I have in appearance.

Mark_K5LXP · 06-07-2021, 03:08 PM

Pretty sure this Onan is splash lubricated, there wouldn't be any oil under pressure in the engine block. The first place I'd suspect oil to be coming out in the event of over fill would be the breather, which exits into the carb air intake.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

ga traveler · 06-07-2021, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinntoMich

Thanks to you both for responding. I'm betting and hoping that Massparanoia is right, that it is too full. I'm hoping no seals blew and its just exiting through the PCV. Have not checked the air filter for oil yet. On that note, this generator does have an oil filter. It is a 30 amp/4K set but it has a spin-on filter which I couldn't hand tighten any further. The model number is 4BGEFA26100K which a Google search showed me it was a KY series Microquiet but looking at it it looks like a Emerald. Must be a 5PM Friday end-of-shift special or something like that.

1st pic is my set with info decals. 2nd pic is an Ebay special which is closer to what I have in appearance.

I am confused by the photos. On top is a paper data plate. On the bottom it looks like the real metal data plate. Or you sure this is not a “hot” generator. The search should not come up a microquiet generator. Onan would not have made a mistake like that. I don’t remember seeing a paper data plate on a Onan and I have worked on hundreds.
Something is fishy.

MinntoMich · 06-07-2021, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga traveler

I am confused by the photos. On top is a paper data plate. On the bottom it looks like the real metal data plate. Or you sure this is not a “hot” generator. The search should not come up a microquiet generator. Onan would not have made a mistake like that. I don’t remember seeing a paper data plate on a Onan and I have worked on hundreds.
Something is fishy.

I have no idea. Its used/reconditioned and was installed at an RV dealer not far from me. I get your point and plan on making a call to find out what model exactly I'm dealing with.

Just for the sake of clarity... the 2nd, lower pic of my most recent post was an example, not my actual set.

ga traveler · 06-08-2021, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark_K5LXP

Pretty sure this Onan is splash lubricated, there wouldn't be any oil under pressure in the engine block. The first place I'd suspect oil to be coming out in the event of over fill would be the breather, which exits into the carb air intake.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

It has a oil filter you can’t filter oil without a pump.

MinntoMich · 06-08-2021, 07:33 PM

Think I found my leak. To make clear its a Onan BGE Emerald Plus 4K, circa 1994. My initial suspicion that the crankcase was overfull wasn't it. I drained the pan and the filter and got about 3.5 quarts. Looking at the filter housing I noticed a small rivulet of oil where the sensor is. Must be it. I'll have to see if I can find a part. Thanks to those who chimed in with advice.

If anyone has any experience in getting or installing the part please post it. Don't know yet if its part of the filter housing or if it just screws in where its at.