Community Forums

zvi · 02-28-2017, 07:01 AM

We are staying with our diesel pusher for four months in one spot. Do we need to start the engine? How frequent? Do we need to travel a bit? How frequent?

Unplanned Tourist · 02-28-2017, 07:06 AM

No need to run it, just keep an eye on your chassis battery voltage. It should stay up with the BIRD, but check just the same. Good Luck.

Cat320 · 02-28-2017, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unplanned

No need to run it, just keep an eye on your chassis battery voltage. It should stay up with the BIRD, but check just the same. Good Luck.

Agree, don't start it unless you are going to drive it.

gemert · 02-28-2017, 10:34 AM

It is normally recommended to drive at least 25 miles once a month. I agree though not to start it unless you are going to drive it.

2 Stroker · 02-28-2017, 10:40 AM

Start the gen-set once a month idle for 5min then turn on your AC to ramp it up. Run that way for about an hour then turn things off run for about 5min turn it off. I would if your are on shore power switch off power first. The transfer switch should switch to gen-set if you forget.
2 stroker

Steve Ownby · 02-28-2017, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zvi

We are staying with our diesel pusher for four months in one spot. Do we need to start the engine? How frequent? Do we need to travel a bit? How frequent?

We have full timed in our DP for 10 years now & the coach is 14 years old. We routinely spend 3-4 months in one location during our winter somewhere the weather is warm. It's not necessary to take a short trip or start the engine. It's probably more important to run the generator with a 50% load once a month or so. It's more for the generator portion than the engine portion of the genset. Diesel engines are very tough and will tolerate lots of varied conditions. I have my engine and transmission oil tested at regular intervals and they both test perfect.

Enjoy and don't worry. Just keep up the regular maintenance and it will reward you.

YC1 · 02-28-2017, 10:49 AM

Welcome to the Forum.

I agree. Run the heck out of the generator for a couple hours each month.

Not knowing your engine and where you are you might want to put some algaecide in the fuel. Idling is not a good thing for modern diesels. They really need to kick the tires and light the fire. Hit the road with gentle throttle for a few minutes.

twogypsies · 02-28-2017, 11:55 AM

Agreed. Don't run the motorhome unless driving it and for 4m it doesn't require driving. Also agreed to run the generator on load once a month.

Dutch Star Don · 02-28-2017, 04:14 PM

You need to fill out your profile (coach information) so that it shows in your posts, or at least tell us what coach you have so we can give you the better answers. If your coach is a pre 2005, it most likely WILL NOT charge the engine starting batteries while parked. Parasitic draws like, radios and other items will run your engine batteries dead while parked after about 2 weeks. There are ways of checking to see if your coach charges the engine batteries while on shore power. If your coach doesn't, there are a couple of products you can add that will solve the issue.