Community Forums

cswamp1 · 03-23-2019, 05:52 PM

how do you check the oil level? hot or cold or what?

reason i’m asking cold it doesn’t show on the stick hot it’s over the full mark so i called onan and the idiot said he didn’t know and i should just empty the oil and Measure it to 3 quarts 🤬🤬🤬

stang37 · 03-23-2019, 06:05 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Checking mine cold it registers full. Once I run the engine for 30 minutes to and hour I have to wait for about an hour to check the oil. It always shows low if I don't wait. As a result I've added oil and over filled. Not sure why your would show low cold and full hot. I would think the reverse would happen.

Mr_D · 03-23-2019, 06:07 PM

Something wrong obviously, shouldn't be much different either way. The coolant expands, the oil some but not that much.

momdoc · 03-23-2019, 06:21 PM

We check our cold as told by a Onan tech.

Dutch Star Don · 03-23-2019, 06:48 PM

I think the reason might be the tight opening for the dipstick. Once the oil gets sloshed around, it stays on the opening where the dipstick is inserted. Consequently, trying to get that dipstick in and out without getting oil on it is tough. Just like in the game, "Operation", try and check without touching the sides.

doc · 03-24-2019, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cswamp1

how do you check the oil level? hot or cold or what?

reason i’m asking cold it doesn’t show on the stick hot it’s over the full mark so i called onan and the idiot said he didn’t know and i should just empty the oil and Measure it to 3 quarts 🤬🤬🤬

Let me ask something here - this guy just told you the way to make sure the correct way to get the right amount of oil in that engine? You cannot/do no know how to check the oil?

Yet he is an idiot? Things that make me go Hmmmmmmm??

gljurczyk · 03-24-2019, 07:39 AM

Don't know who the tech was, but oil should register hot or cold, you first check the oil cold, then start the engine, after it circulates shut it down and recheck. And I do mean after you run it and shut it down remove the stick and wipe it clean then reinstate it, pull it out and check. I don't understand what is a person to due, replace the oil every time you check it? There is a problem if it's not registering cold now that is only if you know the oil level is correct or close to it. But that's how I check mine. Maybe he thought you were low, just because it show on the stick cold. I don't see any idiots here at all. Either the OP or the tech.

cataska · 03-24-2019, 08:00 AM

Sounds to me the idiot was pretty smart drain to empty ,refill with right amount note or mark dip stick then you know. generator get expensive when they run out of oil.

FatChance · 03-24-2019, 08:16 AM

On a generator that may only be run once a month for exercise while a RV is on shore power, it makes no sense to have to check the oil level hot. If that were the case, you would have to start it after sitting for maybe months without being able to determine the oil level first.

Gary RVRoamer · 03-24-2019, 08:22 AM

The Onan manual says to check the oil BEFORE the first start-up of the day, so it seems clear the oil would be cool at that time.

The dipstick reading is always suspect once the engine has been running and splashing oil up the tube. Wiping and re-inserting does always get a correct reading either.

gljurczyk · 03-25-2019, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

The Onan manual says to check the oil BEFORE the first start-up of the day, so it seems clear the oil would be cool at that time.

The dipstick reading is always suspect once the engine has been running and splashing oil up the tube. Wiping and re-inserting does always get a correct reading either.

Please what I meant is when you change oil, no a person wouldn't do that every time you change your oil. You should check it cold, but the OP has a point it didn't register cold, I have never seen a working generator burn that much oil. If it did there is a real problem. I think that was his question to the tech. Maybe I'm wrong...