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02-12-2015, 05:36 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 6
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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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02-12-2015, 07:54 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Pensacola
Posts: 2,728
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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..
__________________
Hooligan, Pensacola, Fl -U.S. Coast Guard 1956-1985
2016 Thor Siesta Sprinter 24ST diesel -1972 Moto Guzzi
2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara TOAD
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02-12-2015, 08:08 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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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.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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02-12-2015, 08:19 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 225
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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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1992 Foretravel Grand Villa 3600
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02-12-2015, 09:44 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North East Florida
Posts: 2,155
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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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2019 Horizon 42Q
Cummins L-9 450 HP
Maxum Chassis / IFS with Tag
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02-13-2015, 08:07 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 28,511
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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.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is now West Palm Beach, FL
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02-13-2015, 09:26 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 225
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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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1992 Foretravel Grand Villa 3600
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02-13-2015, 09:36 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 586
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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...
Matt B
__________________
Matt B
1998 Foretravel U-320
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02-13-2015, 10:17 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 6
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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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