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Old 02-12-2015, 05:36 PM   #1
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Onan 6500 LP Generator ?

Hi new here just bought a holiday endeavor 98 34 ft had the generator running on wed in the yard temp was 25 was out there today cleaning and had the generator running temp today 10 generator would run for maybe 10 min then would stall and shut off thinking with temp that the line was frezzing up? and comments before
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Old 02-12-2015, 07:54 PM   #2
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If there is any water in the propane it can cause that problem. As propane passes through the regulator, it expands and rapidly drops in temperature so that even at temps above freezing, ice can form on the regulator. Normally just on the outside, but if water is in the tank it can also freeze in the regulator. Methanol is used as an anti-freeze in propane... It is normally added to propane in cold weather.
http://www.propanecouncil.org/upload...%20Propane.pdf

If you can safely warm the regulator you may be able to see if this is the problem..
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Old 02-12-2015, 08:08 PM   #3
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Inn some areas they sell butane as propane or a mixture. It freezes at higher temps than pure propane. We had that happen years ago when we filled the tanks in the TT in TX and then came back north into colder weather.
But the probably cause was stated above. Water/condensation in the regulator.
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Old 02-12-2015, 08:19 PM   #4
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If your generator is running off the same tank as your stove, light a burner on the stove and start the generator. At lower temperatures there may not be enough surface area on the tank to boil enough propane to keep the generator happy.
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Old 02-12-2015, 09:44 PM   #5
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All gas, especially LP has a high moisture content. I think the previous posts hit the nail on head. Probably freezing at the regulator. Warm it up with a hair dryer and see if it starts to flow. At least you will then know if its moisture.
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Old 02-13-2015, 08:07 AM   #6
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Yeah, the Onan 6500 runs on LP vapor (some LP gensets use liquid propane), so it is susceptible to fuel starvation when the temperatures are low. Some LP blends don't vaporize well in sub-freezing weather, e.g. those with a lot of butane in the mix. Pure propane begins to vaporize at -44 F, but LP is rarely pure propane. A 50/50 propane/butane blend doesn't start boiling till about -15 and doesn't achieve good vapor pressure until about 25 or so. I don't know how much vapor pressure the Onan needs, but it gulps propane so it's probably substantial.

LP blended for use in warmer climates usually have a high butane percentage because that performs better in warm weather.
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Old 02-13-2015, 09:26 AM   #7
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Moisture at 10F is also called ice.

Alcohol is added to propane tanks to absorb the water and keep the tank from rusting on the inside.

Butane is cheaper than propane.

We were supposed to be in the south this winter.

-8F tonight in Manchester, NH. I need to check the propane level in my tank.

Blizzard (not the tasty kind) Saturday and Sunday.

I'm so happy.
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Old 02-13-2015, 09:36 AM   #8
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I tend to agree with the previous posts, but I will toss-in our experience.

Our Onan 6500 of similar vintage got hard to start in normal ambient temperatures. (Could the problems be similar.) Turned out it was the pressure regulator on the unit. The discontinued Onan part was way over $250, IF you could find one. I researched and discovered it was identical to a $20 forklift part easily available in Ebay.

I think the Onan can run on liquid or vapor, and many recommend conversion to vapor to eliminate clogging problems. Going from distant memory here...

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Old 02-13-2015, 10:17 PM   #9
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lp all good

Went and had it filled today and then ran it and no problems. thanks for all the help.
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